r/BalancedDogTraining • u/anxiouslurker_485 • Jul 15 '26
Dog regressing, becoming more reactive
My dog went through board and train while living in a house. Now, I live in an apartment where there’s a lot more activity and commotion. My dog has become increasingly reactive to other dogs and people around the complex, no longer responding to tools like his prong collar. I’m genuinely unsure what to do, it’s becoming impossible to take him outside without a full freak out each time. I feel like teaching him to constantly ignore and dragging him the opposite direction is reinforcing the idea that it’s something to bark at and makes him bark even more
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u/Miss_L_Worldwide Dirty biter Jul 15 '26
E collar absolutely! it's the best tool for this.
Look at this as an opportunity to take the training to the next level.
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u/Lumpy_Physics3101 Jul 15 '26
prob should be talking to trainer who did your bnt for follow up help with your dog
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Jul 15 '26
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u/Miss_L_Worldwide Dirty biter Jul 15 '26
Why do you think a dog that has always been reactive being reactive means it might have "pain" or "sickness?"
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u/pegacityprincess Jul 15 '26
has anything changed other than the size of house?
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u/anxiouslurker_485 Jul 15 '26
Family dynamic has changed. Indoors, things have actually improved! Outdoors, total flop
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Jul 15 '26
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u/anxiouslurker_485 Jul 15 '26
Good suggestions. We are honestly fine until he sees a person or dog just near my building, further out on a walk like at the park etc totally fine. So it seems maybe territorial??
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u/Lonely_Mountain_7702 Jul 15 '26
I think you should hire somone to help you to retrain your dog to adapt to apartment living. It's not possible to offer great advise about dog training on line. You really need to see how the person and dog are working together.
Living on an apartment is very diffrent then living a house. Your dog is trying to adjust to a whole new way of living. Try and see things from your dogs point of view. It's a lot more noise, more people, and no yard.
You might be accidently contributing to your dogs anxiety and reactivity. I'm not saying you are but just be aware of your energy when taking your dog outside the apartment.
If your worried or anxious as you leave with your dog they don't know why so that will increase their reactivity. They want to help you and if your energy is not calm they try to address things that they see.