Me and my Bear
Little Bear (LB) is our Miniature Schnauzer. A handful and a half from the day I brought him home as a puppy, I sought help from a recommended local trainer whose aversive methods made his reactivity 100 times worse.
In the years that followed, I worked with numerous behaviourists with varying degrees of success and for a few years devoted most of my free time to studying dog behaviour and training. *
Now almost thirteen, he has made amazing progress over the years and has largely, but not completely, learned to overcome the fears that used to rule our lives.
Nine years ago, we adopted Annie, a four year old ex-breeding Labrador from a puppy farm. A truly beautiful soul, Annie has issues of her own both medical and behavioural, but she lights up our lives every single day. I could easily write another blog just about her but for now, she’s happy to guest on Bear’s.
We live in Berkshire, England – me, my ever-patient husband, the dogs and, until one very dark day in May 2015, the true lady of the house, Camden Cat.
We were cat-free for three long years until my darling mum passed away suddenly in 2018 and her elderly ‘house panther’ Vizzy came to live with us. He’ll be 19 in August and despite numerous health issues, is by all accounts, enjoying his retirement – even though he and Bear don’t see eye to eye.
I started this blog ten long years ago as a way of talking about dogs all day without seeing my friends’ eyes glaze over. To be honest, I never expected anyone to actually read it, but am always delighted and humbled when it is.
Having a reactive dog can be lonely, frustrating and upsetting. If my ramblings can help other people with reactive dogs realise that they’re not alone and that there is life on the other side of reactivity, then I’m doubly blessed.
x
- Please note that while I share things that worked for us, I am not a qualified behaviourist. I always strongly advise anyone with a reactive dog to seek properly-qualified, professional help preferably through veterinary referral.
The Little Bear Dog Blog 
“Sianny” from the Schnauzer Forum here. I’ve just read most of the first page of your blog and have thoroughly enjoyed it, I can relate to some things!
My mini, Ralphy HATES his harness. When you’re putting it on, he keeps very still and gulps loads..once it’s CLIPPED on he’s fine!? Strange eh?
The Gentle Leader sounds really good. Must find a way to get more money!
I love your writing style, if you wrote a “dog novel” – I would buy it. Hell, I’ve bought every other one that’s in the bookshops! :$
Sianny x
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Hi Sianny,
thank you SO much – that’s so lovely of you to say. That made my day! I like the sound of a dog novel – with a happy ending of course.
🙂
I’m glad it’s not just LB with strange habits! Does yours freeze when you put a dog coat on him? There’s another mini around here who freezes if the hood on his coat is put up, but he’s fine again once it’s taken down. Funny little dogs!
E 🙂
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Oh I’ve loved reading your blog and hope beautiful Bear has improved as I’ve just finished reading your most recent post; wow everything is so familiar; our mini schnauzer Fred is now two and a half and for me mentally it has been a rollercoaster of frustration, embarrassment and despair as he’s always been reactive to other dogs outside both on and off lead, incessantly barking, lungeing and panting and pulling; when he sees them at a distance in our nearby fields he pulls to get away from them so he’s quite fearful too; I wanted a take anywhere dog but I know that can never be, despite constant training on his walks; now I just avoid all dogs or keep the most distance I can from them as he starts from such a long distance away as soon as he spots them and I just can’t get his attention back despite high value treats. I realise he will never be what I envisaged but embrace all that is wonderful about him but it’s been wonderful reading your journey with Bear 🙂 xxx
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Oh Sue, I so feel for you. Having a reactive dog is no picnic, but I love how you’re embracing all that’s wonderful about Fred. We found a lovely behaviourist in the end who helped us identify what was frustration at not being able to play with other dogs and what was fear aggression. The first behaviourist told us to avoid all dogs and that just made him worse. If you’ve not been down that road, it might be worth a try, especially because a good behaviourist will support you too, and goodness knows, we need the support!
Thank you so much for leaving a comment. And wishing you many happy years with the lovely Fred. xx
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