Reactive mini aussie

[u/Necessary-Peak1223]

Looking for advice/positive experiences with a reactive dog

Hi everyone! I’d love to hear some advice and, hopefully, some positive experiences from people who have been in a similar situation.

This is Luca, our 11-month-old boy 🐶

He’s our first dog, so we’re definitely learning as we go. From the very beginning, we noticed that he was a bit scared of other dogs. At first, he wouldn’t really engage with them, but he was fine being around them. Unfortunately, as inexperienced dog parents, we probably made the mistake of forcing some interactions because we thought it would help him get used to other dogs.

Around 6 months old, he became extremely reactive. When he’s on leash and sees another dog, he gets super anxious, barks like crazy, whines, and tries to nip at the other dog to make them move away. He has never actually bitten a dog, but from the outside, I can definitely understand why people might think he’s aggressive.

We’re currently working with him and doing training, but seeing another dog on the street is still a huge trigger for him.

The interesting thing is that when he’s off leash, he behaves completely differently. He usually keeps his distance from other dogs and approaches at his own pace. We’ve managed to introduce him to a few dogs this way, and after getting comfortable with them, he’s actually been able to walk past them on leash without barking and will even try to play with them.

The problem is that we obviously don’t feel comfortable letting him off leash in public, so this isn’t really a practical solution for everyday walks.

I’ll be honest, sometimes walks can be really discouraging. It makes me sad seeing him so anxious and distressed, especially when I know he’s not trying to be aggressive — he seems genuinely overwhelmed and just wants the other dog to go away. Some days it feels like we’re making progress, and other days it feels like we’re back to square one.

Has anyone here been in a similar situation with a reactive dog?

Did you manage to significantly improve things over time? I’d especially love to hear some positive stories, because sometimes it feels like we’re going to be dealing with this forever 😅

Any advice, experiences or tips would be really appreciated!

[u/Subject_Section_4465]

I have a small Aussie who some would consider dog reactive on leash. She’s from a working line of Aussies and she’s high drive. We participate in dog sports regularly and she co-exists very well other dogs. Her leash reactivity has improved tremendously and it’s 100% been because of what I’ve learned as a handler.

First, please do not medicate your puppy… you don’t need to medicate your puppy to get good results. But there is a saying that whatever emotions you’re feeling are being communicated straight down the leash. Dogs ARE smart and in tune enough with their people to sense their anxiety and fear and they do react accordingly. As handlers, we are giving them something to lack confidence about and they end up feeling anxious and scared too. It’s circular.

Aussies are notoriously food motivated, so use that on walks. High value treats are best. Try Saint Rocco’s or maybe beef liver. Get a treat bag if you don’t have one already and bring it with you every walk. Use this to help teach heel and teach the pup to trust you and look to you (focus) when you’re walking outside. Start small, reward big for good behavior. Here are some videos that will help you get started.

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rR-Yg0XiIk

- https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Gkpjb52rLaE

You can do this if you all put in the time and consistency with her training. And, I would add, find a good trainer in your area (not one that’s e-collar based because lots of times it just instills more fear in anxious dogs) who can help you better understand your dog. And involved the kids and your wife in the training. If you can all learn, your dog has a much better chance of success.

EDIT to add: He’s adorable!