Newly Reactive
I need some advice on how to help my boy! I’m gonna start with some background info. I worked for an organization that would rescue dogs (mostly lab mixes) and train them to be service dogs for veterans. This was where I met my buddy. He arrived sick but once he was better he was kenneled with the other dogs and began training. He would get regular play time with other dogs and was taken for walks. He never had any issues. The only time I saw anything was when he first met my husband, but this was early on and he didn’t seem to have any issues with men on the public trips he would take. Anyway, I loved him from the start. He was so sweet and calm. Well, if a dog is unfit for the program they get adopted out, and as my luck would have it he was unfit (due to anxiety and fear of elevators he couldn’t get over). So I adopted him! I had another dog at the time and they met and greeted and got along fine. She was my mom’s dog and she took her back to live with her but they still get along great! Moving on to the issue…
Suddenly my boy has become very reactive to strangers. He’s also had an issue with stranger dogs. I stopped taking him for walks after we ran into another dog on the opposite side of the street and he was VERY reactive. Barking, lunging, I honestly was worried about my hold on him. But it’s worsened. Now he’s becoming very reactive to people and dogs around our yard. We have a fully fenced in yard but he has jumped the chain link several times now going after and barking at people and dogs. Thankfully his recall is great and if I call him before he jumps he doesn’t. He also stops pursuing and comes back when called even if he does jump. However, a few times now family has come unexpectedly into the yard, or one time when he jumped the fence, if the stranger sticks their hand out to him he’s nipped at their fingertips. Never leaving any marks or anything, but it is worrying me that it could worsen. He really is the sweetest boy and he’s never shown any signs of reactivity towards any of us in his family. I just don’t understand how I’ve had him for three years and only this past year (less than) he’s started to show reactivity toward strangers. I cannot afford the trainers in my area as they charge almost $2k for their packages.
So! I am looking for any and all resources, advice, etc. I can get to help my boy! He’s very food motivated and trains well! I do have basic training experience from my time at the kennel where I got him and have continued that at home. I am motivated to take the time to learn how to help him. I’m just hoping to get some assistance on what resources could best help teach me. Oh! And if anyone has any possible ideas as to why this behavior is suddenly surfacing, that could be immensely helpful! Thanks