It wasn't until after I adopted my rescue pup, Hippo, that I fully understood what it was like to live with a reactive dog. Hippo was almost 6 months old and had survived parvo virus. He was still pretty sickly when I took him home, but in the following weeks, it became clear that he had not been socialized with people or other dogs.
He was terrified of new people and new situations. Where he should have just been curious or maybe a little wary, he would go into a full blown panic. He didn't trust anyone, not even me, and that's where the problems started. 

Hippo's warning signs:

• ​agoraphobia (fear of open spaces)
• fear of the dark
• fear of noises
• fear of objects
• stranger danger
• increased reactivity (growling, lunging, barking) to dogs, objects, or people while on lead 
• no eye contact

Hippo would bark at anyone or anything that surprised him. If he encountered a familiar person in a dark hallway, he would growl and lunge. He didn't trust strangers and he hated walks, espcially at night. If he heard a distant dog barking while we were on a walk, he would try to run home or he would displace and redirect his fear and lunge at the next person he saw. His behaviors were so extreme, I knew he needed help. I turned to the vet behaviorist Karen Overall and her relaxation protocol.

http://championofmyheart.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/new-rp-2014.pdf

A reactive dog goes from 0-100 in seconds. They go into fight or flight mode in an instant. They may see new situations, objects, and people as threats to their safety or their people's safety. A socialized dog who has learned to trust people and other dogs doesn't worry as much. The goal with the relaxation protocol is to condition the dog that certain situations are managable. A dog can learn how to calm himself down and to reason through a scary situation by first learning to trust and defer to their pet parent. With a loving home, time, and a lot of patience, a dog can become less reactive over time.

I saw a significant change in Hippo after we started the relaxation protocol. He was generally calmer and was more tolerant of the things that used to make him react. He stopped barking or chuffing at every little noise that he heard inside the house. Within 6 months, he was able to go on walks without reacting at people or objects. Within 1 year, he was able to go on walks at night without reacting (most of the time). 

Many of my clients come to me with dogs like Hippo. They are desperate for help and are often hoping that medication will fix the problem. While medication can help reduce anxiety, without a behavior modification program, the dog will not get better. The important thing to remember is that this type of training is teaching the dog new behaviors. It is resetting the brain and remodeling impulsive behaviors into more normal responses. It is not a quick fix, but its the foundation for all normal behavior which makes this type of work so worthwhile and beneficial to any dog who is suffering from severe fear and anxiety.

How to help your reactive dog:

• Avoid situations where your dog is likely to react until you've worked on conditioning your dog to not be afraid of that situation. Go in stages, baby steps with lots of rewards. For example, I had to stop walking Hippo in my neighborhood for 2 weeks while we worked on the protocol. It took months of feeding him outside at night and then walking him with string cheese for him to like walks at night. 
• Crate train your dog and make it positive. A fearful dog needs a safe place to retreat to especially when strangers come over. 
• Work with a compassionate trainer and veterinarian who understand dog behavior and reactivity. This article doesn't scratch the surface on the amount of training, counter conditioning, and behavior modification that may be needed to help a reactive dog.  

Dog reactivity is very complex and every dog is different in terms of their degree of socialization and fear. Check out these links for more information and seek professional help. Having a reactive dog can be challenging and rewarding. Don't go it alone!

​http://careforreactivedogs.com/
https://dogsinneedofspace.com/gear-and-tools/
http://yellowdogproject.com
http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/better-walk-training-dogs-not-lunge-growl-and-pull-leash?pageID=3

From personal experience as a veterinarian and someone who sees a lot of behavior problems, the answer is YES! We've all seen the new puppy that seems crazed with excitement every time he sees a new person or another dog. If we take a closer look, what we might realize is that this super happy puppy is exhibiting ANXIETY and frustration. As we inadvertently encourage this behavior, it will only get worse. This pup will become an anxious adult unless we intervene. Anxiety in a puppy can lead to any of the below problems. 

• separation anxiety
• excessive barking, jumping on people, mouthiness 
• noise phobias (fear of loud or startling noises)
• problems with crate training
• reactivity towards other dogs, animals, or people 
• obsessive, compulsive behavior

All too often, pet parents are desperately looking for help with their pet's anxiety. In most cases, medication is NOT the answer. It's time to look at the dog's environment, routine, diet, and training history to search for answers. 

