First, I'm sorry you're having so much anxiety at a time that should be positive for you and your new pup.
When we first got our dog, Katie, she was reactive around other dogs - quite possibly stemming from an incident similar to your doberman encounter. The third day we had her, our neighbor's dog ran up to her as if to say "hey there, welcome to the neighborhood" and Katie, I think, was intimidated. After that, when we walked down the street, she'd bark and lunge at dogs in their yards (most of whom were barking at her before we approached). In her first puppy class she did a little of the barking and lunging (what looked to us like aggression or reactivity). The trainer said all she saw was an excited puppy and recommended we read Control Unleashed by Leslie McDevitt.
We've slowly been able to get her to the point that she can walk past most dogs politely by rewarding her for calm behavior in the presence of other dogs. The process was similar to the "look at that" game, but not quite as formal. Now, when we walk past houses with barky dogs, she looks up at me for direction (or treats
) and barely pays attention to the dogs. Oddly, with the exception of two loose dogs who ran up to her unexpectedly shortly after we got her, she's been fine when she has the opportunity to actually "meet" other dogs. She is happy to greet other dogs she meets at the park or pet store.
I agree with HankSimon - dogs know the difference between live and stuffed animals and will have different reactions to each. I'd recommend finding someone who can supervise / observe a meet & greet between your dog and a real dog. Definitely try to get a second opinion before making any decisions.
Good luck! Let us know how things turn out.
When we first got our dog, Katie, she was reactive around other dogs - quite possibly stemming from an incident similar to your doberman encounter. The third day we had her, our neighbor's dog ran up to her as if to say "hey there, welcome to the neighborhood" and Katie, I think, was intimidated. After that, when we walked down the street, she'd bark and lunge at dogs in their yards (most of whom were barking at her before we approached). In her first puppy class she did a little of the barking and lunging (what looked to us like aggression or reactivity). The trainer said all she saw was an excited puppy and recommended we read Control Unleashed by Leslie McDevitt.
We've slowly been able to get her to the point that she can walk past most dogs politely by rewarding her for calm behavior in the presence of other dogs. The process was similar to the "look at that" game, but not quite as formal. Now, when we walk past houses with barky dogs, she looks up at me for direction (or treats
) and barely pays attention to the dogs. Oddly, with the exception of two loose dogs who ran up to her unexpectedly shortly after we got her, she's been fine when she has the opportunity to actually "meet" other dogs. She is happy to greet other dogs she meets at the park or pet store.Katie and I took a one-day "polite meetings" class today, but were the only students. For the dog portion of the session, the trainer brought out a large stuffed husky. Guess who freaked out - barking, jumping, bowing, etc. This after having had several calm encounters with other dogs at the park this morning. Our trainer, however, had me drop Katie's leash and allow her to explore the stuffed husky without restraint. She calmed down at bit, started eating treats of the dog's nose and leg, and we were able to continue the session.
I agree with HankSimon - dogs know the difference between live and stuffed animals and will have different reactions to each. I'd recommend finding someone who can supervise / observe a meet & greet between your dog and a real dog. Definitely try to get a second opinion before making any decisions.
I don't think anyone would fault you for making a well-reasoned decision based on what is in the best interest of the dog and your safety / sanity. If he truly is reactive, he may not respond well to living in a busy environment and would be happier in a different situation. That's not a failing on your part. Many shelters, though, have a stipulation in their contract that you need to return the dog to them if you can't keep him/her. You might want to check your contract.
Good luck! Let us know how things turn out.
