Today, I had a odor detection fun match, it was a game type to find the grinch to save christmas. I was excited, but not Novak...Novak is very reactive to other dogs and even some humans since the surgery. It was manageable, I was working a bit with him, but today, it was a mess. I tried everything, crating him, focus games, obedience, he was barking, growling, jumping(not reaching) toward other dogs, it was crazy. Ok, it was a pretty large group, maybe 15 dogs and 15 humans and no one was crating their dog, just me, it was sort of like a class set up when everyone is following the class with their dog on leash and waiting their turn. At one point, I broke down, I said, ok, im leaving, its too much and I felt so sad, I started to cry...ok, emotionnaly, Im a bit unstable since the tripawd thing, sometime I feel that its the worse thing I did, cause before that, everything was ok, Novak was friendly to every dog, no oesophagus problem, no mobility issues, etc... now, its a mess. I need to do physio, behavior training, feed him special diet, buy so many thing to help him, put carpet on the floor, etc... I know, maybe it sound like im an egoist person, but  sometime, its overwhelming. I love Novak, I would do anything for him...but today, I crashed, Im thinking that his life wont never be the same, he cant do dog sport cause he's reactive, what will he do, just be an inside dog, no activities. I know, that all those are human things, things that I want to do, him, he just to be with me.

I felt like everyone was watching me, judging me, maybe its just me. No one was talking to me, but i get it, im stuck with Novak and no one can come close to me. The positive side is, that even with his anxiety, he manage to work very well and was top dog doing quick search and finding everything. When his mind was occupied, he was ok.

So, what now...I have to kick myself and begin to work him, but in a smaller group, maybe just one dog at a time, make sure that physically, hes top shape(physio), begin to detach myself a bit from him, he's over dependant since surgery. I think, that if I let him loose with the other dogs, he wont bite, he's just insecure and Im making it worse by being the leash holder, he need to see, that they are not a threat. I think that because, when he bark/growl, he then sit on me or come running to me very close, getting in my pants.

Anyway, I had a very bad day and I thought that the 3 legs thing would be a bit easier, I was looking forward for a lot of things, maybe my expectations was too high.

THanks! Did anyone had this issue after the surgery? Reactive toward others? My vet told me today that maybe he's in pain and that can cause the behavior change. It was a good point and I will look into it.