Your Dog Isn’t Giving You a Hard Time, Your Dog Is Having a Hard Time.
It’s hard to be the parent of a reactive dog. Especially if you live in a place without a yard and you HAVE to take them out on a leash for potty breaks. I know first hand how embarrassing and physically draining it can be to encounter people and other dogs on what should only be a quick and uneventful trip to the treeline in your neighborhood. I’ve been the person who dreads getting home from work because you know your dog is going to lose his mind while people stare, and worse, judge you. And I’ve been upset with myself for not having the skills to get my dog under control.
Yup. I lived that life. And while I loved my dogs fiercely, I was relieved when I finally moved into a house with a yard and a privacy fence where my dogs could do their business in peace.
And while I was very aware of my anxiety at the mere thought of having to take my dogs out, I never once thought about what it must be like for them.
I wish I had known then what I know now.
Reactivity isn’t about your dog’s hatred of people and other animals. It’s not about him thinking he’s the boss of you instead of the other way around. And it’s not about his desire to protect you. It’s the result of being unable to cope with his own internal issues. It could be emotional, like fear or over excitement. It could be a sensation, like pain or chronic itching, causing extreme irritability. Whatever it is, it’s not something your dog can overcome on his own.
When your dog reacts negatively, he’s begging you to help him. That means you need to figure out what is triggering his behavior. You could try to do that on your own, but let me tell you, you will save a lot of time and heartache (both for you and your dog) if you hire a behavior professional to help you sort it out.
The best person to help you help your dog is someone who is well versed in the science behind behaviors. That may be a certified animal behavior consultant, a veterinarian who has studied behavior (such as members of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior), or a veterinary behaviorist.
I wish I had known about the difference between a trainer and a behavior professional 10 years ago, when I had dogs who could have used the right kind of help. I wish I hadn’t allowed people who took my money to guide me in treating my dogs in ways that, at the very least, frustrated them, and at worst, punished them for having emotional responses they couldn’t control. Now I know that that they needed was compassion, management, and for me to teach them what to do instead of barking, snarling and lunging.
When we know better, we do better. You can do better than I did. If you need assistance finding help for your dog, email solutions@vindicatedrescue.org.
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