What the doodle is happening? UPDATE Beavers

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

We have Doodle Beavers - must be a new and very rare breed.  And there are 2 of them!  I've said before that Rooney & Stuart will copy each other - well after careful watch of Stuart's poo which had wood it it - as I picked up Rooney's - more wood.  That is correct Mr. Perfect followed his brother right down the path to hell, sorry little over the top, the path right to splinters.  So far every thing seems to be passing without a problem but I am still nervous.  How long before you thing they are in the clear?  *************

Dear Stuart where are you?  At 16 months now I no longer sometimes know you.  My sweet boy who has been left at home for 6 months now without ever chewing up anything, totally trustworthy - you ATE an entire paint stir stick tonight, umm why?  Nothing left but wood chips.  So now I'm on poop watch hoping that it will all pass and if not - well - thank God for the insurance but I'm scared.  I'd lay the guilt trip on you and talk about the gray hair that you are giving me but we both know I already had that. 

Isn't it enough stress that bees like you and you don't like bees?  I almost lost you this summer . . . a thought so unimaginable that my mind can't even go there.  Anaphylactic shock - I still can't spell it let alone wrap my mind around the fact that this is a forever kinda thing.  Shoot - I was always worried about not forgetting to take poop bags with me - now I carry an Epi pen EVERY where we go.

You are still my big ol snuggle puppy - gotta be laying on me while you sleep but you have gotten so reactive to some other dogs while we are walking.  Yet at doggie day care - you LOVE every dog - what gives big buddy?  Momma doesn't know what to do.  Some days I can say "leave it" and you'll pass the other dog without more than a glance, other dogs you have to bark, bark, bark, jump, lunge, no corrections seem to help.  Then while at the ice cream shop - there can be 8 little kids - grabbing you, petting you, pulling your leash, laying on you, loving your brother - and you are so gentle and sweet.  Every little old lady with a walker, toddler in a stroller, kid on a skateboard, guy in wheelchair - they all want to pet you and say hi.  None of that bothers you - so what is up with other dogs?

We are heading back to Florida this Friday - back to our trainer, who I hope has some idea of what the doodle is happening because I just don't have a clue.

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Jane - he sounds like a middle school kid to me!!!

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

It's his age.  He's dissing the other dogs, he needs to know that its not good.  When Roo was this age I went everywhere with my pockets bulging with treats, really yummy ones.  Tried to get him sitting and looking at me, and treating him, making him pay attention to me, my foot on the leash with just a little slack and the end in my hand, so that if decided I wasn't interesting enough, even with yummy treats, he got a quick reminder that I was interesting and dissing was so not allowed.  Took forever.  Tigger didn't start this until he was about 3+, he's a slow maturer I guess.  Took much less long to convince him that dissing wasn't allowed - same treat routine though.

Hang in there.

 

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Rooney has never gone through this.  I will try working with a higher quality treat than "puppy crack"(organic chicken jerky) but as our MI place is in a tourist spot - so many dogs!  It started out with Stuart just so excited to see the other dog and acting like he wanted to play.  Now it has progressed to full on barking and growling.  Sometimes when I think he is under control and not going to react - then the other dog reacts and the Stuart goes full on crazy.  People think I'm entraining as I put him in a sit, stay and sometimes have to grab him around the muzzle to get him to look me in the eyes with a sharp "no, leave it".  It there something more I should be doing?

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I have been dealing with this with Sophie for awhile now.  I think that the most shocking thing is that our doodles are so loveable and so cute that when this happens for the first time it shocks the crap out of us that they actually sound mean or angry.  Just doesn't seem possible.  One of the issues with Sophie is that she really just wants to be able to go great the other dog.  If I hold her back it makes her mad.  Well, as we all know, you can't let them greet strange dogs because you don't know the other dog or what their reaction might be.  My first reaction would be to shorten up the leash when I saw another dog coming.  I finally figured out that by my getting anxious and shortening and tightening up the leash I was just signaling her to be concerned.  So now I don't do that.  I just leave it where ever it was and I start talking to her with some leave its and good girls etc.  If I know the dog I let her greet the dog, if not, we just keep on moving.  I would say we are at about 9 out of 10 success rate right now.  It is more difficult though if the other dog starts barking.   For me treats don't work so well in these situations because she is too focused on the other dog and doesn't even want a treat. 

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

OK right here is why I love DK - I always learn stuff.  I too shorten up the leash when I see the dog coming - so I am sending a signal - guilty!  (No it is not retractable)  I'll start only using the shorter leashes we have.  LOL  One small step at a time - we will find a way.  Thank you!

And yes Stuart is so cute that people can't believe the bark he has - scary!

I was "threatened" after dark here one night by a young fellow (who I caught trying to break a street light) - Stuart put himself between the jerk and I and stood there barking.  Stuart was always excited to meet and wanted to greet other dogs but since this time he has started the "dissing".  Could this have triggered the more extreme behavior?

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

After the light incident did you praise him for "reacting"?.  I know I would have with Bailey if she acted that way and tried to protect me..  But I wonder if it reinforced his barking and lunging with a "good dog" praise..Just a thought

Bailey is just a tad bit younger than Stuart and yesterday for the first time at the dog park she actually was toy protective.  She had a tennis ball and another dog tried to get it and she actually growled with her lips drawn up.  She has never done that before....  I called her out of the pond, took the ball away from her and gave it to the other dog and put her in time out...Little Sassy Brat!!  LOL

You are a good doodle mom and I bet as soon as you get home and out of "vaca mode" Stuart will find himself again

Darn teenagers!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Oh Jane, I hope there were no bad effects from the paint stick.  As for the reactiveness on leash to some dogs, that's exactly what we've been dealing with.  Murphy started this when he was much younger than Stuart though and it's part of his overall dominance.  It seems like a totally different thing with Stuart.  Good that you'll be back with your trainer...please keep us posted on what he/she says.

[Colleen, Jake & Baxter]

Since I've adopted Baxter our walks have become much more shall I say interesting.  Before Baxter Jake couldn't care less about another dog(s) walking by but now it's a different story. Baxter acts like a wild man wanting to see the other dogs and now Jake has to join in and before I know it I'm the one that gets all tied up in their leashes:(. I am guilty of tightening the leash and will do better.  I know what I am supposed to do when another dog approaches but it sure does gets tricky in the heat of the moment!

Have a safe trip back to Florida!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

"Perfect" JD can also be reactive to other dogs on leash, and they definitely do sense it through the leash if you are tense. Getting and keeping his focus on you will help. You need to see the other dog before he does. Also, stay relaxed. I recently found that if I start laughing before anything escalates, that alone diffuses things. I'm sure your trainer will help with this.

I hope the paint stick passes without  any issues. WTD, Stuart? Behave yourself!

[BG and Gavin]

One tip for the reactiveness from out trainer is if you see another job approaching do something to change things up so that your  dog has to concentrate on you, for example speed up, change direction abruptly, walk in a zig zag, do a series of turns.  You will look like a drunk, but who cares. 

[Marnie, Stanlee's Mom]

HA HA this is exactly what I have had to do in the past and you're right, who cares as long as it works. 

[Leslie and Halas]

Stuart, behave!  Hopefully this is just a phase, and getting back to your regular training and refocusing on good behaviors will help.  My parents had a husky that sometimes acted aggressively towards other dogs if she was on a leash and the other dogs weren't.  I think it just made her feel vulnerable or something.  Good luck with the retraining.  I know you'll get him back on track.  Good luck with the passing of the paint stick!