Accepting dog’s issues vs. actively trying to rehabilitate

[Anonymous]

Our dog is several years old and has some pretty serious fear-based issues that cause him to bark and lunge at strangers. He’s on medication and we’re actively working with a behaviorist, which we’ve been doing for about a year. We’ve made very little, if any issues progress. Before anyone tells me to put my dog down, he is 20 lbs, he never goes outside without a leash, and we don’t allow any strangers to approach or get too close to us. We are absolutely not putting him down.

My question is this: for the sake of trying to rehabilitate him, we take him on regular walks/out to parks/etc (with treats, clicker, and paying a lot of attention to him) that he usually does ok on, but are clearly pretty stressful for him. This is at the advice of the behaviorist, who thinks there is a good chance we can help him over time. As I said before, we’ve been doing this for about a year without results. At what point do we or did you accept that his best life is one inside our home?

He is great at home and absolutely adores us, although bathroom breaks can be stressful if we see other people out. Other than that, 0 problems in our house, so I’m wondering if at some point we just have to accept that he isn’t a dog who likes being in public and be done with it.

[Anonymous]

After a year I think you need to accept this is how he is. I think you can still make interactions as positive as you can and reward good behavior, but don't keep setting him up to fail.

I have an 8yo lab and while he acts like he loves other dogs initially and will walk great with them, as soon as we stop walking or sit down, he gets aggressive and lunges and is generally a jerk. So I do my best not to be in those situations. I walk with friends but no grabbing coffee after while the dogs hang out. No doggie bday parties, it sucks but it is what it is.

[Anonymous]

Just like sometimes we need to try a new therapist, try a new trainer. I've had good luck with Blue Ridge Canine. They do board and train, some of the trainers will live with your dog with them for a few weeks, they do weekly classes at Claude Moore Park in Loudoun.

[Anonymous]

I know we live in a positive-training world these days... but the only way I could train my reactive dog not to bark/lunge at (or once, attack) other dogs is with an electronic collar. I put it on very low and it gets his attention so that he can actually hear and understand me, when previously he would be oblivious to all but his urge to insult and respond to other dogs.

We can now go out in public again, and my dog can enjoy his interactions with friendly dogs without setting them off by provoking them, and can walk by reactive dogs without responding in kind.

[Anonymous]

I have a 12 year old rescue who came from a neglectful and abusive situation. It's been almost 4 years. After his medical issues were treated, and he received lots of affection, he started to trust us, and is very affectionate with us and our other dog only- no one else. Yes, he might bite you.

I love him- but boy does he have issues and a ton of anxiety. I just don't let him around others, and that is the way it is going to be. I consider it to be a privilege showing this little guy what love is.