tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247022130749091471.post2154902974585815538..comments2024-02-21T01:01:09.044-08:00Comments on ZoePhee: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly: Why Owning A Reactive Dog is Like Grievingzoepheedogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05959397251791559890noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247022130749091471.post-31077345865829279392016-03-29T19:18:22.395-07:002016-03-29T19:18:22.395-07:00Thanks for telling us "like it is". It s...Thanks for telling us "like it is". It sounds super tough. I've made similarly bad decisions with Shyla, like your leash greeting in the lobby at 10PM. It's so hard not to ask for more when things are going well (at least for me). In my case, Shyla won't snap when I've pushed too hard. Instead, she completely shuts down (picture her collapsed on the floor unable to move KBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16885661679762446456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247022130749091471.post-21937396964366157032016-03-27T14:55:16.996-07:002016-03-27T14:55:16.996-07:00Hi Kate, thank you so much for stopping by and I&#...Hi Kate, thank you so much for stopping by and I'm so glad you found some comfort in my post. You're definitely not alone. The best advice I can give you is to find a positive reinforcement trainer who has experience with reactive dogs. Look for someone who has taught reactive rover classes and make sure they don't use any sort of aversive training techniques or equipment. I would zoepheedogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05959397251791559890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247022130749091471.post-76933048791811039452016-03-27T14:45:57.344-07:002016-03-27T14:45:57.344-07:00Thanks so much, Hannah! I think you are absolutely...Thanks so much, Hannah! I think you are absolutely correct about being at the point where she's usually fine and then when something happens it's a "huge failure". Right now I am working with an awesome trainer who has a lot of experience with teaching reactive dogs and we were talking about the same thing. I'm hoping I can get some private lessons soon to make sure I'm zoepheedogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05959397251791559890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247022130749091471.post-27627591599218492252016-03-27T14:39:41.777-07:002016-03-27T14:39:41.777-07:00I'm so sorry you've had a bad March, too! ...I'm so sorry you've had a bad March, too! :( ((hugs))zoepheedogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05959397251791559890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247022130749091471.post-30593596180180004822016-03-27T14:37:58.454-07:002016-03-27T14:37:58.454-07:00Thank you so much!Thank you so much!zoepheedogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05959397251791559890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247022130749091471.post-55144450090348031052016-03-26T17:40:46.420-07:002016-03-26T17:40:46.420-07:00I just found your blog and I must say what a relie...I just found your blog and I must say what a relief it is that we aren't the only ones struggling with this behavior! We have a rescue dog, Bailey, who came to us last August from an animal shelter. She was a stray so we don't know any of her history, but we assume she was badly abused by a man, as she is most afraid of my husband, even still. She is hyper-reactive to any activity Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17640873637289909081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247022130749091471.post-22563050847717970302016-03-26T16:12:09.657-07:002016-03-26T16:12:09.657-07:00Huge hugs to you. Everyone else has covered the ex...Huge hugs to you. Everyone else has covered the exhaustion and hypervigilence really well and I can see how riding is an apt metaphor. I hope you and the pup are feeling rested and recharged now.<br /><br />I do think the point you're at -- where she's usually fine and you're starting to it have to worr so much about it all the time -- can be uniquely challenging, both because every Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12237668899993749427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247022130749091471.post-89604984427902323142016-03-25T19:45:05.281-07:002016-03-25T19:45:05.281-07:00Oh man. This hits home. I've also had an absol...Oh man. This hits home. I've also had an absolutely horrendous March. I think my depression is coming back because of my stepdad's recent diagnosis. Pretty much everything you've talked about, I've been through. Lately I've been feeling like a horrible mom because I haven't been doing enough with my dogs. I'm working on it, but it's hard. I'm constantly Amanda Yantoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11339555837009438560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247022130749091471.post-89061531963064463412016-03-25T15:22:30.858-07:002016-03-25T15:22:30.858-07:00As you know my Hailey is a very anxious dog. I hav...As you know my Hailey is a very anxious dog. I have shared many of the same feelings as you. There are days where it feels beyond me, but I know I wouldn't trade her for the world. May tomorrow be an easier day. Hailey and Zaphod and their Ladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04183902007810065462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247022130749091471.post-54608198835253073892016-03-25T14:58:02.098-07:002016-03-25T14:58:02.098-07:00Thanks so much, Jan! I'm sorry that Luke is so...Thanks so much, Jan! I'm sorry that Luke is so fearful, too! You are right about other people getting to see the good in them through the blog. Thank you for your support! I really appreciate it! zoepheedogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05959397251791559890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247022130749091471.post-5453264792993466842016-03-25T14:46:04.629-07:002016-03-25T14:46:04.629-07:00Thanks Cathy! I really appreciate your support! &l...Thanks Cathy! I really appreciate your support! <3 zoepheedogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05959397251791559890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247022130749091471.post-49631361449316743242016-03-25T14:39:49.391-07:002016-03-25T14:39:49.391-07:00Thank you so much! It's really good to have so...Thank you so much! It's really good to have so much support from people who understand how I feel and have been there in some way, even if Nala isn't reactive being able to relate to the pure exhaustion dealing with a fearful dog can be. That's kind of why I wrote this and put it out there publicly, in hopes that it would help someone to not feel alone. I think having a reactive dog zoepheedogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05959397251791559890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247022130749091471.post-77452253356402295292016-03-25T14:26:02.855-07:002016-03-25T14:26:02.855-07:00Thank you! <3 I'm so sorry you were attacke...Thank you! <3 I'm so sorry you were attacked!zoepheedogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05959397251791559890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247022130749091471.post-13331460818284259742016-03-25T14:25:22.294-07:002016-03-25T14:25:22.294-07:00Thank you so much! I really appreciate it!
