Over threshold.
This is when a dog's behaviour has changed from one state to another. A dog that has moved from a calm and responsive state to agitated and unrestrained has now crossed a threshold. Typically, this interpretation of a behaviour threshold is specific to the point beyond which a dog begins expressing an unwanted and generally aggressive behaviour towards a stimulus.
One Example.
One example is walking your dog in an environment where no one is around. Your dog can follow cues; however, if another dog (stimulus) approaches your dog, it might become increasingly agitated and reactive towards the stimulus, and the owner can completely lose control of the situation with their dog.
Reactivity in dogs is becoming a growing issue amongst pet owners.
Causes of why dogs can be reactive.
Genetics, breed traits, and anxiety-inducing hormones can be passed genetically from the bitch. Dogs can be reactive because of poor genetics or specific breed traits that once had a purpose but now clash with modern-day pet life. For example, many herding and working breeds are deemed reactive because they can be hyper-aware and energetic and aren’t getting breed fulfilment.
Reasons why your dog can come reactive.
Defensive reactivity: your dog may have been attacked in the past by another dog.
Pain is another factor in behaviour that can change when a dog is in pain or unwell. Remember, dogs are nonverbal and cannot self-report the presence of physical or emotional pain, anticipation, or pain. This can affect their emotional state, causing stress, anxiety, and fear. I recommend getting your dog checked by a veterinary surgeon to rule out any underlying health issues.
Leash frustration barrier: This is when your dog can feel trapped on its lead. Frustration is now building up on the lead because your dog can’t get to what they want to. For example -your dog may have been over-socialised as a puppy because you let them play with every dog and greet people in park environments, or your dog practised lots of lead greetings when you were dog walking. This can create issues for the future and the relationship with your dog. Now, your dog wants to greet every dog or person they see across the street, which can frustrate your dog when you want to keep walking by.
Another Example
Your dog/puppy may have spent days in Doggie daycare playing all day with other dogs, going over the threshold, or even getting bullied by other dogs; in some cases, this can be very damaging for your dog's behaviour being in these environments constantly.
Fear is another common motivator for reactive dogs.
Territorial aggression is when the dog protects what it sees as its domain.
Resource Guarding, where the dog defends items of perceived value.
Owners and reactive dogs.
This behaviour can be highly stressful for owners, and they can get to the point of not wanting to do anything with their dog because they feel embarrassed. Some owners with reactive dogs will resort to extremes, such as walking at 2 a.m. to avoid stress. However, this may be okay in the short term while you’re working on behaviours with a dog trainer. It won’t be enjoyable or beneficial for the owner or dog in the long term. Unfortunately, in life, we can’t avoid stress. It’s impossible to keep everything under the threshold forever; if your dog is never going to see anyone or go anywhere for a very long period, it will take them longer to recover when they do come across something scary.
There are real-life difficulties for some owners when they start the training journey.
Not everyone lives in quiet environments, has access to a car to drive to a peaceful location, or even has a garden area; some owners are in shared housing with other dogs. It would be lovely to hang out at the threshold of perception and then stop the stimulus from intensifying. Still, unfortunately, this isn’t realistic in a place where, for some owners, stimuli are everywhere as soon as you leave your front door.
No quick fixes.
Training and behaviour modification of this kind can take time; it isn’t something that will change in the space of two weeks, so your number one goal to start with if possible is to try and keep your nervous dog under as much threshold as possible depending on your dog's behaviour and needs. A dog behaviourist can guide you on the training protocols. When you start your training, try avoiding putting them in the same stressful situation where they can react. You, as an owner, can make a start in the home environment by practising calming exercises or teaching your dog to switch off; this could be through teaching your dog go-to-place exercises or crate training. I recommend getting help from a dog behaviourist. They will assess your dog’s behaviour. You will work with behaviour modification and counterconditioning to help make your dog’s triggers less scary, giving them coping strategies to deal with stressful situations.
Building a good relationship with our dog is very important, and engagement is key to starting your journey.
It’s important to have a relationship with our dogs and engage with them. You can start your training journey in your home with no distractions. Play games together to build your dog’s confidence. Engagement is a crucial component of successful dog training, and it can be a powerful tool for building a strong bond between you and your dog.
What games or training can I do with my dog at home or in other environments to help build our relationship and my dog's confidence?
Depending on your dog breed, etc., because every dog is different and can have different preferences or needs. For example, Spaniels like search work, and some dogs enjoy a good tug rope game, which in some cases can be a wonderful reinforcer to use alongside desensitising training. Flirt pole training is for impulse control, but your dog must understand the cues before you practice this exercise, so it’s controlled and safe. Hand-target exercises teach your dog to touch your palm with their nose when presented, and you give a verbal cue touch.
