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.

This!!!

OP you’re mistaking Reactive for Aggressive. There’s a massive difference! My fluffy miniature schnauzer puppy is ‘reactive’ on walkies but his HIGHLY QUALIFIED behaviourist has told me it’s because he is scared! And that it’s very common with puppies. His teeth are blunt for heaven’s sake! He’s no danger to anyone!

What qualifications in canine behaviour do you have please?

Can you provide your source for when a Jack Russell killed a baby?

A baby died this week near Newport because a dog was spooked by fireworks

Agreed. Mine is reactive due to anxiety. He is not aggressive. Ive had advice from 2 different trainers. I keep him away from people and other dogs, I warn people who's dogs are loose. I wouldn't put him down, he is happy.

Yes, it is. However, people with aggressive dogs usually claim that their dogs are just reactive.

You're massively unreasonable.

Reactive means reactive - it means the dog reacts. It does not determine what that reaction is though.

A dog may be reactive because its silly and over aroused and struggling with impulse control.
A dog may be reactive because it is fearful and has a tendancy to blind panic and bolt.
A dog may be reactive because it wants to run away and if something gets in its personal space THEN it will indeed bite.
A dog may be reactive because yes, it wants to attack other beings.

Unless you know the dog in question well, you have NO idea which of these apply.

It is reasonable to expect other people to keep their own dog from approaching dogs on a lead and getting in their personal space. There is never a need for an off lead dog to get close to an on-lead dog. There is never a need for anyone to get into someone elses dogs personal space (that five to ten foot bubble around a person and their dog).

There is of course a need for the owners of reactive dogs to behave responsibly (just as there is a need for owners of non-reactive dogs to behave responsibly).

My dog is reactive. She's Springer Spaniel. She loves people. Doesn't bark at dogs or go for them but will react is they get in her space, not with biting, just a snappy warning. No, I've not been kidding myself all these years.

My dog reaction is to try and run away when other dogs bark at him. He’s always on a lead unless we’re at a field. That warrants being pts. Thank god for MNers spouting their opinions as if they’re facts. We might have carried on living this way!

Exactly.

So many people see a dog barking at another dog or person and say "Aggressive!". How, exactly, is a dog supposed to communicate its fear or discomfort when the other party has ignored all of its signals to stay away?

Dogs are social animals, and as such do communicate very clearly - some dogs ignore that, and they're usually the ones that end up on the wrong end of teeth. Some owners ignore their dog's signals (or are unaware of them), and they're the ones whose dogs end up PTS.

And then you have the "Dogs love me!" people who ignore the owners' warnings to stay away when the dog is practically yelling "stay away!" for all it's worth, and they're usually the ones who get bitten and complain about aggressive/untrained dogs.

Bottom line is all owners need to keep their dogs under control in public.

• If you're not 100% confident you could recall your dog away from anyone or anything you might meet, keep them on a lead.
• Any 'reactive' dog that might bite a person or dog going up to it needs to be muzzled and on a short lead next to you. Mistakes happen and a yellow dog coat/long line while praying others give you a wide berth isn't an acceptable level of control if your dog shows aggressive behaviour.

I agree. It can't be much fun having such a stressful dog, especially when you can get one that isn't like that.

We had a trial period fostering a reactive dog, the rescue did not tell us he was reactive, we found out the second he saw another dog. It was the most stressful 10 days I think I've had, and we didn't last the full 2 weeks we promised to try. Horrible experience, and incredibly unsettling for the dog too. I feel bad that someone/something has messed up these animals, but we could never have kept him in a million years.

Yeah, should just swap it out if it becomes hard work. Like a library book.

People always use the analogy of others letting their off lead dogs run up to their reactive dog so it’s the other owner’s fault, and mine knows he’s not allowed to go over until I say “go on” and make strides towards the other dog/ owner (people/ dogs we know) but no one ever talks about when you have to walk past a reactive/ aggressive dog in the street. What are you supposed to do, jump into the road? Both of mine have been barked at, growled and and snapped at when we’re just walking along minding our own business.

No one chooses to have a reactive dog. No one intends minimising their lives because they have a difficult dog. No one is enjoying it.

Problem is you don’t find out that’s what you’ve got until you’ve committed. You can’t criticize someone for sticking with a situation they did not choose once it’s happened when the only other outcome is a dead dog 🤷🏼‍♀️

No, if someone has a reactive dog (I do), they have a responsibility to ensure that close-quarters interactions don't happen - there's almost always a way to do this (even if it means putting themselves between their own dog and the other one), but it requires staying vigilant and alert to everything around them, rather than keeping headphones on or being buried in their phones, and using a lead that can be kept short when necessary.

Personally I’m fed up of the vitriol from reactive dog owners to any other dog owners.

Yes, I have a friendly dog, please don’t hate me as an owner for letting her socialise and play.

(Usual caveat: on lead when I see an on lead dog, good recall, only greet when verifying with the owner).

This viewpoint lacks any nuance or real understanding of dog reactivity. Not all reactive dogs are aggressive or bite risks, and even moreso when managed responsibly. Responsibility lies with the owners.

I have a bigger problem with owners of non-reactive/aggressive dogs having zero control over them in public.

My dog is reactive - not aggressive, as others have said, you really don’t know what you are talking about. So I’ve worked with her and a behaviourist to have full control of her in public, and she has a sheath on her lead warning other dog owners. She completely ignores other dogs when we are out now. This does however go to shit when she is on her lead and overwhelmed by other dogs either on their lead too with a shit owner, or off leash with a shit owner with no recall or control over them. Then she barks and growls and snaps because she couldn’t make it clearer that she is happy not being bothered, and yet…

Having only read the op - you’re not describing a reactive dog, you’re describing an aggressive one.

My dog is reactive because she’s nervous, mainly because of experiences as a youngster with poorly socialised and badly trained dogs who would bound up to her and not read her cues.

She’s never bitten another dog, is fine with all humans.

We avoid heavily doggy areas because every time another badly owned dog races up to her the more fearful she becomes. If she was a dangerous dog we would have her pts, but she’s not. YABU.

What vitriol are you receiving then? If you’re bringing your dog under control when you see another one? Genuine question. I can’t understand in what circumstance there’d be an opportunity for you to be on the receiving end of any kind of comment?

You’re the exception not the rule. Most owners of friendly dogs have little control over them beyond a certain distance, when the dog’s desire to play overwhelms their desire to obey.

On MN there is a lot of anger towards anyone who has a friendly dog who plays and socialises with other dogs.