"Rehab"

[JuneBugg]

Okay guys. Need some training help!
I've posted a lot on here before, and some of you may know (maybe) that I have self trained my service dog since he was a pup.

By the way, he just turned two years old! this is the time he SHOULD be completed, or mostly, with his SD training.

A few things have ruined my life. Haha
One being aggressive dogs. (Not as much as number two)
Two being aggressive people.
Namely my ex boyfriend, who I have learned wasn't the nicest.

So, my sweet, well trained, social, kid loving Trigger now has a fear of people.
I'm afraid that this happened during his "fear stage". At first, I just figured that's what it was. But regular training hasn't fixed the issue.
He now barks when anyone gets too close to his face. And too close to him, is about an arms length away.

I'm not quite sure how to desensitize him from this. He is fine with new people he meets after the second meeting, and he's met all of my friends who I was considering asking to help me out with him, but he just gives them kisses.

It's really put a damper on our outings. I think he believes everyone is going to bite him in the face!

He still does his duty perfectly, but we all know you can't have that in a service dog.

There is a difference between him being vocal like he was trained to be at certain times, and causing a ruckus.

We even walked down the street the other day, and a large scruffy man came up real fast, and my poor baby was so startled. All he did was "huff" under his breath. It doesn't seem like enough to tell people to NOT pet him and that he is working. I've turned around and caught people sneaking a pet, or trying to distract him. I will say though, he loves when little kids play with his face flaps.
At first, it was localized to men, until he barked in a friend's girlfriend's face.

He's actually gotten a little better, with the occasional slip up. A huff under his breath, or an exasperated growl.

Anyway, any input would be great. If I'm unable to "rehabilitate" him, I will have to retire him.


Also, here's a picture of him on his birthday, because he turned two this month, so why not.

 

[joegrunt]

I am sorry to hear about these developments. I have not had this issue, have you contacted another trainer for suggestion on it? As for people wanting to pet him, maybe a harness and or shirt stating "Service Dog In Training"? Sorry that is all I can think of.

 

[JuneBugg]

He does wear a vest. He outgrew his training vest long, long ago. Haha.

I really want to contact a trainer, and have every intention to.... as soon as I'm less poor and the cash available. Untill then, I'm left to my own resources.

 

[season]

Maybe it's not so much a dog problem as it is a owner "issue"....so many times we look for answers to dog issue questions and never look at ourselves. What is your energy like? If your dog is fearful, anxious etc chances are you are as well. I've said this many times. Our dogs show us who we are. Dog "issues" don't just happen....they are built on in small moments many owners fail to address as it doesn't seem to be a big deal at the time. Those small "issues" uncorrected turn into bigger issues. Maybe it's time to look at it from a different perspective and start looking at how you live with your dog on a daily basis. How your dog lives with you. What's allowed. What's not. Sure, your dog must have been doing a good job with it's "training" but was your dog doing a good job during it's normal daily routines?
It might be time to get back to the groundwork getting your dog balanced and most times that starts with us as owners.

 

[JuneBugg]

Well, that was my first thought. I always try and look to the owners when confronted with a problem. I do absolutely agree with you.

He is trained as a Psychiatric service dog, directly dealing with my anxiety/panic disorder and breathing conditions. I've studied dog behavior, and any moments I felt he needed correcting, he received it.

I'm leaning toward my ex being the root of this issue, because he thought it funny to bite my pups face. Literally bite it. Like as a corrective tool? Which I wasn't all too aware of.

He performs all his tasks just as perfectly before, and he handles walks and all that like he's supposed to. Both of my dogs never have any "exceptions" to their rules, and those rules never budge. They won't even touch their food if I leave the room, until I come back and let them know it's okay haha.

I've actually forgotten to give the cue to eat and went to take a shower before. I felt so bad.

 

[season]

^^^Understood, but that doesn't address the here and now. What happened happened. It's in the past and dog's don't live in the past. So now, as tough as it may sound, it's on you. Dog's can perform any tasked asked of them without being calm. Or without looking at you as the leader to supply the calm assertive energy they are craving and looking for. If it's not being presented by you then they have no choice but to be fearful and anxious in the moment. ]

So, when you are with your dog, now, in these situations when you are approaching people what is your energy like? What you think it might be is not what your dog is telling you it is. So my bet is that when you are now around people with your dog you are anxious/nervous/fearful, too.