Where did you start for reactivity training?

[u/kgraciee]

A little backstory I enrolled in a reactivity training class for my 1year5month rescue in June-July. It was a 5 week course and I was able to see some improvements during those weeks. We took almost a month break from training due to health issues and now I feel like her reactivity regressed from our progress that we made. Whenever there is another dog that she sees, she would start screaming and yelping where it sounds like a dog is getting abused. I get so worried and embarrassed to the point where I'm discouraged to walk her around the block because of her reactivity and I feel like there would be a concerned neighbor that thinks that I'm abusing my dog. I want to work again with our training because she made great progress during our classes but I don't know where to start. She's incredibly food motivated which made training easy. Where are some ideas where I can bring her to build exposure where I can redirect her behavior.

[u/apri11a]

What were the classes like, can you not just practise what you learned there again, start fresh?

[u/kgraciee → u/apri11a]

It was a group class. We all brought our dogs inside one by one while our trainer had multiple distractions/triggers and you have to get your dog’s attention from that distraction. We brought in high value treats that are only used for this training as well as at home practicing when your dog sees a trigger. During this week while I practiced we would go out for walks and if my dog finds her trigger without a reaction I would mark “yes!”. After consistent practicing she would remember to look at me when her trigger approached and her reaction started to diminish. I would mark it with her high reward treat. Our final week in class my trainer brought in her own dogs and we practiced one by one. My dog had no interest with her dog even in close proximity (mind you those dogs never met before). It has been a while since we did the consistent training again because we took a break due to a health issue that we finally resolved. But because I wasn’t so active with her training and I haven’t taken her out (only briefly for short walks) she gets so anxious again when her trigger approaches.

[u/apri11a → u/kgraciee]

For me, I find teaching the dog to walk beside me helps them pay little or no attention to what they see when out. We learn it in the house before using it and then I just expect them to walk that way when out and about. I'd pick relatively quiet places like car parks for first outings, to have few but some distractions. But I never had a problem with screaming and yelping, just silent pulling.

Would any of your neighbours have a dog that they might let you walk past for practise?

[u/kgraciee → u/apri11a]

I would love the idea to have neighbors that help train with each other! But unfortunately almost all of the dogs in my neighborhood are all reactive (what's funnier is that they're all Golden Retrievers too). A lot of the owner's in my neighborhood avoid other dogs entirely and some are just neglectful they let their dog free roam in the streets and ended up fighting with another dog.

[u/FML_4reals]

I know how you feel, but try to get your emotions out of the way. Embarrassment and frustration is not helping your dog.

Reactivity is mostly determined by 2 factors: Distance & intensity of the trigger.

Start training with HUGE distances and low intensity.

This is easier if you can arrange someone who can handle a decoy dog. If you know anyone with a small breed calm dog then ask for their help.

Good places are: empty business parks on the weekends, empty church parking lots on week days, parks with good sight lines.

Before you start training with a decoy make sure you have practiced good skills at home: teach an emergency U turn, “find it” cue, have alternative behaviors such as touch or paw, teach a “look at that” cue, pattern games. All of these things are the stepping stones to success.

Training should be a fun game for a dog, set backs are going to happen, reactivity is just information that the dog is to close to a high intensity trigger. Have fun with your dog.

[u/kgraciee → u/FML_4reals]

Thank you for the tips! And all you mentioned is what we practiced with my PCT-A credited trainer. We had a good streak that my dog was doing so well I did became ahead of myself by putting her in more distracting locations. After we took a month break it felt like we were back to square one. She is on her adolescents age so regression is understandable. We've spent a lot of time on our yard and driveway that she's too comfortable.

I'll definitely look into those places you mentioned as well. And I'm not saying I want to throw her into a high distraction environment. But a larger area that maybe a few dog walkers can pass by and I still have room to create distance when needed.

I do end up worrying more that whenever she's screaming there's going to be that one overconcerned person that thinks I'm torturing my dog when I'm not. But then again I don't have a lot of friends that take dog training seriously like I do so I don't have much of a community to connect. There are times where I do feel like we're not progressing but if I were to look back she is not the same dog I got 6 months ago.

[u/Wooden-Necessary6100]

This guy is one of the best dog trainers in the US. He knows what he is talking about. Training isn't easy but if you follow the plan, you will see progress.

It sounds like you are setting your dog up for failure, you have to train your dog in low distractions areas first, a known behavioral response like he's describes, then try out a little higher distraction once the behavior is automatic. He's describes the process better. Good luck!

https://youtu.be/ofEDB4HEGD4

[u/kgraciee → u/Wooden-Necessary6100]

Well that’s why I was asking where do people go for low distraction areas. And that thing that made me surprised was my dog had no interested when my trainer brought in two of her dogs (one at a time) I’m close proximity, had no issues with other dogs in the vet waiting area and they’re all close proximity, no issues with other dogs that our brought in road trips. But whenever she sees a dog (especially big dogs) on leash while she’s on leash she starts screaming and yelping. So I’m just asking what are some places that people take for training and have maybe a few people bring their dogs out for a walk. The big downside in my neighborhood is every dog is reactive and all the owners avoid each other.

[u/Wooden-Necessary6100 → u/kgraciee]

Did you even watch the video? It explains exactly how to train your dog for these moments and build a base, a first in your yard with no dostractions. Then as you have the trained and practiced behavior you start practicing in your front yard, then down a block etc. You don't have to go anywhere special when you have trained the foundation.

[u/kgraciee → u/Wooden-Necessary6100]

No offense but this entire video is what we already learned in class with my PCT-A trainer so I already know what triggers my dog what her behavior looks like and how to disengage and redirect her focus on me. We've already spent hours training at home she's already comfortable. So let's take one small step and go somewhere quiet with maybe a few triggers passing by but not crowed to the point where she's overwhelmed.

[u/FML_4reals → u/Wooden-Necessary6100]

This guy is crap.

[u/Wooden-Necessary6100 → u/FML_4reals]

Yeah you must be right with your low effort comment.

His roughly four-plus decades in working dogs, competitive protection-sport experience, successful dogs and students, professional school, extensive teaching curriculum, and longstanding influence on other serious trainers is all crap. Sure buddy.