Some of my clients have started man-trailing with their reactive dogs. This could benefit dogs and owners; this is especially good for nervous, reactive dogs; it can help with things like fear, hyperactivity, and phobias. Man-trailing is special because it lets your dog make choices on their own, which is incredibly rewarding for them. It also helps owners read their dog's body language without masking everything and helps you bond with your dog. Agility is another good one recommended for anxious, fearful dogs; it allows the dog to build focus on something fun instead of anxiety; agility can help boost confidence when done at the dog's comfort level.
Don’t be afraid to stand up for your dog on walks.
Don’t let people approach your nervous, reactive dog on walks. Dog lovers reaching out to stroke your dog can damage your dog’s confidence, making it more reactive and fearful.
Castration.
Will castration help my nervous, reactive dog? I don’t recommend rushing into castration to solve your dog’s behaviour issues unless your dog has a medical problem. Castration could increase your dog’s reactive behaviour. The testosterone that keeps their confidence up has now been removed, and they feel they need to be more on the defensive and, in some cases, become more emotionally unstable. This is why you will need advice from your dog behaviourist before you make any decisions.
I have two dogs, and my reactive dog worsens when I walk them together.
When working with reactive dogs, you need to train them separately until you have your reactive dog balanced. Once you have the behaviour proofed, you can bring your dog’s together on walks; otherwise, you're going to make your life difficult.
Chill time.
Training a reactive or anxious dog to switch off/ settle is essential. Unfortunately, some owners do not realise how important this exercise is for their dog's well-being. Your dogs need rest, undisturbed sleep, and decompression time. Giving time for your dog to relax allows glutamate, which is linked with the brain development of cognition, learning and memory, to rise. It also releases dopamine, which makes them feel good.
Points to remember.
Avoid shouting and getting upset.
Avoid physical punishment. You will damage the relationship with your dog.
Invest in a long training line when you're on your decompression walks, such as the beach or woodlands, so your dog has more freedom. It’s like a safety net, and your dog can’t make bad choices. Remember, every time your dog makes a good choice or checks in with you, reward with treats or play.
Avoid having a conversation with your dog if your dog gets reactive towards a trigger, such as "OK, Fred, it’s OK, Fred, I’ve got you!" This can increase your dog's arousal levels. Try to stay calm because your voice is going to have added emotion.
Don’t have your dog miles out in front of you on a road walk; you’ll lose control if a trigger should appear. Practice having your dog close so you can have some engagement but remember not to have tension on your lead. Try to keep some distance from your dog's triggers at the beginning of your training until your dog is ready to go to the next level.
If possible, hire an enclosed field so your dog can have some free running/sniffing and decompression time. Every dog should have the opportunity to free run.
Practice different games with your dog to build your relationship and have some fun.
Set boundaries and manage your dog in the home. This is important to keep your dog balanced. If you don’t have control in the home environment, your dog will struggle outside.
Avoid environments such as dog parks because we can’t control what other dog owners do with their dogs. Unfortunately, not every owner has control of their dog, and they don't know what recall is.
Diet food and behaviour influence.
What we feed our dogs can affect their behaviour. I always recommend feeding a healthy, raw diet. A high-carbohydrate diet given in place of protein can cause mood swings in your dog, while chemicals and additives can cause hyperactivity and, in some cases, allergy reactions.
Practice loose lead walking with your dog. It’s an essential aspect of your training. The lead handling skills of the owner on the other end of the lead are crucial. In some cases, inappropriate lead skills can emphasise reactive dogs.
Choose your breed carefully. This is so important.
Research is essential when choosing a dog breed because they will exhibit breed-specific traits. What do I mean by this?
Let’s look at the collie breed for one example: it’s common for collies to be reactive to cars, bikes, and anything moving. Why? Genetics plays a significant role because they are bred to live in quiet countryside and struggle in our busy environment; they have acute hearing and can suffer from noise sensitivity. They are bred to be impulsive, so they can react quickly when working sheep. So, I’m trying to say don’t be surprised if you own a collie and they are reactive; if they don’t get breed fulfilment and outlets, they will react in the only way they know. This is why it’s vital to research the breeds and what they were bred for; otherwise, you could end up in this situation.
Every dog is different because of breed traits. Please be mindful, especially the working breeds, which sometimes display their need to release energy and frustration.
Having so-called time-out breaks without doing anything could potentially not be very helpful with your training. Remember, your dog will just become self-employed. You need to find a solution where they can have their needs met.
Remember, a relationship with your dog is everything. ❤️
Get help from a dog behaviourist if you’re struggling.
Have a veterinary surgeon check your dog if you think it is pain-related.
Justine shone.
Leave a comment (all fields required)