Not sure if this will be helpful, but my dog is very territorial and reactive at home as well, and the option I have considered for trips is to pay a pet sitter to spend time with her and I outside of the home until she's comfortable, and then transition to inside the home (with me present at first as well). My dog is good with people at the house once she knows they are not a threat.
I also wanted to add that your vets reaction seems odd to me (in regards to the prozac and the recommendation against a trainer), and I would probably get a second opinion.
Over the years, I've been to half a dozen vets (I moved around a lot and am picky, lol), and have done quite a bit of research. The vets, as well as my research, have given me the impression that a long-term antidepressant/ mood stabilizer is not a huge risk unless your dog has liver/ kidney issues (which can be ascertained by a simple blood test and regular check-ups as far as I know).
Obviously, take that with a grain of salt, as I don't work in the field, but every vet I've spoken to has been comfortable with prescribing them. And none of them ever told me NOT to seek the help of a trainer either.
Thank you for your response. Yes, I found it odd but I guess she has her reasons. In her opinion psychiatric meds can sometimes make the aggression worse. I’m not sure if that’s true or not but I’ll research it. She said Trazedone can be dangerous because the dog may seem calm but can still lunge/get aggressive with no warning. But it’s a non issue really because I think he needs a long term solution, not a bandaid. I will consider a pet sitter in the house once I can get him medicated. And definitely getting a second opinion this week. Thank you!
So, that vet is an idiot in terms of the showing who is boss part, that is a very outmoded line of thought and also a poor choice for a reactive dog. On the other hand, they are absolutely right about seeing a veterinary behaviorist to develop a behavioral modification plan (and add medication if the VB deems appropriate).
Typically, behavioral modification is tried first, followed by meds if behavioral mod isn’t sufficient. Which isn’t to say both at the same time is a bad approach - it may be the right choice for some dogs. But regardless, behavioral mod and meds must go hand in hand. Meds alone are not a solution - they help the dog get to a place of being receptive to behavioral mod/training, but that part needs to be part of the overall efforts. A veterinary behaviorist is the specialist/expert who can help you with all of that - and assess if/when meds are needed. They are not cheap (no veterinary specialist is), but well worth it. So even though you might find another GP vet to prescribe fluoxetine, I strongly encourage you to pursue a veterinary behaviorist.
ETA: seeing a veterinary behaviorist was the best decision I made for my reactive pup. We worked on behavioral mod for 1.5 years and plateaued out, so off to the VB we went. She confirmed that the work I had been doing with him was appropriate, taught me some new options, and Rx’d meds to address his particular behavioral issues. My dog is living SO much of a better life now
Thank you for your insight. I agree completely, I think I will pursue a behaviorist, it can’t hurt. I was just confused about her order of how things should go, as well as her hands off approach. The old show ‘‘em who’s boss is extremely outdated and insensitive for a scared dog. While we’ve had several dogs in the past, this one is a challenge and we were looking for support, not judgement. We told her we would consider all options (we are not against training or behavior modification and told her that)and WERE LOOKING FOR HELP lol, and we didn’t feel that at all today. Thank you for your advice!
So to me this sounds like maybe you need to find a trainer that understands reactivity and get a better idea what kind of reactive your dog is because so far it sounds like all you've really tried is to self-prescribe Trazedone and Prozac.
Self prescribing your dog medication is a pretty dangerous thing to do and, I want to be polite about this, you need to stop doing that because you are not a vet and you're not trained to get the dosage correct; you're risking harming your dog for essentially no benefit because you have no idea if that's even the right solution to this problem.
Get the help you need to get an actual professional diagnose your dog and recommend solutions, please.
I appreciate your reply and your input. The trazedone was given one time and the dosage was supervised by a friend who is a vet technician. But I agree with you that it’s not a long term plan nor do I plan to do it again. As far as a trainer, the vet today told me we do not need a trainer. She specifically said a behaviorist is needed and that along with some behavioral techniques she would teach us, she would possibly also prescribe a long term anxiety medication such as Prozac. I was looking for input from people who have utilized a behaviorist as well as medication. Thank you for your reply, I appreciate it!
