I have a three year old Maltese who has always been nervous around other dogs and despite previous attempts at socialising him and using positive conditioning he is still very reactive towards other dogs and will bark at them. For this reason he is always kept on a lead, wears a yellow harness and is walked at quiet times. However, it is getting more and more common that other off-lead dogs approach him despite his bright yellow harness which says "KEEP AWAY".
I walk him around parks and off-lead dogs come bounding up to him whilst the owner tries to call their dog back which the dog completely ignores. I walk him around quiet residential streets at quiet times and three times (!) in the last month dogs have come bounding out of their owners houses straight up to my dog, even crossing busy roads to get to him.
The dogs just bound straight up to him, ignoring his barks. I then just feel so helpless, I tighten my dogs lead so he is at my ankle and try and change directions but we are circled by a dog incessantly trying to reach my dog. It happened earlier today and afterwards I literally shake like a leaf as I just feel so helpless and vulnerable when there is a dog there and my dogs barking is escalating I also always feel guilty so I apologise to the other owner like I have done something wrong despite having control of my dog and loudly and clearly warning owners that my dog does not like other dogs.
I am so fed up with it. I can understand if it was happening at busy parks frequented by dog walkers (which is why I avoid those areas), but walking around a quiet neighbourhood at dusk when there is nobody around and yet nearly once a week a dog will run out someone's front door towards us.
Does anyone have any advice?
Please or to access all these features
Please
or
to access all these features
If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.
The doghouse
Off-lead dogs approaching my reactive dog
60 replies
xorose · 29/07/2019 20:54
OP posts:
Don’t want to miss threads like this?
Weekly
Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!
Log in to update your newsletter preferences.
You've subscribed!
Please create an account
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.