Scaredy Dog!: Understanding \u0026 Rehabilitating Your Reactive Dog by Ali Brown

Scaredy Dog!: Understanding \u0026 Rehabilitating Your Reactive Dog Reviews

• 
  Kate

  There are some decent behavior explanations in this, and some outside of behavior that are not well-supported. The behavior stuff you can find elsewhere in other books. There's really not anything new here. Some of the claims I took issue with:
  - Bull breed dogs have had calming signals "bred out of them." She does not have a source for this. If bull breeds were bred to have difficulty understanding and expressing communication signals, it would stand to reason we would see other communication issues and not just a certain subset of behaviors. When humans have neurological injuries or differences that interfere with their ability to understand communication or express themselves effectively, it is not that conveniently precise. So if that IS the case, I would like to see the source explaining the genetic/neurological underpinning of that hypothesis because from my understanding of what we know about neurological disorders affecting communication, this makes no sense.
  - Her anti-grains stance. Now, this was published in 2004 and revised in 2009, so I believe this was before the studies came out with evidence that most dogs actually have a gene that allows them to produce the enzymes to break down grains. It is also before grain-free diets became implicated in causing DCM. What I find odd is how she goes into the evolutionary history of the dog eating our trash, ignoring the fact that a lot of our trash throughout our own history is going to be grains! Our own bodies as humans developed adaptations to be able to process grains more efficiently. It is not surprising that dogs have developed the same adaptations also.
  
  Not everything good for you is going to be digestible. Fiber is actually a useful part of the diet that is not digested. More stool is also not an indicator of poor health. Increases in fiber and also being able to feed more without an increase in calorie intake actually helps fight obesity, which is why many weight loss pet foods tend to be fiber-rich. She also does not explain how grains result in more shedding, or how it affects coat quality. Any diet rich in fats will produce a thick, shiny coat. Carbohydrate/grain content is irrelevant to that.
  
  I also do not think the author understands that often when grains are used as protein sources, they are processed in such a way to make the proteins in them more bioavailable to the dog. So the comparison to a dog eating the flower off of wheat grass is irrelevant and misleading.
  
  There is also, of course, randomly thrown in genetic engineering fearmongering. It's particularly funny to me because she then recommends sweet potatoes instead of grains! There is actually no commercially available genetically modified form of wheat. On the other hand, thousands of years ago, bacteria invaded a plant and left some of their genetic material behind--creating what we now know as the sweet potato. Nothing that we eat or that is in our dog food is "naturally occurring" - it has all been selectively bred for thousands of years. None of what we eat looks like it did or is exactly what it was before the birth of agriculture. And we--and dogs--have evolved WITH the invention of agriculture. We have genetic adaptations for this lifestyle.
  
  The owner also says that soy "removes toxins from the soil" and thus is not suitable for feeding dogs, yet somehow organic soy is not "nearly as insulting an addition to the diet" despite the fact that there is no nutritional or food safety differences between organic and conventional foods. ( 
  https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/o... ) The "toxins" are just excess nitrogen, which is needed to create protein. This is why soy is such a protein-rich plant.
  
  She also claims that "corn, wheat, soy and chicken" are the top four food allergens in dogs, which is false. Most food allergies in dogs are to animal proteins. The most common food allergens in dogs are actually chicken, beef, dairy, and eggs. Even then, food allergies are less common than people think--environmental allergies are far more common and often mistaken for food allergies. (
  https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2017/0...)
  
  She also says that propylene glycol is considered "a toxin by the FDA." It is not considered a toxin by the FDA. Food-grade propylene glycol is... food-grade. It's edible. That's why it appears in foods both for humans and animals. It would take less salt to reach a toxicity than it would propylene glycol.
  
  The by-product industry is also what makes the pet food industry sustainable, and Brown pooh-poohs it. Yes, pet food uses animal proteins that are a by-product of the human food industry. They are sanitized (usually with extremely high heat) and technically safe to eat, but unappealing to humans. These are still perfectly wholesome and nutritional proteins and the alternative to feeding them to animals is that we just dump them in a landfill because our dogs are too good to eat them. I don't know about you, but my dogs will eat literal poop, so I think they're fine with that.
  