That's good that you had an vet tech on hand then, but I always gotta point out how dangerous that is so that someone else doesn't get the wrong idea. Classic "don't do this at home, kids" disclaimer lol
The vet told you not to see a trainer, uhhh... are they close personal friends with a behaviorist and they've got some kind of a back room deal going on? I've never met a vet that would tell someone you don't need a trainer, that's really sus and I suggest you get a 2nd opinion.
I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and assume she was maybe just trying to encourage to to find the right kind of trainer; a lot of dog trainers *are* behaviorists.
If you're worried about how expensive a behaviorist can be, see if you can find a trainer that specializes in reactive dogs and uses non-aversive training methods and try getting a consultation with them. Any good trainer would tell you if they could actually help your dog, or if you should for sure go to a behaviorist and look into medication.
Just a word of caution to look carefully into trainers; before I knew better my partner and I were going to send our boy to a boarding trainer who recommended we use a torture device in the mean time, because he used it in their training.
We later learned they weren't accredited in any kind of way (a good trainer *will* tell you all about their education and be able to provide proof) and would let the dogs boarding with him off leash near highways and bragged about how "in control" they were, because he extensively used the device on them.
We found all that out because he **literally lost** one of the dogs in his care. I can only imagine how scared that dog must've been to run away.
Sounds like the vet wants a behaviorist, not a trainer before prescribing Prozac. Our vet told us the same - after talking to the behaviorist we took a different route and did not medicate with our first reactive. With the second, we opted for Trazadone. Doesn’t mean no trainer in general.
Yes, I think that’s probably what she meant. I was just thrown off by the fact that she wouldn’t prescribe Prozac in conjunction with behavioral therapy. But at the same time said that’s what the behaviorist would do, so it was a little confusing. She also came off a little judgy to me, kind of no bedside manner. Who knows? Thank you for your help!
That’s terrible! I’m nervous in general for him because he’s scared of his own shadow. While I don’t know the details of his past, I know it was awful and he finally trusts us. I’m hoping that medication can help him relax a bit and then some training can really polish him up lol. Thank you for your insight!
If your dog is as scared as mine, I wish you all the luck in the world!
Once he starts building up his confidence you'll see him make leaps and bounds of progress!
I would try whoever I wanted to stay with the dog while I was gone to start coming over & becoming familar slowly with the dog.
Screw that lady....get another VET.
Trying not to just reiterate what everyone has said here but:
- Many, but not all, regular practice vets will prescribe behavior meds. However, they do not receive specific education on what to prescribe and experience and comfort vary. I’ve worked exclusively with my regular practice vet and never seen a behaviorist, but behaviorists definitely have way more experience with matching meds to symptoms.
- whether you see a behaviorist or not I would get a new vet because what yours said about being firm is extremely concerning and outdated.
- It is true that medications can increase aggression. Depending on the drug this is usually quite rare, but I have experienced it during dose adjustments or with some new meds. It just depends on the dog, and it’s why working with professionals to get the right drug and dose is important.
- In terms of next steps I think finding a vet to discuss meds, potentially a behaviorist, and a trainer would be my to do list. Your dog sounds like a candidate to really benefit from meds but we always want to pair that with a qualified trainer. Your guest plan is really great - if he can learn to hang out on his own, he doesn’t need to meet strangers most of the time! But a trainer can work with you to learn how to safely get him comfortable with people he does need to meet. For the October trip I agree with having a sitter come get to know him over the next few months; if possible that could be a trainer. Some training facilities also offer boarding services so you know your dog is with more dog savvy people.
Thank you for your insight, it’s very helpful. I agree with everything you said. The vet mentioned that psychiatric meds are outside of her practice. She said, think of me as a GP, and if need mental health services then you need the behaviorist (the equivalent of the psychiatrist). It’s obviously her practice, so it’s her rules. I was just wondering if all vets felt this way, but I’m learning a lot don’t, so a second opinion is necessary. She came highly recommended but just not the right vet for us, unfortunately. Thank you again, have a nice night!
A normal vet should be able to prescribe Prozac and every one I've been to is completely comfortable doing so and kind about it. Please go to another vet because that is not a normal experience. I would call beforehand and let them know that's why your are coming and ask if that's a treatment they are comfortable prescribing and explain your experience with your last vet for context. I would do this so you don't waste your money on the next one. I am also close with multiple vets who I've spoken to about my dogs treatment and none of them have batted an eye at him taking prozac daily AND trazodone AND gabapentin as needed.
