Having a Reactive Dog
Maverick came home on February 14, 2021. He was only 2 and a ½ months old. Already almost 40 pounds. He was a like a furry little Wolf. Half German Shepherd, half Belgian Malinois. The most energetic combo. The Herding Breed. They can be domineering and push you around if you don’t stand your ground. Make sure your dog knows who’s boss respectively.
We think Maverick leans more towards GSD because of the markings on his face and temperament. I was SO ready to get a dog. When I saw him, I had to bring him home.
We had our kitty for 17 years and we always talked about getting a dog in the future. We knew it would be expensive, time consuming but also loads of fun. Since we are a childfree couple, we knew a dog would be perfect for our lifestyle. I did have experience with dogs before. I was already accustomed. And since I’m all about fitness and nature, a dog would be the perfect jogging mate for Ms. Candie.
However, I was not prepared for a reactive dog. Our past family dogs were so calm while on leash. I assumed the little bit of that behavior I noticed was just a puppy phase.
I kept saying, “he’ll grow out of it”. He’s only a baby. Once he’s neutered, he’ll stop lunging.
Well…… he continued to grow into adulthood and the reactive behavior became his entire personality.
We did everything we could to socialize Maverick early on. As soon as 3 months old, we walked him every day and everywhere. Parks, neighborhoods, the petstore and numerous car rides. He went to the Vet frequently for checks ups and vaccinations. Once he was neutered at 1.5 years old, he suddenly refused to let any stranger get near him. We had to pay extra to have him sedated for a simple routine checkup. He wouldn’t let the doctor give him a shot or check his vitals. It was pretty intense. I spent a few vet visits crying. Just from the stress and the embarrassment.
You just feel helpless. He goes totally frantic, and it can be very upsetting to watch doctors manhandle your dog. It would take hours for the vet staff to sedate and treat him. But thank goodness he is healthy and completely up to date on all his shots. He should be okay for a while. :Fingers Crossed:
When we go for walks, I make sure I have enough distance between me, Maverick and strangers. The more I spoke to other owners with similar breeds, the more I understood why hes so reactive. Not only is it in his nature to protect the perimeter of his home and Family, its also his separation anxiety that’s triggered. I learned to be patient, loving, and forgiving. I don’t believe in severe punishment. I am firm when I need to be. But I am not shocking my dog with an E collar. It’s just not for me. I never even called a professional trainer. For 1, they are too expensive, and I have trust issues. I’m afraid to leave him at a facility without me. I’m afraid the trainer may be too rough during the process. I’m scared to death someone will kidnap my dog.
I am just as clingy to Maverick as he is to me. (Maybe I’m the problem? Lol.) Again….my opinion. I am not judging anyone else. Some trainers feel the E collar is most effective for the best results.
I decided to train Maverick myself. He is fully potty trained, respects our furniture and is very loveable. He doesn’t beg for food when we eat. And we don’t give him scraps. He has improved greatly on our walks. I praise him and make sure to keep things positive. I am so happy I pushed through the hard times and stayed patient. It was totally worth it.
In the beginning it was very hard for me. Strangers can be nasty people. They clearly judge you. State their opinions and its just something you have to get used to. I used to take offense and feel like this horrible owner. But I know how Maverick is when he’s home and around his Family. He’s not a vicious dog. He just appears that way to someone who has never met him. He can appear very scary. Lol.
He is now 3 years old, and we have both come a long way. Moving to the new house has made a world of difference. It’s a bigger community and less noisy.
I still make sure to pick a time of day that has less traffic. I understand his triggers. I am much more relaxed, prepared and in control when I walk him, and he can sense it. He knows I have his back and he has mine. We can now walk together with minimal occurrence. I absolutely love Maverick with all my heart and soul.
I have zero regrets and would only say this to anyone else with a reactive dog. Pay no mind to how the world sees your dog. Just focus on your training together. Do what feels right. If you want a trainer, then get one. If you want to do all the training and bonding yourself, then go for it. As dog owners we are 100% responsible. So please, put on a muzzle on your dog while out in public if necessary. Do your research on what type of breed you want. For me, I love a high energy crazy type of dog. 😊 So choose wisely.
Thanks for listening Friends. Have a great day with your Poochie!