  Brown also claims that extrusion kills "many to most of the biological nutrients" which I'd like to see a source for. What a bizarre claim. She only specifically mentions acidophilus (a bacterium used often as a probiotic) which is not a nutrient. There is also mixed evidence that ingested probiotics even have that much of an effect on the gut, and often tend to get killed by the body before they even reach the intestines where they're supposed to colonize. This is a big deal with manufacturers of probiotic supplements who are still looking for all kinds of ways to ensure that their probiotics survive until they reach the intestines. Probiotics added to foods don't have that kind of technology and don't tend to survive. They're usually added as a marketing scheme more than as an actual functional ingredient, so it's funny to me that Brown is upset about the lack of acidophilus in dog food when she also gets upset about useless "fillers", which is what probiotics added to dog food are.
  
  She then of course recommends raw diets, for which there is no evidence that they are inherently superior to other types of diets. Granted, again, this was only revised in 2009 so the research was not available then that we have now. But it is also much easier to over-feed with raw because of the high caloric content of meat products. Homemade recipes are frequently unbalanced, resulting in toxicities or deficiencies over time. ( 
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti... ) Commercial raw may be balanced. but it is also more frequently contaminated than cooked foods for the obvious reason that it is not cooked. ( 
  https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary... ) That said, people do tend to see fuller, shinier coats on raw diets. But that's not because of any magic--it's because raw diets are very high in fat.
  
  Side note, as someone who once worked in a food lab: What is endlessly frustrating to me is that people have such a poor concept of relative risk, usually arguing "sometimes kibble gets contaminated too, therefore the risk is the same." Well, sometimes people crash in their cars while they're sober, therefore driving drunk is not inherently any riskier than driving sober. Or, I've driven drunk before and didn't kill myself or anyone else, therefore it's not as risky a behavior as everyone says. Do you see how dumb that sounds? And so many people apparently do not understand that cooking is the most effective way to kill pathogenic bacteria. I have literally had people confidently argue with me that freezing will more effectively kill bacteria (it just delays growth) and that cooking does not reduce pathogenic bacterial load!
  
  - I've read TTouch being advocated in multiple dog and horse training books, and I have yet to see any studies demonstrating the increased "intercellular communication" from that particular type of touching, or any explanations for how that is actually supposed to affect anything related to behavior. It sounds more like using technical jargon to create a pseudoscientific veneer over what would otherwise just be petting or massage.
  
  More baffling is that Brown recommends petting while keeping an anxious dog restrained so it can't escape, then trying to argue that the dog settles down after struggling because of the miraculous power of the touch. She even notes that the dogs tend to yawn before they lay down, which can be a symbol of stress. What she's describing sounds more like learned helplessness than the magical power of her touch.
  
  - Ah, yes, homeopathy. Let me explain how homeopathy works. Homeopathy takes what are usually extremely toxic substances ("less poisoning"--ha!) and dilutes them to the nth degree to the point where what you end up with as the end result is a sugar pill or bottle of water. These are expensive sugar pills and bottles of water, but you'll pay it because those homeopathy companies aren't just in it for the money like those pharmaceutical companies. That's why they fight so hard to not have to be faced with the same regulatory hurdles that pharmaceutical companies have to deal with, because it would prevent them from being able to help people at such "low" prices (and also it would cut into their profit). The argument is that the molecules of the sugar pill or the water "remember" what it was like to contain that toxic substance and somehow, because that toxic substance creates a state of toxicosis that is similar to the symptoms we're trying to get rid of, that "molecular memory" will somehow cancel out those symptoms we're trying to eradicate. The reason vets don't typically recommend this is because there have been many studies and many people trying to prove empirically that this stuff works and it's always come up as bunk. They are trying NOT to waste your money (while being accused of just wanting to take all your money, while the innocent homeopathy company CEOs selling top dollar sugar pills are I'm sure living the lives of pious paupers in their suburban mansions and on their luxury yachts while your vet struggles to pay off their vet school bills).
  
  I have had clients in tears when I've told them what was actually in their homeopathy products because they become terrified that they've just killed their dogs. The good news is that BECAUSE it is actually a sugar pill, the dog isn't actually poisoned. If the pill actually DID contain the substance it claims to, then yes, the dog would likely be badly poisoned. But hey, it's "less poisoning" because it's "homeopathic" and "natural" and not regulated like those evil pharmaceuticals.
  