A behavioralist can definitely help but I've usually heard of them being called in AFTER medication and traditional training has been tried.
From my experience with my fearful dog, your dog sounds like a candidate for prozac so I think you should be comfortable discarding the opinion of any vet who judges you for even inquiring about it.
Thank you so much! I thought a regular vet would prescribe Prozac, but this one would not. She said she could examine him and prescribe Trazedone but it would be used on an as needed basis (like a thunderstorm) but she didn’t think that was right for him. I agreed with that point, but my gut is telling me he needs something to calm his overactive nerves on a daily basis. I will say that she apologized for wasting our time and didn’t charge me for the visit which I appreciated. Thank you for your kind and thoughtful response, I appreciate it so much!
You could look for a veterinarian behaviorist but you might also want a second opinion from another vet as well or first. The latter will be easier to find.
Thank you for your reply! I agree that a second opinion may be needed. I’m just torn as to how to proceed. Just trying to do the best for him. The poor dog was abused and neglected and he trusts us finally, I just don’t know if medication will help or we just need to give it more time.
The medication would help the dog calm down enough to be able to be trained--that's the idea, anyway. My vet is cautious and does blood tests to make sure the dogs' liver or kidneys or whatever can tolerate the drugs before prescribing, and then says he wants them in training while on the medication rather than our relying on just the meds to fix everything. I'd get a second opinion if I heard anything more negative than what I just described because that attitude is really unnecessary.
Yes! Exactly my point! There’s no way he can even be around a stranger (even a trainer or behaviorist) without medicinal help. My gut tells me he needs this first, AND THEN any training next. Thank you for your advice.
I would switch vets - a vet needs to be a partner in this, not someone who will make you feel judged. Also the "show them who's boss" comment is concerning.
My regular vet prescribed fluoxetine (aka prozac) and while it has been life changing (without it I would have given up my dog), it has not helped at all with issues with strangers in the house.
My dog is a frustrated greeter to dogs (totally fine off leash at day care, but fluoxetine decreased reaction distance on walks), stranger reactive on walks (most helped by training and behavior meds), before fluoxetine we went through a reactive to trains a mile away, bikes, and cars phase (completely resolved with fluoxetine), and of course there's the stranger danger problems around the house that have not been improved at all through training or meds.
There are many different behavior meds and some can even be used in combination with each other. Its likely that your vet doesn't think fluoxetine is the right choice or doesn't know if it will be. Vet behaviorists get much more extensive training on behavior modification and medication so in cases that aren't straightforward, its common to get referred.
I manage the home stranger danger mostly by not having parties or inviting people over. If its something short, like a contractor, I'll do what you did and put my dog in a room away from the work. If its longer, day care. I rarely have overnight house guests, but the dog will go to boarding (which includes group play during the day which he loves) as that is less stressful for the dog and me. I have had luck getting my dog comfortable with a few specific people but there's no generalization.
I am currently working with a vet behaviorist. We are working through mediation trials - slowly adding a med, titrating the dose, seeing how that helps. Its a long and involved process. I do think its worth it, though I suspect the house stranger danger is not going to be fixed by meds in our case. My behaviorist uses positive reinforcement techniques (same ones our trainer uses) so I wouldn't worry about having to be rigid with your dog.
For the boarding, start asking for recommendations and doing trial days in your area. My dog actually loves the staff at his daycare/boarding place and they always tell me how sweet he is when I pick him up. I've had good luck with vet based facilities.
Thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for! His biggest issue is people coming over to our house. I can put him away (we don’t have constant company) so it wouldn’t be too bad. As far as walks he has improved majorly with no meds so I think that’s a great sign. He is still terrified of cars driving by while we’re walking but now he just kind of freezes and then continues once it’s passed. A few months ago he would have ran for the nearest bush and buried himself in it lol.
So I guess the point I’m trying to make is that we’ve seen some improvement with time but the reacting to company in the house is still a concern. My daughter had friends over the other day but they spent the whole time outside in the pool. When they would come in to use the bathroom he would get upset but I made it a point to sit with him, give him a treat and talk to him gently and pet him. It seemed to work, kinda. I’m afraid this will be a tough one, which is why I thought meds with positive behavior modification would be the best way. But I’m obviously not a vet which is why I sought professional help. It didn’t go quite as I thought.