I am s...Thank you so much! I really appreciate it!<br /><br />I am so sorry that Ducky is nervous with people! I totally know what you mean about three steps backward! zoepheedogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05959397251791559890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247022130749091471.post-31543140206407664162016-03-25T14:09:50.874-07:002016-03-25T14:09:50.874-07:00Thanks so much! Poor Rita! I completely understand...Thanks so much! Poor Rita! I completely understand! Phoenix can be a little unpredictable too. Sometimes she's fine and sometimes she's not. It's so weird and frustrating! zoepheedogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05959397251791559890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247022130749091471.post-11145498232066040772016-03-25T03:45:25.433-07:002016-03-25T03:45:25.433-07:00I totally understand how you feel, Lauren, but I a...I totally understand how you feel, Lauren, but I also think you are too hard on yourself. I am impressed with how far you have come with Phoenix. I once said the same thing about how I just wanted people to be able to know and love the Luke that we know. That is one thing I love about having the blog...people get to see that side of him. But if you wanted to meet him in person? That is not so Jan Khttp://www.wagnwoofpets.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247022130749091471.post-71336291881571560462016-03-25T01:48:34.117-07:002016-03-25T01:48:34.117-07:00Thanks boys! I hope the sun comes out soon, too! Y...Thanks boys! I hope the sun comes out soon, too! You are totally right about everything!zoepheedogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05959397251791559890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247022130749091471.post-179528661833322202016-03-25T01:47:39.465-07:002016-03-25T01:47:39.465-07:00Thanks! Yeah, I am my own worst critic and I'v...Thanks! Yeah, I am my own worst critic and I've always been harder on myself than I probably deserve but it was my fault and I set everyone up to fail. I asked for too much. I'm hoping her new bandanna also reminds me to not be stupid. zoepheedogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05959397251791559890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247022130749091471.post-23110956531255590762016-03-25T01:44:42.335-07:002016-03-25T01:44:42.335-07:00Thanks so much. Yeah, unfortunately I'm only h...Thanks so much. Yeah, unfortunately I'm only human and mistakes happen sometimes. I'm lucky that she's less reactive than most and more easily managed. I honestly think she would of been fine to greet those dogs had none of the other crappy incidents happened to her this week. I set her up to fail and I asked her for too much. I know better and I'm better than this. Which is why Izoepheedogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05959397251791559890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247022130749091471.post-52018570110251895982016-03-25T01:41:46.561-07:002016-03-25T01:41:46.561-07:00Thank you so much! I'm so sorry you're goi...Thank you so much! I'm so sorry you're going through it too! Flooding can be really easy to do and I've been there! ((hugs))<br /><br />Phoenix really is loving her treibball class. It's been a lot of fun teaching something I've never taught before!zoepheedogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05959397251791559890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247022130749091471.post-88341543508359949312016-03-25T01:40:01.216-07:002016-03-25T01:40:01.216-07:00Thanks so much, Jodi! I just feel so bad for my tr...Thanks so much, Jodi! I just feel so bad for my trainer's dogs and I am really mad at myself for setting Phoenix up to fail, too. I'm trying to move on from it but I keep having dark thoughts, pretty much "if I can't even help my own dog, how am I supposed to help others." She has come a seriously long way from where she was but I've also noticed some definite zoepheedogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05959397251791559890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247022130749091471.post-63879328153758835052016-03-25T01:36:40.981-07:002016-03-25T01:36:40.981-07:00Thanks so much, Jen! While I feel bad that you are...Thanks so much, Jen! While I feel bad that you are going through it, too... it's nice to not be alone in my feelings. That's what I do as well with Phoenix. I try my best to keep things as stress free as possible. It's not that I think she will eat every dog she meets because 9 times out of 10 she's usually fine. It's that I worry that something like the shepherd incident willzoepheedogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05959397251791559890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247022130749091471.post-26125773350940240842016-03-25T01:33:22.832-07:002016-03-25T01:33:22.832-07:00Hi Sandee, Phoenix is a nervous/fearful dog alread...Hi Sandee, Phoenix is a nervous/fearful dog already and you are absolutely correct that the shepherd incident had something to do with her going after my trainer's dogs. It's called trigger stacking. Basically too many things happened to Phoenix this week and her stress hormones were too high to deal with anything else. I asked for too much and basically set her up to fail. Which is why Izoepheedogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05959397251791559890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247022130749091471.post-32967601856435956232016-03-25T01:31:12.732-07:002016-03-25T01:31:12.732-07:00Thanks Pamela, yeah I am always on high alert too....Thanks Pamela, yeah I am always on high alert too. That's probably a contributing factor to the exhaustion. I was mentally worn out when I wrote this. It's not even that I'm afraid she will eat every dog we see because that's just not the case. 9 times out of 10 she's fine. I'm afraid something like the shepherd incident will happen again, she'll get scared and react zoepheedogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05959397251791559890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247022130749091471.post-39261131434180893132016-03-25T01:24:49.943-07:002016-03-25T01:24:49.943-07:00Thank you, De! You're absolutely right.Thank you, De! You're absolutely right.zoepheedogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05959397251791559890noreply@blogger.com