Reddit reviews Behavior Adjustment Training 2.0: New Practical Techniques For Fear, Frustration, and Aggression
We found 6 Reddit comments about Behavior Adjustment Training 2.0: New Practical Techniques For Fear, Frustration, and Aggression. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
CARE for reactive dogs. Keep her under threshold. That (for most dogs) means increasing distance - you want her to notice them, but not be building to the reaction. At that point, you can do a couple of things - look at that (dog looks at the trigger, you mark and reward - you want to transition this very quickly where you mark the dog looking at the trigger, then you and marking for looking back at you, and then eventually just marking ignoring the trigger), look and dismiss (dog looks at the trigger and dismisses to do something else - sniff, play with you, etc), BAT 2.0, or any other protocol.
I like to also do mat work and then take the mat on the road. The mat acts as a high value, known source of confidence which can help with other training. I wouldn't let anyone touch her, be her advocate. Beyond that, it's just time and patience.
Books you may want to read:
Hi there! I foster scared and reactive dogs for my local rescue. I've found four resources that I love so much, they have become my foundation for every dog, whether they have behavioral issues or not:
1.) (Free) CARE for Reactive Dogs - careforreactivedogs.com
2.) Grisha Stewart's Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT) - https://www.amazon.com/Behavior\-Adjustment\-Training\-2\-0\-Frustration\-ebook/dp/B01BG05UAW/ref=tmm\_kin\_swatch\_0?\_encoding=UTF8&qid=1525694710&sr=8\-1
3.) (free) Relaxation Protocol - http://championofmyheart.com/relaxation\-protocol\-mp3\-files/
4.) Karen Pryor's Click to Calm - https://www.amazon.com/Click\-Calm\-Healing\-Aggressive\-Dog\-ebook/dp/B008510I5S/ref=pd\_sim\_351\_1?\_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=TYTV68ZND5W25S0ZH1XH
My only short-term suggestion is management -- I'm sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear, but there are no easy fixes to reactivity like this. Basically, make sure that your dog doesn't have access to the yard unless you're there to supervise. If she's already so overstimulated by the time you get out there, there's nothing you can do but pull her away. Screaming won't help -- it may deter her a bit, but screaming doesn't sound a whole different than a human barking. If it is enough to deter, your dog's simply going to learn that bad things happen in the presence of the neighbor's dog, which in turn will increase reactivity, not that she's being punished for her behavior.
What you can do in the long-term is practice BAT, or behavior adjustment training. Here's a video just as an introduction to BAT training by Grisha Stewart -- she is highly regarded in this area. The idea of BAT is to change the way your dog feels about stimulus. If you go this route, it will be a lot of work, but you'll be better off for it in the long-term.
If you don't know where to start or simply want to begin under the eye of a professional, here is our guide on how to find a reputable trainer.
I would recommend BAT (Behavior Adjustment Training) 2.0. There's a book on it by Grisha Stewart. Basically, it involves identifying a dogs "triggers" and allows the dog to explore them in their own way and on their own time, thereby building confidence. It focuses less on rewarding with food, which has been challenging for my dog. It's not a quick fix, but it has worked for many dogs. It's on Amazon and you can read online.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BG05UAW/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
If you don't want to buy the book (but it's a really great book, I promise) then you can check out some youtube videos on that topic instead.
Does she have a bite history? If so, you may have a harder time getting her into Italy.
If all she's done so far is get up in other dogs' faces barking, you can probably make this work if you're diligent and patient. First thing I would do is stop taking her to the dog park. Forcing her to socialize with dogs isn't going to fix the issue, and it's really stressful for other dogs and owners when there's a bully in the dog park. Do you know where in Italy you'll be living? If you're in a rural area you may be able to find spots to exercise your dogs without having to deal with other dogs. I'd do most of my exercise in these spots while you work on training the reactive behavior.
Second thing I would do is step waaaay back to basics in your training. Does she work well for treats or toys in your house? Take her out and figure out how much can be going on in the environment before she stops taking treats. Can she still focus if a dog is 100ft away? 50ft away? Once you've got a handle on her reactive threshold, try and slowly (like over months, not over days) work that threshold closer.
There are many methods to go about reducing that threshold distance. Lots of people like BAT 2.0 and CARE for Reactive Dogs. They're all somewhat similar at a basic level (see dog outside threshold, reward for calm behavior, walk away), but there are nuances to each.
Hi,
I have a leash reactive dog, some would recommend neutering and it can work, as long as you don't let the behaviour go on long enough that it becomes part of his personality. Personally, I'm not sure the evidence for behavioural alteration is rock solid, but if you're going to neuter anyway, it's worth a shot. Considering it started a few months ago, I'd say if you're going to get him snipped, do it soon.
Secondly, engage with a veterinary behaviourist. One that uses force free methods and is accredited. If you can't afford one, start with the book "BAT 2.0" or "When pigs fly!". In fact, while he's still entire start with those.
EDIT: added links and corrections.