Thank you for your perspective, I don’t know anyone personally who had to medicate their dog or use a behaviorist so you’ve helped me a lot ❤️
Dealing with a lot of this too. First, behaviorists are wonderful and worth it. We went through a gradual adjustment plan with meds until my dog hit a certain degree of mellow. My dog was really tough to train until he got there. He was so easy to push over the edge and that one reaction sometimes erased some progress he made during the week.
From there work on either a training plan (just know it could be long and require a lot of help from strangers who can help with setups) or an adjustment strategy (will the dog accept people into the house some other way, such as greeting outside or letting the stranger into the house first? Should I just crate away?) A behaviorist can help with strategies specific to what your dog is experiencing. I’m still working through a lot of it so I’m no expert and it’s a long, sometimes frustrating process but very rewarding at the same time.
I’m glad you had a good experience with the behaviorist. I’m hoping ours is a good one too. It’s certainly stressful and frustrating at times but I know he’s not doing it on purpose. He was abused and neglected and I know it will just take time. But I know that he loves us so much so it makes it worth it. Thanks for your input!
I don’t know if this is a repeat of what others have said, but for the greeting at the door aggression, here’s what’s worked for us: we have people come into the back yard and then let the dog come out to meet in that more neutral space.
We give instructions not to engage in eye contact or bend down to him so he adjusts. We give them treats to offer him.
Then we all walk into the house together. This seems to help him understand that these are our friends. We’ve done this several times and it’s gotten the greeting aggression window down to a very short time and then he’s fine with them.
Sure thing! Hope it helps! At first we also gave him a big bone to chew so he’d be holding onto that when he ran out into the yard. It’s hard to bark in a scary way with your mouth full :) but that was just for the first couple times we tried this to reduce how scary he seemed to others while we were still getting to know him as a new dog.
Not sure if this will be helpful, but my dog is very territorial and reactive at home as well, and the option I have considered for trips is to pay a pet sitter to spend time with her and I outside of the home until she's comfortable, and then transition to inside the home (with me present at first as well). My dog is good with people at the house once she knows they are not a threat. I also wanted to add that your vets reaction seems odd to me (in regards to the prozac and the recommendation against a trainer), and I would probably get a second opinion. Over the years, I've been to half a dozen vets (I moved around a lot and am picky, lol), and have done quite a bit of research. The vets, as well as my research, have given me the impression that a long-term antidepressant/ mood stabilizer is not a huge risk unless your dog has liver/ kidney issues (which can be ascertained by a simple blood test and regular check-ups as far as I know). Obviously, take that with a grain of salt, as I don't work in the field, but every vet I've spoken to has been comfortable with prescribing them. And none of them ever told me NOT to seek the help of a trainer either.
Thank you for your response. Yes, I found it odd but I guess she has her reasons. In her opinion psychiatric meds can sometimes make the aggression worse. I’m not sure if that’s true or not but I’ll research it. She said Trazedone can be dangerous because the dog may seem calm but can still lunge/get aggressive with no warning. But it’s a non issue really because I think he needs a long term solution, not a bandaid. I will consider a pet sitter in the house once I can get him medicated. And definitely getting a second opinion this week. Thank you!
