Max and the behaviourist

Today, the behaviourist has been to see Max.

For those who don't know; Max is a nightmare with other dogs... he will bark, pull, lunge, jump and if possible snap at any other dog (no matter what breed or gender). Luckily, whilst out walking with the behaviourist we came across a couple of dogs and Max demonstrated his behaviour in the way Max does best.

Her diagnosis is that he is very fearful and is pre-empting an attack on him so he's almost trying to keep them away from him.

She has given me some great advice on ways to help... including diet and different games and training.

She reckons I have a very smart dog (wahooooo). So plenty of clicker training to improve his abilities will be a must.

She has also suggested that she comes with her stooge dog to do some exercises where he can be reintroduced to dogs.

So, although Max will probably never be running muzzle-free amongst groups of dogs I can see the light at the end of the tunnel where he could be at least socialising with dogs (probably in a muzzle) - lets hope anyway.

Training starts tomorrow... I am very excited and I think Max will be too.

That sounds great I'm glad the trainer has given you some tools and confidence to begin training with Max.

Can I ask what sort of changes to diet, games and training she suggested? It just interests me (dw I have no plans to critique it or anything!) Just having a (rapidly improving ) nervous dog its always interesting to read peoples suggestions and experiences.

Max is on a raw food diet so she suggested I add some veg, pasta or rice with his raw food so it's more balanced.

Training in the garden with clicker, just getting him to concentrate and use his brain more than he's used to doing. She said that all this can help.

Hope it all goes well, good luck with the training and keep us updated!

Raw is balanced anyway so you shouldn't need anything. Pasta and rice are just fillers and carbs.. they have no nutritional value..

I'm glad you have something that works now though Hope everything goes well best of luck and perhaps we'll see you on a Dogsey walk shortly

She said that the carbs are needed to release something in the brain... that can help? I got lost when she started naming toxins in the brain. It can't hurt either way.

I would love another walk, maybe next time I won't be a nervous wreck... and now I know Max is to, maybe we can both have a chilled out walk after a little training, wahooo.

Smokeybear is the one to ask about the carbs business... I don't understand it myself but I know it's all fillers..

Serotonin. The happy hormone (like us and chocolate). I've looked into this with Cain. A carb heavy meal stimulates the release of serotonin. Some behaviourists recommend it along with 5-HTP/tryptophan. Discussions with my vet made me decide not to pursue this route. Person ally I doubt a plate of pasta is going to solve Max's issue and wouldn't add carbs personally, but I understand why it was suggested.

Glad you had a great visit sounds very productive. Much reactive behaviour is based on fear and trying to get things to go away. Brilliant that she has some stooge dogs for you to work with! We've had great success with Cain and the clicker so I hope it can help Max too. Sounds like you've had some good advice, keep us updated

She did mention something about possibly going on serotonin if the carbs didn't work.... but I shall add the veg (can't hurt) but either way I will say no to the serotinin.

I think the other advice she has given me and what scenario she plans to set up with the stooge dog will definitely help Max.

To increase serotonin you need potassium. Ask your vet about supplementing. If he has been on a poor diet in the past he could need a supplement for a few months to get him on balance. I also feed raw. When I roast meat I add an extra carrot to give to the dogs, but sweet potato or squash would also serve the carb element better than rice or other grain. But, other than that, glad you found someone who can help you.