  - Note because she recommends essential oils (at least diluted, but that often seems to get missed): Undiluted essential oils are NOT pet safe. I have had many cases of owners who read online or were told by friends to use undiluted tea tree oil as a remedy for all kinds of ills or as a flea and tick preventative, only to end up calling in a panic because their dog is now paralyzed. While they're not all as severe as tea tree oil, undiluted essential oils can cause dermal irritation and neurologic depression. Sometimes what is considered a "positive"--oh hey, the dog seems calmer!--is actually a negative side effect of essential oils interfering with a dog's nervous system and causing them to be neurologically depressed and lethargic.
  
  - I oppose electric fencing, and there are many good reasons to avoid it if you can. There is no reason to bring fear mongering and urban legends into it. Namely, the conviction some people (like Brown, apparently) still have that there are roving bands of dog thieves just waiting to steal your dog and sell it to unscrupulous researchers. It's a tale that's still pushed by certain animal rights groups to further their own political agendas, but it's not really a Thing. ( 
  http://www.slate.com/articles/health_... )
  - She again cautions against using pharmaceuticals for reactive or anxious dogs. Now, there ARE pros and cons and it IS as much of an art as a science in finding the right medication. For my own struggles with anxiety, I've been on just about every SSRI on the market. Yet, Brown also discusses training as being as much art as science, and does not use that as a reason to steer people away from training their dogs. She instead encourages people to use products with no evidence behind them for their efficacy or safety at all.
  
  I've been burned by antidepressant medications. I am skeptical of them and I understand their limitations more intimately than most people do who rail against their use. I had side effects so severe I had to drop out of college and it took me 2 years to get myself back together. Yet, I would not have graduated from college at all nor would I be able to hold down a full-time job now if I had not eventually found a medication that worked. My own dog with anxiety issues is taking an SSRI. I am not, as Brown believes, poisoning myself or my dog by using these medications.
  
  Brown says, "It is important to understand that these medications do not remove fear." This is a fair assessment, but she does not provide the same caveats to her enthusiastic promotion of homeopathy, supplements, and essential oils. Essential oils, particularly if undiluted or not diluted properly, can cause neurologic depression (which might LOOK like a calm dog because the chemical is acting as a depressant on the central nervous system), paralysis, or liver damage. She doesn't provide these kinds of warnings for essential oils. She doesn't note that if the homeopathic remedies she promotes actually contained the ingredients many of them claim to contain (and fortunately they do not), they would be far more toxic than any SSRI or benzodiazepine. I currently work in vet toxicology, so I know of what I speak. These alternatives are not harmless or so much safer than pharmaceuticals. My own experiences with mental illness, toxicology, and working in a corporate R&D food lab where I discovered first hand the kinds of ridiculous requests R&D scientists get to create "natural" products that are neither safer nor more nutritious purely because it was dictated to them by marketing who recognize that they can sell those products at a higher price point and make a better profit by hopping on the "natural" trend, means that I don't have any patience or tolerance for this kind of double standard, ignorance, or misleading information--whatever it may be. Nobody buys into "alternative" products because they really are safer or more effective. They buy those products because they like the marketing better. And trust me when I say that marketing departments for the companies that produce those products ABSOLUTELY know this.
• 
  Clare

  Having had a scare with my dog and a child she had bitten, there was obviously a very strong need for me to read more about why my dog has what has always previously been referred to as 'fear aggression', and for me to try and train her out of her aggressive behaviours. She was attacked as a pup by a man in the park, and had grown more and more afraid of anyone she didn't know and other dogs she didn't know, ever since. This book described my dog perfectly (i.e. she has a piranha bite, reacts to everything, is hyperactive/hyper responsive to any stimulus, barks at strangers, lunges, and yes she has bitten a few times). Imagine my relief to realise that a) these are researched and understood behaviours in dogs and there are good reasons why they behave this way and b) there are very simple and practical ways for me to 'train' those behaviours out of my dog. More importantly, the training methods offered in this book by the author are ALL positive, kind, solid and good methods. The book also explains why the training methods employed by the likes of Cesar Milan et al (she doesn't name him - she doesn't have to) are so damaging and potentially lethal to both dogs and people (and to our relationship with our dogs). Furthermore, this book explains why the half-arsed and old-fashioned training methods to stop dogs lunging, barking, etc. that I had picked up along the way were actually having the reverse effect to the one I wanted - I have been teaching her to bark more and react more all along, by shouting and becoming stressed myself. I had probably also inadvertently been transferring my own nervousness back onto my dog. Stupid, stupid. Now I know to remain calm, firm, walk my dog away from a potentially bad situation (or minimise a bad situation by removing ourselves quickly and calmly), reward her when she's calm and ONLY when she's calm when other people are about, and so on. I'm still reading the book, after first skim reading it, and now writing up notes as I work with my dog using all of the author's training directions. My dog is definitely calmer and quieter already, and we are both more confident. We seem to have a better bond now, too; my dog seems to know that I fully understand her behaviour problems now. I know I'm becoming a much better dog owner as a result of reading this book. 10/10 to Ali Brown, the author of 'Scaredy Dog', who clearly understands reactive dogs inside out, and has written such an easy to read and easy to follow book. This book comes highly recommended by me.
• 
  Randi