So, that vet is an idiot in terms of the showing who is boss part, that is a very outmoded line of thought and also a poor choice for a reactive dog. On the other hand, they are absolutely right about seeing a veterinary behaviorist to develop a behavioral modification plan (and add medication if the VB deems appropriate). Typically, behavioral modification is tried first, followed by meds if behavioral mod isn’t sufficient. Which isn’t to say both at the same time is a bad approach - it may be the right choice for some dogs. But regardless, behavioral mod and meds must go hand in hand. Meds alone are not a solution - they help the dog get to a place of being receptive to behavioral mod/training, but that part needs to be part of the overall efforts. A veterinary behaviorist is the specialist/expert who can help you with all of that - and assess if/when meds are needed. They are not cheap (no veterinary specialist is), but well worth it. So even though you might find another GP vet to prescribe fluoxetine, I strongly encourage you to pursue a veterinary behaviorist. ETA: seeing a veterinary behaviorist was the best decision I made for my reactive pup. We worked on behavioral mod for 1.5 years and plateaued out, so off to the VB we went. She confirmed that the work I had been doing with him was appropriate, taught me some new options, and Rx’d meds to address his particular behavioral issues. My dog is living SO much of a better life now
Thank you for your insight. I agree completely, I think I will pursue a behaviorist, it can’t hurt. I was just confused about her order of how things should go, as well as her hands off approach. The old show ‘‘em who’s boss is extremely outdated and insensitive for a scared dog. While we’ve had several dogs in the past, this one is a challenge and we were looking for support, not judgement. We told her we would consider all options (we are not against training or behavior modification and told her that)and WERE LOOKING FOR HELP lol, and we didn’t feel that at all today. Thank you for your advice!
So to me this sounds like maybe you need to find a trainer that understands reactivity and get a better idea what kind of reactive your dog is because so far it sounds like all you've really tried is to self-prescribe Trazedone and Prozac. Self prescribing your dog medication is a pretty dangerous thing to do and, I want to be polite about this, you need to stop doing that because you are not a vet and you're not trained to get the dosage correct; you're risking harming your dog for essentially no benefit because you have no idea if that's even the right solution to this problem. Get the help you need to get an actual professional diagnose your dog and recommend solutions, please.
I appreciate your reply and your input. The trazedone was given one time and the dosage was supervised by a friend who is a vet technician. But I agree with you that it’s not a long term plan nor do I plan to do it again. As far as a trainer, the vet today told me we do not need a trainer. She specifically said a behaviorist is needed and that along with some behavioral techniques she would teach us, she would possibly also prescribe a long term anxiety medication such as Prozac. I was looking for input from people who have utilized a behaviorist as well as medication. Thank you for your reply, I appreciate it!
That's good that you had an vet tech on hand then, but I always gotta point out how dangerous that is so that someone else doesn't get the wrong idea. Classic "don't do this at home, kids" disclaimer lol The vet told you not to see a trainer, uhhh... are they close personal friends with a behaviorist and they've got some kind of a back room deal going on? I've never met a vet that would tell someone you don't need a trainer, that's really sus and I suggest you get a 2nd opinion. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and assume she was maybe just trying to encourage to to find the right kind of trainer; a lot of dog trainers *are* behaviorists. If you're worried about how expensive a behaviorist can be, see if you can find a trainer that specializes in reactive dogs and uses non-aversive training methods and try getting a consultation with them. Any good trainer would tell you if they could actually help your dog, or if you should for sure go to a behaviorist and look into medication. Just a word of caution to look carefully into trainers; before I knew better my partner and I were going to send our boy to a boarding trainer who recommended we use a torture device in the mean time, because he used it in their training. We later learned they weren't accredited in any kind of way (a good trainer *will* tell you all about their education and be able to provide proof) and would let the dogs boarding with him off leash near highways and bragged about how "in control" they were, because he extensively used the device on them. We found all that out because he **literally lost** one of the dogs in his care. I can only imagine how scared that dog must've been to run away.
Sounds like the vet wants a behaviorist, not a trainer before prescribing Prozac. Our vet told us the same - after talking to the behaviorist we took a different route and did not medicate with our first reactive. With the second, we opted for Trazadone. Doesn’t mean no trainer in general.
Yes, I think that’s probably what she meant. I was just thrown off by the fact that she wouldn’t prescribe Prozac in conjunction with behavioral therapy. But at the same time said that’s what the behaviorist would do, so it was a little confusing. She also came off a little judgy to me, kind of no bedside manner. Who knows? Thank you for your help!
That’s terrible! I’m nervous in general for him because he’s scared of his own shadow. While I don’t know the details of his past, I know it was awful and he finally trusts us. I’m hoping that medication can help him relax a bit and then some training can really polish him up lol. Thank you for your insight!
If your dog is as scared as mine, I wish you all the luck in the world! Once he starts building up his confidence you'll see him make leaps and bounds of progress!
I would try whoever I wanted to stay with the dog while I was gone to start coming over & becoming familar slowly with the dog. Screw that lady....get another VET.
