To think that 'reactive' dog owners should stop kidding themselves?

[realpeopledontlikebites]

Their dogs are simply aggressive. If you've been doing everything within your power and finances to make your dog happy and it still goes for people and other animals, whilst you diminish your whole world to accommodate it..... bearing in mind most dogs WANT to please their owners and live without conflict ..... then it's time to do right thing and remove the dog from the possibility of harming anyone.

Stop kidding youself. Stop putting children and vulnerable people in danger. Stop pretending there is any other solution , because there isn't . Visit your local vet and discuss the only humane sensible thing to do.

I've been there. I've blamed others for walking too fast. For looking at my dog. For breathing anywhere near him . He was wired wrong and he was a danger and we did everything we could and we made all the excuses.

He bit people and when he tried to lunge at my baby grandson I knew we had to take him to the vet and end his life humanely.

I wish we'd done it sooner and I am so fearful of other dogs when I see them the same as my dog was. I know how dangerous they are. I Know their body language.

If you're soothing your dog constantly to stop them attacking people or you have to walk in the dark or hire a field, you own a dangerous dog and it is a liability . PLEASE do the right thing before your dog kills someone.

Oh my gosh are you me?! 😆

It fucks me right off. We live in the middle of the countryside with walks for miles, canals, riversides, forests, fields.... Yet so many people just walk down to the local playing field and throw a ball over and over again for their (high energy) dogs with those bloody flingers. Yes of course it tires them out if they do it for an hour non-stop but it doesn't provide them any mental stimulation whatsoever and is horrific for their joints.

We try to avoid it as much as possible but it is a through route to the village and so mine all go on lead when we walk through as I'm not risking them chasing someone else's ball and me having to run after them.

It is a living being though, yes?

Your mistake was allowing a dog with a bite history to be anywhere near a child. My dog is small and has never bitten or attempted to bite anyone, he loves people, but I would NEVER allow him near children without very close supervision.

It's a dog that shouldn't be treated as a person substitute. It shouldn't be needlessly suffering and I don't think owners should feel pressured to bend over backwards or significantly limit their own lives for a pet.

Look, you obviously don't like dogs and its your right, but why are you so adamant that people shouldn't love their dog?
Do you feel superior because you are so emotionally disconnected from an inferior creature?

Why do people draw these ridiculous comparisons. It’s an ANIMAL.

And so what? Is it just an object to discard as soon it's a bit damaged?

I'm more worried by the number of random feral kids around than dogs so it's a reasonable comment.

Not keen on places where you eat allowing dogs in but ill behaved kids are even more annoying.

Why? If the dog is nervous but hasn’t ever attacked another dog , is on the lead completely under the control of their owner why is it a problem to you?
if the dog is marauding around off lead and attacking other dogs then yes you have a right to be angry but otherwise I don’t understand.
You just recall your dog and walk away?

I don't agree with anything the OP Is saying and ive got a beautiful big sheprador

But

Unless your dog has no teeth it is capable of killing someone. Maybe not an adult. But maybe a baby or a child.

Just recently a jack Russel killed a baby

I don't feel like my dog would ever kill someone but I would never say he wasn't capable. He's still an animal at the end of the day

Animals are living breathing beings with emotions just like us? Where's your empathy you lunatic 😅

It’s very different to a toddler!

I've nothing against dogs that are treated like dogs by sensible owners with a good understanding of animals and their needs. I'm not a fan of dogs that are treated as person substitutes, they tend to be the antisocial ones.

We have a very gentle, older dog but even so I would never leave her alone with children. We have two small grandchildren and she is lovely with them but we watch constantly. Any dog can turn.
Also, I always check with people that they are ok with dogs when they come to the house. If not, she is kept separate.
I don't think there is a difference between aggressive and reactive either.

So because you were an irresponsible owner, who allowed a dog with a known bite history to be around a baby, all responsible owners, who do manage their dogs' behaviour, should have them PTS?

Person substitutes. What does that involve? How does one actually treat a dog as a person substitute? Pop into a cafe after a walk? Let them sleep in a comfortable bed? Allow them on the sofa? Feed them a 3 course meal? Send them to school? Expect them to get a job and support themselves?

Sorry, quoted the wrong post. My dog would never do that!

That is up to the owner, not you.
And what is a person substitute? Are you one of those vitriolic dog haters who think anyone who has a dog must struggle with human relationships.
Looks like I can strike that one out on my bingo card.

I think that there is a subset of people that treat their dogs as person substitutes. Obviously I don't think this of all dog owners, I know plenty of properly trained dogs with responsible owners.

I didn't say a dog was like a toddler. I was referring to the post which said it must be limiting having a reactive dog and I said yes. Like taking a toddler to the supermarket is also a pain in the arse. Mortifying and fucking exhausting at times but you've made the decision to have them so you put in the hard work.

I have a reactive dog but not how you describe. He's never been aggressive, he's nervous of things so barks and skitters behind my legs. He's great with kids. Ours and kids outside. He's great with dogs when off the lead. When on the lead he feels traps and skitters and barks. He doesn't lunge or growl though. To me that's aggression not reactiveness

Yep. My little westie and now my little schnauzer came with me everywhere when I had babies. By which I mean if I went to the toilet either baby or dog came too. Most important thing was everyone's safety

The issue isn't dogs so much as dogs being owned by people who don't understand the commitment and responsibility that dog ownership is.

@realpeopledontlikebites saying that a dog who isn't well trained and feeling secure is diminishing their world really makes the point for me. Dogs are a huge amount of work, very few people are willing to 'diminish their world' in order to create a safe and effective environment to train their dog. A few puppy classes don't cut it, training a dog means real lifestyle changes for yourself.

Makes me laugh when people say their dog is reactive. They're actually proactive, with aggression usually! Reactive is just a way of diminishing the seriousness of it and shifting responsibility onto the other dog that has triggered their poor darling.

My boy still comes with me now & my kids are almost 9 and 11 😅 ( Ddog is 3 ) 😅

My kids have never provoked him or anything like that and have been taught to handle and treat him correctly and respectfully...... but I still don't leave them all in the same room together. Just incase. He's never shown any aggression to me, my kids our cats or other dogs but I'd still rather not risk it ( he was bitten on a walk once and didn't retaliate, he was scared )

Clearly you don't know what your talking about then as a reactive dog can simply be a dog that barks at the door or pulls /barks to greet other dogs instead of having dog manners... there's different types of reactive and its not all aggression 🤣

Edited to add a quick Google shows

A reactive dog is one that overreacts to triggers like other dogs, people, or noises, and may bark, lunge, growl, or pull on the leash. This behavior is often rooted in fear, frustration, or excitement, rather than aggression, and can be stressful for both the dog and its owner