  So, it's taken me ages to read this very short book. I started it at the beginning of my journey with my reactive dog and thought it had some good info, but I think, deep down, I knew a lot of it didn't sit right. I started reading blogs and following Instagrams that had a lot of great info, and this fell to the way side. When I finally forced myself to finish it, I found the info severely lacking. To think that dog reactivity happens because of things like food allergies is a wild oversimplification of what's actually going on in a reactive dog's mind (for example). This book isn't actually that great. Follow dog_liaison, r.plus.dogs, and dog_atheart on Instagram for ACTUAL science-based guidance. My dog and I have improved so, so much since following them. Good luck!
• 
  Johanna

  Probably one of the best, if not the best, books I have read on reactivity and aggression. This book is very comprehensive and looks at all of the surrounding aspects involved in proper management and rehabilitation of fearful / reactive / aggressive dogs, including:
  
  -natural dog behavior and body language
  -how things like health and nutrition can affect behavior
  -the chemical and hormonal components of stress and how it affects learning
  -discussion of differing training methodologies (rewards-based vs punishment-based, including quadrants (but don't worry, it's all explained in a beautifully simple way so that anyone can understand) FOR THOSE WONDERING - this book is based on scientifically proven rewards-based training principles, NOT oldschool choke and prong, etc.)
  -management techniques for keeping everyone (including the dog) safe
  -calming techniques (massage, DAP, etc.)
  -training strategies to help your dog overcome their reactivity
  
  Given the title, I was a little hesitant to purchase this book because I felt it would be mostly focused towards shy/fearful dogs, rather than fear-aggressive dogs (like mine), but I'm so glad I gave it a chance. All of the suggestions in the book translate beautifully to dogs in both camps, whether shy/fearful or full-out aggressive. While I felt there could have been more in the book on actual training, it does provide you with the information you need to get started on a plan for rehab training, with pictures and some basic strategies. I'm hoping to pick up a copy of Brown's other book, Focus, Not Fear for more in this area.
  
  Overall, this is the most encompassing book I've read so far on helping reactive dogs, and is perfect for those who are struggling with their dog's issues and don't know what to do- Brown really takes readers by the hand, reassures them, and lays the groundwork for effective rehabilitation. I wish I had picked up a copy of this book years ago when my girl first started showing signs of aggression- oh the humiliation, tears, and aggravation we could have avoided! Still, after several books and years of research, I learned some great new ideas and information. If you own a reactive/aggressive/fearful dog, this should be the first book you get IMO. I also highly recommend Grisha Stewart's Behavior Adjustment Training for in-depth training strategies, as well as Pam Dennison's Bringing Light To Shadow, which was extremely helpful for me in understanding clearly what an effective rehab program / strategy looks like for a human-aggressive dog. Other very worthwhile books include Click To Calm by Emma Parsons, Control Unleashed by Leslie McDevitt, Fired Up, Frantic, and Freaked Out by Laura VanArendonk Baugh, How To Right A Dog Gone Wrong as well as The Complete Idiot's Guide To Positive Dog Training both by Pam Dennison, Fight!: A Practical Guide to the Treatment of Dog-dog Aggression by Jean Donaldson, and The Dog Aggression Workbook by James O'Heare.
• 
  Karen E. Miller

  Thank you, Ali
  
  An excellent book for people whose dogs don't behave like we want them to. I have spent a fortune on dog trainers who never told me my dog was "reactive" and couldn't explain why he went nuts when my doorbell rang, someone walked by the house or he saw a person when we were out walking. He got so excited (happy) and could not contain himself, trying to jump up on everyone he met. I got to where I couldn't have anyone come in my house. Then I got a puppy, who misinterpreted his excitement and quickly became a fear biter. I made an appointment with a certified Veterinary behaviorist, but the earliest appointment was 6 months out. I got this book, immediately started some of the exercises and noticed a huge difference in the younger dog. I did not realize that he was totally stressed out. I still won't let a stranger pet him but he now sits patiently at my side when we stop to talk to someone The older dog is still very excitable and I am now working on him. This book has been a Godsend!
  
