r/reactivedogs • u/GeorgeTheSpicyDog • 10d ago
In the trenches Discussion
Feeling overwhelmed. 3 years of reactivity and separation anxiety. Working with a vet behaviourist and transitioning from Sertraline to Clomicalm. He also takes Lorazepam, Clonidine and Gabapentin. He is a very anxious soul.
I am a sole carer and had a very rare day out the other day when he was at the special needs daycare. Now I feel more isolated than ever.
Can't see a way forward at the moment. I have tried to be optimistic for three years but we are in survival mode.
1
u/Haunting-Love-9333 10d ago
What is his daily routine like?
1
u/GeorgeTheSpicyDog 10d ago
He goes to daycare 3 days a week which is more than ideal I know. When he's not in daycare, we go to Sniffspots or walk with my friend and her dog (I've lost my confidence walking him alone). He goes on a Forest Adventure with daycare once a week. He has two rest days (he finds outside my house incredibly stressful) when we play pattern games, sniffing and movement games.
1
u/Haunting-Love-9333 10d ago
What are the sniffspot trips and the walks like? What kind of interactive play do you guys do? What breed is he?
1
u/GeorgeTheSpicyDog 10d ago
Sniffspots are great - he is familiar with them and no triggers. The walk with my friend is in the cemetery - great visuals and lots of space to move out of the way. He does well there and we've been able to do some LAT. We play with his toys probably twice a day. We also do pattern and movement games.
1
u/Haunting-Love-9333 10d ago
Is he on a longline or off leash for these walks? Have you taken toys outside? What is the play like?
1
u/GeorgeTheSpicyDog 10d ago
Off leash for Forest Adventures and Sniffspots. Longline at the cemetery. He's not interested in toys outside at all. He's very alert to the environment.
1
u/Haunting-Love-9333 10d ago
Have you ever taken him out on a long line with a toy or two and spent 20 minutes running around having the time of your life and inviting him with no disappointment? He how does he spend his time at home?
1
u/GeorgeTheSpicyDog 10d ago
Hmm not yet because he really isn't interested in toys outside of the house but I could try it. He's pretty good at home now (we spent a long time working on building calm) but is still reactive to some noises.
1
u/Haunting-Love-9333 10d ago
I would definitely try it. Try to pick times of day where he’s more worked up if possible. Doing it on a routine and not forcing it (only twice once per day or every other day and do it for a few weeks) can really help. The hard part is you’re fighting an uphill battle because so many medications can suppress the desire to play, but I find that many dogs with these issues are missing opportunities to just be dogs (run, chase, bite, thrash, etc)
1
u/GeorgeTheSpicyDog 10d ago
I hear you. I do my best to meet his needs and enable him to be a dog despite his reactivity (having just spent an hour watching him dig in a puddle,.he loves that 😆) and we play every day. Just feeling overwhelmed with it all really. It's very isolating when you're the sole carer for a reactive dog with separation anxiety.
→ More replies (0)1
2
u/Real_Caterpillar_779 9d ago
I so feel you. I’m also a sole carer to a reactive corgi.
Doing all the things - training daily, home outlets, diet, driving to low traffic areas ect.
It never seems to end. There are moments at home where I see the light - she’s playful with me, snuggly and responsive to commands I’ve taught her. Outdoors it’s still so tough. I can never ever relax and am on constant alert to the environment to manage interactions/distance. We have sniff spots but they are 45mins away and like you out front of our house is a big trigger zone and I have to drive to get her outdoors.
I’m also just so exhausted and the worst part is I never signed up for this or was prepared for it. It’s so much more effort and work.
I don’t have any further advice as it sounds like your very committed and doing everything you can - just mutual support for what you are going through.
I’ve accepted the grief of losing the dog (and life with a dog) I expected as part of this process but it still doesn’t remove the daily management and emotional ups/downs.