October 30, 2017
I need some encouragement with my reactive GSD puppy
Full Question:
Dear Cindy,I may need a bit of encouragement here on a 6mos GSD we have. FYI, He is our fifth German Shepherd so not new to the breed.
Anyways, he is very leash reactive, more so than any of our other GSDs in the past. I have Tyler Muto's Leash Reactivity DVD. I take him to parks, pet stores, walks in the neighborhood, etc. he seems most fixated in our neighborhood environment. He’s not mean at all he would just sniff the dog if given the chance and prob play -also people he would lick to death(embarrassing).
Still, the leash pulling and barking seems extreme. I keep him at a distance and try to give him his space hoping it will improve with time. I am trying my best to avoid using an e-collar, eventually for this behavior. He’s getting big and not a cute little pup anymore and don’t want to alarm people we eventually meet walking as he gets older and bigger. Am I on the right track and just need to let this take its course like you have said there are no shortcuts.
Thanks for your time!
Cindy's Answer:
I think the issue may be that you are continuing to put him in highly exciting environments before he's ready for them. If he is still pulling and barking then you are too close to the triggers for his reactivity.
I have a dog that needed to be at least a football field away from her triggers for reactivity. Of course with training and maturity, the gap between the distractions and the dog grew smaller and smaller. I can now take this dog ANYWHERE with very few issues. (unless a loose dog runs up to her) Don't keep doing what you are doing, it will not improve and may get worse. The more rehearsals a puppy gets, the stronger that behavior becomes. This includes behaviors we like as well as behaviors we don't like.
I would be using food dynamically to get and keep his focus. If the puppy is reacting to things in his environment you are too close.
I think you are hurrying things too much. He's very young. For a puppy like yours, I train for a long time in areas where I can control the distractions (which rules out the neighborhood, parks, and pet stores)
I choose places like grocery store parking lots or industrial parks where I can somewhat predict the path the humans will be taking. There are almost never dogs there and the people are usually focused on their own tasks and not looking to interact with me.
Keep working on engagement, this will be the ticket to working through this. If you haven't watched the food DVD yet, I would suggest it and you can search the website for more examples of engagement.
I have a dog that needed to be at least a football field away from her triggers for reactivity. Of course with training and maturity, the gap between the distractions and the dog grew smaller and smaller. I can now take this dog ANYWHERE with very few issues. (unless a loose dog runs up to her) Don't keep doing what you are doing, it will not improve and may get worse. The more rehearsals a puppy gets, the stronger that behavior becomes. This includes behaviors we like as well as behaviors we don't like.
I would be using food dynamically to get and keep his focus. If the puppy is reacting to things in his environment you are too close.
I think you are hurrying things too much. He's very young. For a puppy like yours, I train for a long time in areas where I can control the distractions (which rules out the neighborhood, parks, and pet stores)
I choose places like grocery store parking lots or industrial parks where I can somewhat predict the path the humans will be taking. There are almost never dogs there and the people are usually focused on their own tasks and not looking to interact with me.
Keep working on engagement, this will be the ticket to working through this. If you haven't watched the food DVD yet, I would suggest it and you can search the website for more examples of engagement.
User Response:
Cindy Thank you for the reply. Yes, I thought perhaps I was pushing him a bit and comparing him with our lesser reactive GSDs before him! Incidentally, I have 7 of LEERBURGs DVDs and find them all very informative and common sense in approach. Thanks again for your advice.
Cindy's Answer:
You are welcome. I know firsthand how slow going it can be with dogs like this but if you take the time the dog needs it will make for a much more balanced and enjoyable relationship for the both of you.
Let us know how you're doing!
Let us know how you're doing!
User Response:
Hello Cindy,This is a follow-up from a previous question.
Our now 14 mos old GSD male is really good and consistent in a distraction-free environment. However, he is really REALLY over the top explosive reactive-wise the few times we have had a dog approach from what I would definitely say is a safe distance.
I have followed your advice, worked him in grocery parking lots, industrial areas,etc. but 7 mos later he appears to be actually worse I hate to report. He accidentally got loose, within our property still and behind a tall enclosure fence, —charged a rather docile-looking dog who just stood there on the other side of the fence as our GSD nut job ran back and forth barking frantically. Calling him back was useless, it was like I wasn’t even there! Note he is Uber-obedient in a distraction-free environment.
I don’t see any other solutions at this point save using an E-collar with him. Would that be a viable solution then? He is currently not neutered. We do plan on him being fixed in the near future, our contract with his breeder specifies no sooner than 14 mos. will the neutering help settle him at all?
He is a wonderful dog but this reactive dog-on-dog thing is kicking my butt! Thank you
Cindy's Answer:
It certainly wouldn't hurt to introduce the e-collar to reinforce obedience. Part of the problem is likely his age, he's like a teenager right now.
Keep in mind that even if you think the distance is safe for other dogs this really comes down to how your dog is feeling in his environment. Since I can't see him it's hard to know if he's nervous or just a very vocal and easily stimulated dog. I might start giving him some consequences for not performing his obedience in the face of distractions if you are sure he is understanding what is expected of him.
As for neutering, it's impossible to know if it will make a difference. With most dogs it doesn't but if his issues are hormonally linked it may.
Keep in mind that even if you think the distance is safe for other dogs this really comes down to how your dog is feeling in his environment. Since I can't see him it's hard to know if he's nervous or just a very vocal and easily stimulated dog. I might start giving him some consequences for not performing his obedience in the face of distractions if you are sure he is understanding what is expected of him.
As for neutering, it's impossible to know if it will make a difference. With most dogs it doesn't but if his issues are hormonally linked it may.
User Response:
Thank you for your reply! May I add I really respect all of the advance and training dispensed on your website. It is incredibly solid, common sense. There’s a lot of froufrou crap out there as far as training. I thought I had been careful with him and not push him. We have had 5 GSDs in the past and SATCH is the first reactive of the bunch.
I will keep working him then, let him grow up, and respectfully introduce the e-collar a bit more into his learning plan. The little bit that I have used it on him in the past, and on the lowest setting possible, it has gotten his attention.
Thanks again!
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