• 
  Kaitie Ivory

  It was a short introduction to dealing with a reactive dog--nothing I haven't already read, but a nice guide with game ideas.
  
  She advocates for grain free and raw diets as well as homeopathy, which is why I had to give it 3 stars! She recommended turning toward support groups or owners that currently feed raw diets because most vets aren't a fan of the concept. (No references were cited by the way).
  
  The misinformation and inciting mistrust of veterinarians is problematic and made me question other claims she made.
• 
  Sean

  Has some good ideas, but could be better organized and more systematic. Still worth reading for any dog owner no matter how experienced. But time and training will tell if her methods work for our dogs and I.
• 
  Tina

  Some generally good advice with a few rants about GMOs, grains, soy, and veterinary pharmaceuticals.
  
  The usefulness of this book is severely limited by the author’s assumption that every dog owner has a car with many strategies being based on using a car as a sort of mobile crate.
  
• 
  Lee Tyner

  Meh. It had a few good pointers but they were surrounded by redundant examples and psycho babble.
• 
  Rinku

  Lots of great information in this book.
• 
  Robin

  I enjoyed Ali Brown's book but I must admit that compared to others I've read in the last two or three years, it was thinnish in terms of either new materials or research to back up her reasoning, nor was it nearly as well organized as some other similar books on the same themes.
  
  Brown, like people like Rugaas, Donaldson, McConnell and Pryor is obviously a trainer with both personal experience as as a trainer, and a human who loves the dogs who share her life. Unlike the others I've listed here, however, she is not as systematic in how she lays out her training recommendations and methods as Donaldson - who is particularly exceptional in her approach, or even as Rugaas who struggles with the English language. Nor goes Brown, despite being well-educated, document sources that would provide credibility to her assertions, which both McConnell and Pryor do while maintaining as pleasing and accessible a narrative-type tone as Brown is aiming for.
  
  The one thing that stands out for me, and it is not a matter of the book per se - because all of the authors touch on the needs for patience, repetition, repetition and more repetition and the singular needs of the fear reactive dog - but rather of Brown's training practice, and I would hope that other trainers would take note, is that she offers a class, a small class tailored and designed particularly to the needs of reactive dogs and their humans, to helping them develop partnered skills that will minimize the reactive behaviours but also to understand that a reactive dog will always be, to some extent, more reactive and sensitive than non-reactive dogs, but no less capable of being a valued, loved and loving companion.
• 
  Matthildur

  I gave it 5 stars even if I didn't agree with the "holistic" chapter. No need to mark it down when I enjoyed most of it.
  
  This book is pretty human in its approach. Owning a reactive/fearful dog is very humiliating experience and this book is both helpful in offering a method to work through it but also encouragement to not lose hope even if things don't always progress along as a dog owner might want to. It also does a good job explaining why the dog behaves the way it does.
  
  I got a few new tools I'll take with me on my own personal journey. Through the counter conditioning methods modern trainers are employing to tackle reactivity I have seen progress with my own dog. I must say that I was grateful to read the author of this one reminding owners not to focus on WHY the dog is like it is but rather focus on HOW we can help them. It's so easy to get stuck wondering what went wrong and forgetting that whatever it was, it's too late to change it and the solution will always be the same.
  
  I'm glad I picked this one up :)
• 
  Lois Brandt

  Some very helpful advice here for those of us with dogs who are frightened of/reactive to other dogs and strangers. "Stuff the puppy" has become our family motto and has worked well. Small training tips, like how to take your dog out the door for a walk without being run over, were easy to follow. I enjoyed her gentle understanding of dogs and also the idea of giving a dog a break and not pushing too hard. If you have a reactive dog, this book will help you.
• 
  Laurie Davies

  Great book
  
  Wonderful ideas in dog training for reactive dogs, also in positive training. Really great information on the selection of dog food, the ingredients ad the role it can play on the dogs mood changes and interactions with other dogs and people
• 
  Amy

  i see my dog and multiple dogs i've known in these pages. good, clear instructions for helping a reactive dog.
• 
  Barbara

  Very good ideas to help with my rescue dog.
• 
  Leslie D. Soule

  This is one that the dog behaviorist suggested to me a while back. It's excellent reading material, and has good information.