March 13, 2014

The Reactivity Two-Step


Looking for trouble...
Inevitably in working with almost any animal, let alone a reactive dog, progress is not always going to linear.  It's more akin to a kind of dance...two steps forward, one step back, maybe even feeling at times like you are going in circles.  Because Ruby's reactivity runs the full spectrum, from in the house to in the car and is triggered by practically anything that moves (dogs, joggers, bikes, skateboards, motorcycles...) we have our work cut out for us.  Training constantly can get exhausting and discouraging, so we sometimes opt for management instead.  That can mean anything from avoiding streets with a lot of pedestrians while in the car or staying in our relatively quiet town-home complex for walks.  

Because we practice a lot of avoidance on walks, it can be hard to gauge progress, but yesterday we had what I consider a minor success.   I had Ruby out on our lunchtime walk, and there was a gentleman going door to door with a clipboard.  "People carrying things" are normally highly suspect to Ruby, and before I had a chance to retreat, he started walking briskly toward us.  I prepared myself for barking and spinning, but as he passed right by, Ruby wagged her tail and tried to jump on him. Granted, this is not desirable behavior either, but I'll take it over the woofing whirling dervish!  I maintain that much of Ruby's reactivity toward dogs and people is based in frustration. I think she so badly wants to meet everyone that she can't control herself.  Bikes, skateboards and motorcycles are another story...those she wants to chase as well as being afraid of the sounds. 

On the frustration front,  Ruby has made a routine out of ferocious barking at the front window when several neighbor dogs are taken out for their walks.  She seems to know their schedule and stands on the back of the sofa with her head poked out the curtains, waiting to fly off the handle.  There are no treats or redirection that will interrupt her at this point, my only option being to hold the curtains closed until the dogs have gone by.  It takes her anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes to calm down after these episodes and I feel myself getting anxious as well.  Since practice makes perfect, I need to come up with a solution for this behavior.  I am considering this window film to obscure her view.  Thankfully there is only one window that she can see out of - the others are upstairs or blocked by our patio fencing.  Has anyone else tried this? 

In between...we enjoy each other! We continue to work on the relaxation protocol, have playdates with chug and labradoodle and corgi friends, play tug and fetch and learn new tricks.  The positive flip-side of Ruby's reactivity is her energy and intensity which can be channeled into fun games and amazing moments of communication.  With a reactive dog, there are always going to be ups and downs, triumphs and failures. The important thing is to keep looking ahead, celebrate the little victories and try not to dwell on the setbacks.

21 comments:

  1. That's a good step forward I would say. I don't know about the window thing. can you put her in another room so she can't see out the window, just while the dogs pass by.

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    1. Once she's seen them she can't calm down even in another room. She is kept in the kitchen away from the window when I'm gone during the day, but since we never know when a dog will go by it would mean not allowing her into the living room at all, which is where I hang out most evenings.

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  2. I think it is important to celebrate the victories! I also think management is a completely acceptable way to deal with reactivity. Some dogs may never be able to be completely "fixed" so whatever we have to do to just be able to relax and enjoy our time together is important.
    I think the window film is a good idea, and it's pretty! You could also put an indoor shutter on the just the lower part of the window if you don't want to block the light. We do that in our bathrooms for privacy, without blocking all the light.
    Thanks for joining the hop again!
    Jan, Wag 'n Woof Pets

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  3. I read that post about the window film, too. Seems like it's worth a try. I was so bummed out when I learned that looking out the window was doing more harm than good for Isis. Here I had thought she would prefer sitting on a couch looking out at the world, instead of in her crate where there's no view. Oh, the mistakes I made!

    Keep having fun and enjoying your pretty girl!

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    1. Yes, Ruby loves watching the squirrels and rabbits, but we seem to have more and more dogs passing by lately.

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  4. Sometimes I feel it is as frustrating for us as it is for them. I believe these dogs come to us for a reason, though. Ruby is lucky to have you.

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    1. I believe that, too, Rebekah - Ruby has taught me so much already.

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  5. Yes, a dance is a good way to describe it! Rita doesn't so much people carrying things - although it depends what they're carrying. She really hates anyone doing something she doesn't think is "normal." It's so embarrassing, because it's usually things that just plain don't look normal, so she really calls attention! Like today there was a woman doing these big arm circles while walking. Rita did NOT like that. Another day, it was hot out but this woman was walking wearing a big coat. Not cool, in Rita's book! She totally barked at her! Embarrassing.

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    1. Ruby is my second reactive dog (and the harder one) so I've gotten over being embarrassed. I know what she must look/sound like to people, but we're doing the best we can.

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  6. Baby steps...you are right about the 'dance' idea of it. With Maggie & her fearfulness we felt very much one baby step forward, two giant steps back. But there are tipping points where huge progress is made...hoping you hit some of those soon.

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    1. Thank you! The window film has already made a huge difference!

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  7. Sheba's wrecked our couch by using it to look out of the window when she sees a dog she goes deaf and won't listen, good luck I know how hard it can be.

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    1. I will definitely report back with the window film results!

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  8. Window film was the best thing that ever happened to us. We have window film on all our front windows, and at first my husband was sure the dogs would be "sad" not being able to look out the window but it has made the whole house more peaceful and all the dogs less stressed. Particularly with Jeni, who is also reactive outside of the house, I think not allowing her to "rehearse" bad behavior has really helped with her reactivity in general as well.

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    1. So far so good - we are both less stressed already!

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  9. Thanks for visiting our blog! Ruby is beautiful:) The window film sounds like a good idea but I have never had the problem that you have, so I wouldn't be the best one to give advice! Good luck and I hope you figure it out.

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    1. It is working like a charms so far! Thanks for stopping by!

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  10. Congratulations to you and Ruby! A man with a clipboard walked by and all Ruby wanted to do was say hello?!? Excellent! Is there a way you can "learn" the other dogs walking schedules (like Ruby has) so you can maybe begin a play session right before to keep her distracted from the window? I have never used any window film so I am not much help there.
    Thank you for joining the hop!
    Gina and Oz

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    1. The window film so far seems to be a huge success, I posted about it in detail today. The blog hop is wonderful - thanks so much for organizing it!

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  11. I haven't tried the window film, but covering the windows is a MUST around here. We have a broken slat in one of our blinds that causes me a lot of grief. I have curtains that fasten top and bottom AND a table in front of that window, and Silas still tries to go watch out the hole. He's also learned where to sit on the stairs so that he can watch out the window above our front door. Sigh. I have to go move him several times a day, because I'm pretty sure the HOA won't let us cover them.

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    1. I didn't even ask my HOA...since I got a very plain and not decorative kind I don't see how it is any different than blinds or shades. So far it seems to be a huge success!

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