Why is my trained reactive dog suddenly lunging again? Is he sick?

Question

Could GI issues like colitis (or any other physical ailments/illnesses cause a "reactive dog," who learned to stop an unwanted behavior (i.e. lunging & braking at birds) to suddenly start this behavior again? Note: Canine was trained through positive conditioning, for example, trigger stimuli > commands: here/sit/look > treat. Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Male | neutered | 100 lbs

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

Yes, an illness or physical problem can certainly worsen existing aggression or reactivity issues, or could be a trigger for having them pop up again when they were previously well-controlled. You may need to do a bit of remedial training to remind Hank of what to do in these situations (i.e., back to more careful management and frequent rewards for making the "right" choice) for a while, along with treating the colitis.

Why is my trained reactive dog suddenly lunging again? Is he sick?

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