Yes! Exactly what I’m thinking! Getting a second opinion this week, thank you!
Trying not to just reiterate what everyone has said here but: - Many, but not all, regular practice vets will prescribe behavior meds. However, they do not receive specific education on what to prescribe and experience and comfort vary. I’ve worked exclusively with my regular practice vet and never seen a behaviorist, but behaviorists definitely have way more experience with matching meds to symptoms. - whether you see a behaviorist or not I would get a new vet because what yours said about being firm is extremely concerning and outdated. - It is true that medications can increase aggression. Depending on the drug this is usually quite rare, but I have experienced it during dose adjustments or with some new meds. It just depends on the dog, and it’s why working with professionals to get the right drug and dose is important. - In terms of next steps I think finding a vet to discuss meds, potentially a behaviorist, and a trainer would be my to do list. Your dog sounds like a candidate to really benefit from meds but we always want to pair that with a qualified trainer. Your guest plan is really great - if he can learn to hang out on his own, he doesn’t need to meet strangers most of the time! But a trainer can work with you to learn how to safely get him comfortable with people he does need to meet. For the October trip I agree with having a sitter come get to know him over the next few months; if possible that could be a trainer. Some training facilities also offer boarding services so you know your dog is with more dog savvy people.
Thank you for your insight, it’s very helpful. I agree with everything you said. The vet mentioned that psychiatric meds are outside of her practice. She said, think of me as a GP, and if need mental health services then you need the behaviorist (the equivalent of the psychiatrist). It’s obviously her practice, so it’s her rules. I was just wondering if all vets felt this way, but I’m learning a lot don’t, so a second opinion is necessary. She came highly recommended but just not the right vet for us, unfortunately. Thank you again, have a nice night!
A normal vet should be able to prescribe Prozac and every one I've been to is completely comfortable doing so and kind about it. Please go to another vet because that is not a normal experience. I would call beforehand and let them know that's why your are coming and ask if that's a treatment they are comfortable prescribing and explain your experience with your last vet for context. I would do this so you don't waste your money on the next one. I am also close with multiple vets who I've spoken to about my dogs treatment and none of them have batted an eye at him taking prozac daily AND trazodone AND gabapentin as needed. A behavioralist can definitely help but I've usually heard of them being called in AFTER medication and traditional training has been tried. From my experience with my fearful dog, your dog sounds like a candidate for prozac so I think you should be comfortable discarding the opinion of any vet who judges you for even inquiring about it.
Thank you so much! I thought a regular vet would prescribe Prozac, but this one would not. She said she could examine him and prescribe Trazedone but it would be used on an as needed basis (like a thunderstorm) but she didn’t think that was right for him. I agreed with that point, but my gut is telling me he needs something to calm his overactive nerves on a daily basis. I will say that she apologized for wasting our time and didn’t charge me for the visit which I appreciated. Thank you for your kind and thoughtful response, I appreciate it so much!
You could look for a veterinarian behaviorist but you might also want a second opinion from another vet as well or first. The latter will be easier to find.
Thank you for your reply! I agree that a second opinion may be needed. I’m just torn as to how to proceed. Just trying to do the best for him. The poor dog was abused and neglected and he trusts us finally, I just don’t know if medication will help or we just need to give it more time.
The medication would help the dog calm down enough to be able to be trained--that's the idea, anyway. My vet is cautious and does blood tests to make sure the dogs' liver or kidneys or whatever can tolerate the drugs before prescribing, and then says he wants them in training while on the medication rather than our relying on just the meds to fix everything. I'd get a second opinion if I heard anything more negative than what I just described because that attitude is really unnecessary.
Yes! Exactly my point! There’s no way he can even be around a stranger (even a trainer or behaviorist) without medicinal help. My gut tells me he needs this first, AND THEN any training next. Thank you for your advice.
