Reactivity post spay

[Shamas mom]

I had read that spay/neuter could bring out underlying reactivity. Trixie is a little nervy. SO I was ready to potentially deal with this, or something else. I was expecting dog reactivity to be honest, given her arousal levels around dogs. So far, although excited, she's been not too bad there.

So it begins.

Today, Trixie barked at a stroller 100 feet off. Not aggressively. "Stay away from me, I don't know what you are and it worries me."

So now I'm looking for an old stroller, so I can start desensitization protocols without involving children. Today, once I'd recognized the issue, I took steps to remove her from the situation. Which would have been easier if the parent had not followed me out of the park and two blocks down the road.

I did not want to break into a run, as that would excite her and encourage reactivity...so I kept her moving, used AH! to check the bark, and hand fed her into an active heel. She kept looking back, clearly concerned but was willing to disengage and engage with me, as I was able to keep a good 80-100 feet and a good walking pace to maintain her attention.

I'm open to suggestions., I'm just trying to deal with the start of a potential issue and I'd prefer not to make it worse.

In a perfect world, I'd call my trainer...but I'm currently strapped for cash after Trixie's spay and subsequent infection, plus car repairs all in a single month. I need to recover a bit before paying out more. She costs $135/session. I just don't have it at this specific moment.

 

[Stacia]

I have had five bitches spayed over the years and never noticed any new reactivity due to the spaying. However, she did have to stay in a much longer time than usual (mine were out within about four days but on a lead and off lead by ten days, or to be honest even earlier than that) so lost time socialising with life. I think you just have to gently re-introduce her to these things. You did well with the following child! I am sure others will come along with better advice.

 

[Shamas mom]

I believe that the month of near isolation has a lot to do with it. I said to hubby yesterday, when I had his drive me to the dog park, that we'd have work ahead, to undo the effects of all that time shut away.

Add to that, we don't know anyone with small children, so she's only really seen strollers from a distance. Wasn't properly socialised to them in the first place. Parents dont tend to like jumpy puppies near their infants

Trixie lost her core socialisation period due to her parasite load, and giardia. Now she;s lost a month during her coming into adulthood due to her post surgery complications.

What I had read was that the lack of male/female hormones to bolster courage could leave already nervy dogs prone to reactivity. I don't recall where I read it, but it was a caution against doing the procedure as a "fix" for behavioral issues rather than training. They went on to say that if your dog is already nervous, and you take away their hormones, they may actually become more reactive, as a result of not having their hormonal balance to back up their nerves.

Trixie's always been a little nervy, but I figured after Shamas, I could handle it if she got a little nervy. He came out fine in the end.

So far I've found Trixie to be fairly well balanced....I introduced her to a harness on the back clip after her isolation, and I wouldn't have been able to do that before the spay. She's walking loose leash about 75% of the time. She seems to understand that with the harness she has more freedom, but less guidance. So she has to pay more attention to me because I'm not over here telling her what to do all the time lol. I do wonder if that loss of instruction has anything to do with increased reactivity. More freedom to roam also means more freedom to make poor choices.....

 

[edzbird]

We were told the Meg changed after her spay. They said she was fine before, then after she became reacitve. I don't know if it's true. She's too far gone to fix now. We've tried without success, we've accepted defeat and manage her many triggers. It's terribly limiting for us. I admire your proactive approach @Shamas mom and I'm sure you will overcome this blip before it takes hold

 

[Shamas mom]

We were told the Meg changed after her spay. They said she was fine before, then after she became reacitve. I don't know if it's true. She's too far gone to fix now. We've tried without success, we've accepted defeat and manage her many triggers. It's terribly limiting for us. I admire your proactive approach @Shamas mom and I'm sure you will overcome this blip before it takes hold

I feel you. Shamas was so far gone when we got him, and my own inexperience made it worse. I have relished having a dog I can take places, and I really hope that she does not have her bubble grow to the size Shamas was......his was a good 100 feet to start with. Couldn't take him anywhere.

I'm starting her with socialization at a distance again.....back to basics. Just like I do any time she shows any kind of reactive behavior

 

[Jennifer]

I didn’t have any plans to get Scott and Scout castrated anyway but my vet did tell me not to because they were so nervous. Testosterone was the only thing giving them any kind of bravery if I took that away they’d be worse. Like you I also read the same advice while researching how to deal with reactivity. I didn't see any info on it having the same effect if a nervous bitch is spayed but then I wasn’t looking for that. @Shamas mom I can imagine your worrying incase Trixie becomes reactive like Shamas was. I know it goes through my mind sometimes with Hunter if he barks at another dog or stranger. I can hear though a definite difference in the bark Hunter uses, “let’s play” to the barks Scott and Scout used “go away“. Our reactive dogs teach us a lot and I’m sure if Trixie should become more reactive you already know and have the tools do deal with it. I think there’s a very good chance Trixie is reacting quite normally for her at her age to new scary things and given a bit of time and exposure she wont have a major reactivity problem. Your job is to carry on doing what your doing, stay calm, relaxed and socialise her as you have been she couldn’t be in better hands

 

[Jacqui-S]

Wise words from @Jennifer

 

[Loraseal]

Yes very wise words from @Jennifer.
Hunter definitely got more reactive after his castration. I try to get him "into another emotional" state (trainer told me this). Staying clam and relaxed makes a huge difference and Hunter really reads my stress levels very well. I went back to basics but his elbow pain contributes to the problem as he barks/growls to say "keep away from me".