Positive response with CER training
I’m just so happy and proud of my dog tonight and I wanted to share. Bruce was incredibly reactive to other dogs while we were out walking to the point he would panic/bark/lunge whenever we even saw another dog in the distance. This only worsened after he was actually attacked by an off leash dog (in a leash only area I might add).
For months we have done CER training in every location we possibly could. I used advice from Spirit Dog and scatter fed or used a snuffle mat, gradually decreasing the distance between us and other dogs until he stopped reacting altogether. We have been walking reaction free for months.
Tonight, we got repeatedly rushed by an off leash pitbull. I was turning onto my street with my dog when the other dog came from across the street. I made Bruce stay behind me while I yelled at and stomped at the dog. The dog kept running back across the street but when I would turn around to walk toward my house he kept coming back after us, barking with hackles raised and lunging toward Bruce.
Bruce never once barked or lunged or even acted anxious. He definitely made eye contact with the other dog and kept looking at him but that was it. I ended up having to call the police to come get the dog as it was following me home!
Just had to brag on my boy.