Preventing anxiety:

• reward calm behavior
• maintain calm energy around your dog
• consistently exercise your dog
• stick to a routine
• train your dog with the help of a trainer who advocates positive reinforcement and non corrective techniques
• protocol for deference by vet behaiorist Karen Overall

You can say, "good calm" or "good quiet" whenever your dog is being chill. Offering a treat reward for this behavior will quickly reinforce it and give you a tool to use when energy is too high. If you are anxious or high energy around your dog, expect to see this behavior in your dog. Exercise needs vary for each dog. No matter what, appropriate mental and physical stimulation can bring anxiety levels down. Most puppies are naturally looking at their pet parent for guidance. They look at you because they are deferring to you. They are asking the questions: Is this ok? Is it scary or not scary? Will you be my fearless leader so I dont have to worry about things or protect you? Simply asking a puppy to SIT and acknowledge you (LOOK, LOOK AT ME) before anything (eating, going out the door, getting into the car, greeting a new person) will reinforce calm behavior and deference. 

Appropriate play is awesome for puppies. Doggy day care can be fun and provide a great source of exercise and socialization. Having your pup attend regular play sessions can also reinforce a healthy independence as your pup forms bonds with new people and new dogs. Inappropriate play or anxiety around play can reinforce bad behaviors and anxiety. Ask daycare staff how your dog behaves for clues.

• Does your dog enjoy playing and making friends? 
• Does he/she bark constantly while other dogs are playing or in the kennel while waiting to play?
• Does he/she freeze in the play area?
• Does he/she have to be corrected for bad manners towards other dogs or other people?
• Does your dog seem crazed/full of wild energy after daycare? 

If any of this sounds familiar, your dog could be anxious about daycare. Even dogs that love to play can play too much. If you notice that no matter how much your dog plays, he still needs to play more or he can't seem to relax. Your dog needs some behavior modification. He/she needs to learn how to CALM DOWN. Its not healthy for a dog to be in a constant state of excitement. This is equal to STRESS. The brain becomes conditioned to this type of behavior making it difficult for the dog to shut it off. There are some good tools that can help, but behavior modification protocols can be key to retraining the brain. See my previous post for some enrichment ideas that may help and stay tuned for more on helping your dog learn how to be calm and more relaxed. 

Most of the time when our pets exhibit bad behavior, there is a deep seated issue. Boredom, lack of excercise, fear, anxiety or stress can be at the root of the problem. This issue has everyone thinking and you would be amazed at how many solutions are available to you and your family pet. Most products designed to address behavior are targeted at environmental enrichment. Some of the more inventive ones, target instinctive behaviors that are missing in our pets' lives. By just adding some of these to the daily routine can make a world of difference for your furry friend. 

My newest favorite is the snuffle mat. The mat encourages the use of the nose; every dog's favorite sense. We humans don't seem to realize how important it is for dogs to smell things. We inadvertently discourage it by hurrying our pets along on their walk. You can add treats or food to the mat and let your dog lavish in some fun sniff and find times. Look for DIY versions. 

Feeding toys can be great for keeping pets occupied and extending the time it takes to eat. Starmark makes a wobble toy that can hold an entire kibble meal.  The eggserciser is a feline friendly version of this. Not only are these toys a lot of fun, they can also encourage and develop natural instincts like hunting and foraging which are a great cure for boredom and stress. A Kong should be in every pet's toy basket. Put them in the freezer overnight with wet food or peanut butter. Et Voila!

I'm currently saving up for something called clever pet. At $299, it seems pricey for a cat or dog toy, but its sooo much more than that. Your dog or cat can play mind games while you're away. Designed by neurologists, this will keep your pet busy and make him or her smarter.

If excessive barking is the issue, pet tutor is the product for you. Also on the pricey side, this smart phone enabled system can teach your dog that calm and quiet gets the reward. For this reason, its also great for helping dogs with separation anxiety.

DogTV and icalmpet offer digital and musical media with ultimate relaxation in mind. You can also stream on spotify or netflix.

While all off this stuff is really great, you don't have to spend a fortune to keep your pet happy. Let's not forget exercise! Daily walks, runs, and one on one play, or training times are vital for any pet's well being. Exercise  combined with high quality food, regular vet care and normal routine is the foundation to being a happy pet.