To take a reactive dog to Dalby Forest?

[EbbyEbs]

I feel so sorry for my dog. Her life is so restricted as she’s fear aggressive and reactive. We have been in training for almost 3 years and she has improved but the reactivity is still there.

I want to take her to Dalby forest, she loved it last time but that was before she became reactive. WIBU to take her back knowing what she’s like? She would obviously be on lead the whole time

Could you find a quieter forest? She won't know the difference.

Or a private session in a dog exercise field. That would cost less than the parking fee at Dalby anyway.

We do that every week though 😞 I just feel so sorry for her

Why would you take a reactive dog to a place that will just stress her out?! She's reactive because she's nervous and anxious about being approached. That's not going to change because she's on a lead.

Also, her being on a lead won't stop other dogs bounding up to her. If she doesn't like that, it's going to be horrible for her - she can't even remove herself from the situation by running away, so of course she's going to react.

I'm not familiar with Dalby Forest so I don't know if it's busy or not.

However, if it is busy then you going won't be fun for anyone - not your dog, not you, and not anyone else near you.

As hard as it is, I'd be picking the quietest available locations (as the fellow owner of a reactive dog, I get it, it's hard, and you have my sympathies).

I just wish I could give her the life I had planned for her 😞

Will look for somewhere quieter. Any suggestions close to East Yorkshire?

There's a bit of a grieving process that goes on when you realise you've got a reactive dog.

Because you pictured taking them to the park, and snoozing under the table at the pub

Because you want to be able to have friends round without safety procedures

Because you want to be able to walk down the street without causing a scene

Because you want your dog to have a normal life

And because, godammit, it wasn't meant to be this hard!

All totally normal emotions by the way. There's a good group on Facebook for support www.facebook.com/groups/1633448230248202/?ref=share

Wouldn’t it be kinder to PTS if she’s constantly scared and on edge?

Dalby forest will be fine. Just pick your spot and time of day. Generally it’s quieter before 11 or after 3.
There are a few quiet places such as near the Nissan hut and there are a couple of turnings after go ape but before the bride stones car park which are really quiet.

Cropton forest is quieter but not as user friendly.
parts of the wolds way will be very quiet during the week.
if you get an OS map you will see the bridle ways marked and most will be very wuiet

I have no idea what Dalby forest is like, but our dog has become reactive after he was attacked by an off lead dog so we do need to think about when and where we go to make sure he is comfortable with the environment.

We go to a forest near us, we tend to go either early in the morning before there are many people there.

A lot of reactive dogs are absolutely fine and dandy so long as they don't see their triggers (dogs and strangers being common ones, some are more esoteric - skateboards, specific dog breeds only, hi Vis, wheelie bins...) so a lot of time is spent trying to avoid those triggers. They're frequently very normal at home.

Many dogs can also show great improvements even if normality is unobtainable. This always involves qualified behaviourists, sometimes meds too - there's a surprisingly high number of dogs on SSRIs like fluoxetine.

Mine is currently napping soundly on the sofa but would turn into a wreck if he spotted a German shepherd for instance (huskies on the other hand - absolutely fine, it can be very very specific). He has a good quality of life overall.