My dog, Koda, is a 4-year-old half-Lab, half-Catahoula we adopted when she was a year old. She’s super aggressive towards people and dogs—barking constantly when someone comes to the door and even growling and lunging on walks. She’s on fluoxetine and now trazodone, but it doesn’t seem to help much. We’ve got 3-4 acres for her to run on, but I feel like her anxiety from her past (she was kept in a tiny kennel by her previous owner) is still a big issue. Anyone else dealt with something similar or have tips on what we could try?
Sounds like Koda has some deep-seated anxiety. Have you tried consistent training with commands like ‘leave it’ or ‘heel’?
Penny said:
Sounds like Koda has some deep-seated anxiety. Have you tried consistent training with commands like ‘leave it’ or ‘heel’?
Not yet, but I’d like to. Any tips for starting? I’ve heard clicker training might help but haven’t used one before.
Penny said:
Sounds like Koda has some deep-seated anxiety. Have you tried consistent training with commands like ‘leave it’ or ‘heel’?
Yeah, clickers are great! You just need to ‘load’ it first—click and reward 10-15 times so she gets it.
Have you considered behavior adjustment training (BAT)? It helps dogs with fear or anxiety work through triggers.
Elijah said:
Have you considered behavior adjustment training (BAT)? It helps dogs with fear or anxiety work through triggers.
I’ve heard about it but don’t know much. How does it work?
Elijah said:
Have you considered behavior adjustment training (BAT)? It helps dogs with fear or anxiety work through triggers.
It’s about giving her space from triggers and rewarding calm behavior. You might want to check out videos or guides online.
Totally get what you’re going through. My dog acted out for similar reasons. Have you tried redirecting her with treats when she gets anxious?
Lucas said:
Totally get what you’re going through. My dog acted out for similar reasons. Have you tried redirecting her with treats when she gets anxious?
Not consistently, but I’ve been meaning to keep treats handy. Any specific ones you recommend?
Lucas said:
Totally get what you’re going through. My dog acted out for similar reasons. Have you tried redirecting her with treats when she gets anxious?
Soft ones work best—small pieces of chicken or even store-bought training treats. Gotta make it worth her while!
Quick question: what’s trazodone? My vet suggested meds too, but I’m not familiar with that one.
EdwardGenesis said:
Quick question: what’s trazodone? My vet suggested meds too, but I’m not familiar with that one.
It’s an anti-anxiety med that helps with fear-based issues. Works for some dogs, but results vary!
EdwardGenesis said:
Quick question: what’s trazodone? My vet suggested meds too, but I’m not familiar with that one.
Got it, thanks. Might ask my vet about it if other stuff doesn’t help.
I wouldn’t send her to a board-and-train place. It might make her fear worse. She needs to trust you to guide her.
HenryPeter2 said:
I wouldn’t send her to a board-and-train place. It might make her fear worse. She needs to trust you to guide her.
Good to know. I was considering it, but I’ll stick to working with her at home instead.
HenryPeter2 said:
I wouldn’t send her to a board-and-train place. It might make her fear worse. She needs to trust you to guide her.
Totally! Start slow, use treats, and keep her feeling safe. You’ve got this!