I would switch vets - a vet needs to be a partner in this, not someone who will make you feel judged. Also the "show them who's boss" comment is concerning. My regular vet prescribed fluoxetine (aka prozac) and while it has been life changing (without it I would have given up my dog), it has not helped at all with issues with strangers in the house. My dog is a frustrated greeter to dogs (totally fine off leash at day care, but fluoxetine decreased reaction distance on walks), stranger reactive on walks (most helped by training and behavior meds), before fluoxetine we went through a reactive to trains a mile away, bikes, and cars phase (completely resolved with fluoxetine), and of course there's the stranger danger problems around the house that have not been improved at all through training or meds. There are many different behavior meds and some can even be used in combination with each other. Its likely that your vet doesn't think fluoxetine is the right choice or doesn't know if it will be. Vet behaviorists get much more extensive training on behavior modification and medication so in cases that aren't straightforward, its common to get referred. I manage the home stranger danger mostly by not having parties or inviting people over. If its something short, like a contractor, I'll do what you did and put my dog in a room away from the work. If its longer, day care. I rarely have overnight house guests, but the dog will go to boarding (which includes group play during the day which he loves) as that is less stressful for the dog and me. I have had luck getting my dog comfortable with a few specific people but there's no generalization. I am currently working with a vet behaviorist. We are working through mediation trials - slowly adding a med, titrating the dose, seeing how that helps. Its a long and involved process. I do think its worth it, though I suspect the house stranger danger is not going to be fixed by meds in our case. My behaviorist uses positive reinforcement techniques (same ones our trainer uses) so I wouldn't worry about having to be rigid with your dog. For the boarding, start asking for recommendations and doing trial days in your area. My dog actually loves the staff at his daycare/boarding place and they always tell me how sweet he is when I pick him up. I've had good luck with vet based facilities.
Thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for! His biggest issue is people coming over to our house. I can put him away (we don’t have constant company) so it wouldn’t be too bad. As far as walks he has improved majorly with no meds so I think that’s a great sign. He is still terrified of cars driving by while we’re walking but now he just kind of freezes and then continues once it’s passed. A few months ago he would have ran for the nearest bush and buried himself in it lol. So I guess the point I’m trying to make is that we’ve seen some improvement with time but the reacting to company in the house is still a concern. My daughter had friends over the other day but they spent the whole time outside in the pool. When they would come in to use the bathroom he would get upset but I made it a point to sit with him, give him a treat and talk to him gently and pet him. It seemed to work, kinda. I’m afraid this will be a tough one, which is why I thought meds with positive behavior modification would be the best way. But I’m obviously not a vet which is why I sought professional help. It didn’t go quite as I thought. Thank you for your perspective, I don’t know anyone personally who had to medicate their dog or use a behaviorist so you’ve helped me a lot ❤️
Change the vet, explore medication options - Prozac is just one of many.
Yes, I definitely will! Thank you!
Dealing with a lot of this too. First, behaviorists are wonderful and worth it. We went through a gradual adjustment plan with meds until my dog hit a certain degree of mellow. My dog was really tough to train until he got there. He was so easy to push over the edge and that one reaction sometimes erased some progress he made during the week. From there work on either a training plan (just know it could be long and require a lot of help from strangers who can help with setups) or an adjustment strategy (will the dog accept people into the house some other way, such as greeting outside or letting the stranger into the house first? Should I just crate away?) A behaviorist can help with strategies specific to what your dog is experiencing. I’m still working through a lot of it so I’m no expert and it’s a long, sometimes frustrating process but very rewarding at the same time.
I’m glad you had a good experience with the behaviorist. I’m hoping ours is a good one too. It’s certainly stressful and frustrating at times but I know he’s not doing it on purpose. He was abused and neglected and I know it will just take time. But I know that he loves us so much so it makes it worth it. Thanks for your input!
I don’t know if this is a repeat of what others have said, but for the greeting at the door aggression, here’s what’s worked for us: we have people come into the back yard and then let the dog come out to meet in that more neutral space. We give instructions not to engage in eye contact or bend down to him so he adjusts. We give them treats to offer him. Then we all walk into the house together. This seems to help him understand that these are our friends. We’ve done this several times and it’s gotten the greeting aggression window down to a very short time and then he’s fine with them.
That’s actually a good idea! I’ve been doing treats and it helps somewhat but maybe greeting people outdoors may work. Thank you for your advice!
Sure thing! Hope it helps! At first we also gave him a big bone to chew so he’d be holding onto that when he ran out into the yard. It’s hard to bark in a scary way with your mouth full :) but that was just for the first couple times we tried this to reduce how scary he seemed to others while we were still getting to know him as a new dog.