Reactivity: often success comes from the whole picture
Supportive Options for Reactivity
What do we know about dogs who growl, bark, vocalise, lunge, run/hide, tuck tail, avoid etc? Canine body language has been studied; trainers and behaviourists have observed specific body language that can tell us what a dog might be feeling. Behaviour can express discomfort and worry. These behaviours are put on display to create distance (keep the worrying thing away) or, less frequently, because of frustration from being contained (leash, fence, window, etc).
When dogs respond to their environment with excitement, frustration or worry, their nervous system becomes activated past the Flight/Fight (or Freeze!) threshold and releases chemicals that create a boost of energy to get out of these situations. Unfortunately, these chemicals can contribute to an inability to self regulate after the stressful event, and may even make further outbursts more likely. Memories formed while these nervous system chemicals are released are very strong and rehearsal of unwanted behaviour can create habitual reactions.
So, what are our options?
1.Training: Teach dogs and humans how to effectively avoid these unfortunate situations. Using counter conditioning and desensitisation humans can also help dilute, reduce or even reverse the dog’s feelings about particular situations or “triggers” in the environment.
2.Cortisol Holidays: If we’re able to provide our dogs some “time off” from reactions/outbursts, we can increase the chances that they will be able to change their behaviour and reduce the chances of reacting in future. A dog’s cortisol holiday can be a change in routine or outing that is geared towards avoiding triggers(causes of reaction) for a short time. Cortisol Holidays can go a long way to restoring some mental resilience. This could also include using white noises to drown out sounds around the home or blocking off an area where your dog may tend to listen and bark.
3.Physical Fitness: Consider introducing calmer, lower excitement activities. For example, if your dog acts “crazy” for a ball(fetch or frisbee, etc), that option might not be the best as the cortisol levels are escalating with the game. Short games of tug of war, wrestling over a ball such as deflated soccer or basketball, or nature hikes without training and with lots of freedom (ideally, if safe to do so, off-leash, or on a long line of 15-20 feet). Decompression, or sniffy walks, are a natural way to get distance from triggers in your dog’s environment, get you and pup into a natural setting, and allow a dog to use their nose to investigate the world and breathe in as though they were “wild dogs” once again.
Note: ideally these walks take place in a variety of locations, this will boost the value for your dog.
4.Mental Fitness: Problem solving and puzzles that ask a dog to work out how to get food can replicate hunting and foraging activities. These can include food puzzles, easy or “low stakes” training such as working on a trick or a training technique called “shaping” which uses successive approximations to work closer and closer towards an end goal. For example, getting a dog to touch a target in the middle of the room with his nose. Food Puzzles(see handout), chews, and raw or frozen bones can offer a relatively-hands-off option for owners to provide their dogs with relaxed mental stimulation. If you are interested in training, but concerned about how your dog will do in a regular class, some options could be an online or virtual class, or nosework/scent work, where dogs tend to work one at a time.
5. Supplements or Veterinary options: when the above options have been tried and either don’t help enough, or reactions continue to happen enough that it impacts both owner and dog’s lives on many days(or on more than one occasion in a day), it may be worthwhile to consider what else we can do to improve both owner and dog’s life.
Over the counter behavioural support includes: Composure, Zylkene, Purina Calming Care.
Veterinarians and Vet Behaviourists can also help diagnose anxiety and other underlying behavioural issues that make it difficult for your dog to learn and cope.Your Vet may be able to offer further options including diagnostics or prescription medication. If you think your dog might benefit from an exam and discussion with your Vet, schedule today to start the conversation and let a professional team help guide you and your pup to a better place.
Activities suggested within this handout are done at the owner’s discretion and with supervision from an adult. Some things may be safe for some dogs and not for others.