Authored by Nicole Wilde, CPDT-KA
🐾🐾EASY DIFFICULTY
Authored by Nicole Wilde, CPDT-KA
Latest revision: January 21, 2025
'DOG OF THE YEAR!' screams the top comment under one of @frogqueenivy's Instagram pics. Like any pup, Ivy—a wee Pitbull mix—springs up to snag a ball. Unlike the rest, her jump is less graceful and more, well, frog-like.
Every breed comes with a breed standard that lays out the ideal look and sketches the typical temperament. That sketch tells us plenty about how a dog of that breed is likely to act around other dogs. The official AKC standard for the Akita, for instance, notes, “Akitas may be intolerant of other dogs, particularly of the same sex.” The Siberian Husky’s standard, by contrast, says he “is not overly suspicious of strangers or aggressive with other dogs.” That tracks: Huskies were bred to run in packs, while Akitas started as hunters and fighters. Of course, individuals vary within any breed—not every Akita is dog-reactive, and not every Husky is a social butterfly. Still, knowing the usual personality of your dog’s breed or mix gives useful hints about his stance toward other dogs.
A uncommon issue that hits both animals and people, Short Spine Syndrome (SSS) keeps spinal bones in a soft cartilage state and welds them, squashing and shrinking the spine. The upshot: dogs like Ivy move with limits and face a higher shot at an ingrown or infected tail. Even so, SSS dogs can thrive for years in good health. To Luis, Ivy is perfectly ordinary despite her unusual looks. 'I figured a few folks would notice she seemed off, but was shocked nearly everyone could tell. I guess after days on end with her 24/7, I stopped seeing she looked all that different.'
Old advice told puppy owners to keep pups away from others until four months, when shots were “done.” But the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) now points out that while a young pup’s immune system is still maturing, “the combination of maternal immunity, primary vaccination, and appropriate care makes the risk of infection relatively small compared to the chance of death from a behaviour problem.” So they recommend socialization classes as early as seven to eight weeks. In short, the odds of getting sick are far outweighed by the payoff of early socialization—think of it as a vaccine for your puppy’s future behaviour. Beyond group meetups, set up careful one-on-one playdates. Always introduce on neutral ground, keep the leash loose, and watch both dogs’ body language like a hawk.
Like us, dogs can carry lasting trauma after a scary event. A dog attacked by another can turn fear-reactive toward that kind of dog—or dogs in general. Even a social butterfly can become reactive after a dog-park mauling. That’s exactly why you must be careful how you expose your dog. Managed, one-on-one playdates beat an unregulated dog park every time. If your pup does have a bad encounter, give him a few days before trying again—stress hormones can linger for days, and you want him as relaxed as possible. Then reintroduce him only to dogs you know are calm and friendly.
Comments run the gamut from cheers and kind words to straight-up offers to buy the little dog (turned down, naturally). Others note how Ivy's posts lifted their spirits through rough patches. 'A lot of people lean on her as their strength, their reason to keep going against the odds—because Ivy does it too. We've had a few say that seeing our page, and knowing disabled dogs can live happy if cared for, pushed them to adopt one and give it the best life.'
Ivy's fans can relax—there's no shortage of Ivy content coming, since her owners plan to keep the feeds going. 'We'll absolutely keep posting regular updates for our fans—it makes us happy to spread joy through Ivy's posts. Folks just love watching a dog be happy and live life, even with her disability. They like seeing her do the stuff other dogs do. She's just a funny gal!'
Some dogs adore other dogs off-leash yet lunge and bark the moment a leash is clipped on. That’s leash frustration. A leash blocks a dog from reaching what he wants, which hits hard for a low-frustration-tolerance pup. It also traps a fearful dog with no escape, so he may feel defending himself—by driving the other dog off—is his only move. Off-leash, dogs normally circle in toward each other and sniff; on-leash they’re forced into a head-on approach that reads as a threat. I cover solving dog-dog reactivity in depth in my book Help for Your Dog-Reactive Dog, but the gist is management plus training plus behaviour modification. For the modification part, start at a distance your dog can handle, armed with a stash of mouth-watering treats. The instant he spots another dog, start treating; when the dog leaves, treats stop. He learns other dogs aren’t something to fear—or react to—and practices a calmer alternative to lunging.
The reassuring part: no matter the cause, dog-reactive behaviour is usually fear-based, and with solid training and behaviour modification, it can absolutely get better.
This article originally ran in Modern Dog magazine. Subscribe now!
Keep sessions short and always end on a success your dog is proud of.
Hold one treat at your dog's nose level and let the smell do the talking.
Say the cue once, clearly, in a happy voice - then wait.
The instant the wanted behavior happens, mark it with a cheerful Yes!
Reward within one second so the win is impossible to miss.
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