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4 Posts
Hi there,
I’m new to this community and I’m looking to find help and support as I navigate life with two reactive pups. I’ve got a 2y/o Dane/Shepherd and a 18 month old Silver Lab.
When I got my first dog, I noticed she was anxious but the puppy socialization classes said she needed to work on her confidence. We worked and worked, and here we are 2 years later with minor reactivity (bark, run up and puff up) to men and dogs. She is on daily anti-anxiety medication, has been to a private trainer, and goes on weekly group hikes with the trainer.
As she was still young and we believed just needed more confidence, we decided to get a second pup so they could grow up together. By five months, he began to become reactive (lunge, scary bark, jump). Our walker was having a difficult time with him and I would open my email to full messages of complaints about his pulling and lunging. We let the walker go and took him to 1:1 training. We now for the most part can handle his reactivity when alone... but the two together completely set eachother off. My girl will sort of do a little growl or a huff and immediately my boy is on his tip toes, stiff with his tail straight out and ready to react. Also for context he was neutered at 11months as I found he was starting to really fixate on other females and take off.
I’m just having a hard time mourning what I thought life would be with two dogs. I once was an avid hiker, now I cannot as when the two are together and get set off- I’m easily pulled down mountains. I cannot take them to the beautiful beaches along the west coast I once enjoyed to lay and sun bathe on. I am beginning to barely be able to take them on my more ‘secluded’ forest trails I’ve been lucky enough to find given the pandemic and higher traffic. And I feel a terrible amount of guilt leaving them to do anything because they deserve so much more.
Seeing as I am generally home during the days as I work shift work, my husband doesn’t get subjected to as many of the difficult days as I do. I’m really struggling because I feel like I’m trying my best, but I’m unsure where to go from here or what could make it better. I’ve had to resort to walking them separately which puts me out around 3hours a day.. Any tips/tricks/suggestions or even just a word of support would be so appreciated.
Thanks all.
I’m new to this community and I’m looking to find help and support as I navigate life with two reactive pups. I’ve got a 2y/o Dane/Shepherd and a 18 month old Silver Lab.
When I got my first dog, I noticed she was anxious but the puppy socialization classes said she needed to work on her confidence. We worked and worked, and here we are 2 years later with minor reactivity (bark, run up and puff up) to men and dogs. She is on daily anti-anxiety medication, has been to a private trainer, and goes on weekly group hikes with the trainer.
As she was still young and we believed just needed more confidence, we decided to get a second pup so they could grow up together. By five months, he began to become reactive (lunge, scary bark, jump). Our walker was having a difficult time with him and I would open my email to full messages of complaints about his pulling and lunging. We let the walker go and took him to 1:1 training. We now for the most part can handle his reactivity when alone... but the two together completely set eachother off. My girl will sort of do a little growl or a huff and immediately my boy is on his tip toes, stiff with his tail straight out and ready to react. Also for context he was neutered at 11months as I found he was starting to really fixate on other females and take off.
I’m just having a hard time mourning what I thought life would be with two dogs. I once was an avid hiker, now I cannot as when the two are together and get set off- I’m easily pulled down mountains. I cannot take them to the beautiful beaches along the west coast I once enjoyed to lay and sun bathe on. I am beginning to barely be able to take them on my more ‘secluded’ forest trails I’ve been lucky enough to find given the pandemic and higher traffic. And I feel a terrible amount of guilt leaving them to do anything because they deserve so much more.
Seeing as I am generally home during the days as I work shift work, my husband doesn’t get subjected to as many of the difficult days as I do. I’m really struggling because I feel like I’m trying my best, but I’m unsure where to go from here or what could make it better. I’ve had to resort to walking them separately which puts me out around 3hours a day.. Any tips/tricks/suggestions or even just a word of support would be so appreciated.
Thanks all.