If Staffie Dudley were a human with his extreme reactivity they would probably be on Valium.
A person like Dudley would be on the go non-stop. They would nev
er stop talking, chewing their nails, demanding attention all the time. They would be unable to listen properly because they were so preoccupied, jumping into the air and screeching at sudden sounds and being inappropriately demonstrative to strangers.
Extreme reactivity
The only time Dudley is still is when he is chewing something or asleep. Chewing releases pheromones that help to calm him. The things he chooses to chew aren’t always suitable and then getting them off him may be difficult.
Dudley never stopped moving all the time I was there. He took a newspaper, a dish cloth, tried to stand up at the side. He put his nose in a tea cup, bit my pad, jumped on people and jumped on the sofa. These were all things he knew he shouldn’t do and all things that usually would win him attention in the form of scolding.
He is only calm when he’s alone or asleep
He seems to be calmest of all when the young lady and her mother, who he has lived with since he was a year old, are out. Or at night when he’s asleep.
This seems to indicate that the humans cause the problem.
During the day when he’s alone with just the mother he’s not too bad, but if she has friends around he goes manic and his extreme reactivity makes her stressed and anxious too. That only adds to the problem.
Bangs
Dudley is very scared of bangs. This was made far worse a while ago by a bird scarer and now he will frequently freeze on walks if he hears something. He refuses to go anywhere near the field where the bang had occurred.
Soon it will be November 5th and fireworks. Fireworks terrify him and he runs upstairs and hides in the bath.
In Dudley’s case of extreme reactivity to bangs, a DVD of bangs and noises could be very helpful. It could take weeks, starting off very soft and gradually increasing the volume, always ready immediately to take it back a notch if he gets worried.
The behaviour of his humans during the firework sounds is key.
Calming procedures
When people come to visit they can help him out. Nobody should excite him. They should give him something special to engage his mouth on, like a bone or antler bar, so he can help to him keep himself calm.
He really does do his best, bless him. Extreme reactivity isn’t something he’s chosen.
People sometimes think their dogs are naughty and see them in a whole new light when they understand why they are doing things. The lady and her mother need to keep him as calm as possible themselves around him.
His fears of walks need to be dealt with very slowly. Walking him happily out of the door would be a start, and they can build on that in tiny increments.
Dudley is three years old – a young dog. He is gentle and loving and has great potential. He is much loved and I know they will put in the work necessary to give him a calmer, quality life. A life without the extreme reactivity that causes him to frantically stress when people come to the house. Without the terror of sounds out on walks.
With a better understanding they will help him out with special things to chew at stressful times and rewarding good calm behaviour with attention.
Three days later: “Amazing response already. Much calmer. Not taking things nearly so much.”. Twelve days later: “I feel that our own behaviour has had a positive impact on Dudley, the way we deal with things now. Dudley is responding really well to us being calmer”.
