For those of us with reactive dogs

[ChickensHaveNoEyebrows]

After another not-so-good walk with my dog, I came home and searched for 'coping with a reactive dog'. I found this blog post, and it made me smile, so thought I'd share

[Allfurcoatandnoknickers]

I think I have read every book/website/forum about reactive dogs, but still struggle most days with my 6yo terrier rescue. Only today he lunged at a dog. He has little dog syndrome, and particularly doesn't like entire males.
He's lived with us for four years now and has got into every scrape imaginable, including ones involving sheep....,despite everything, we all love him to pieces.

[ClaimedByMe]

Hully my mum thinks the same as your DH, if my antisocial evil dog just spends more time with her happy go lucky Airedale she will learn to love him, get over her fear of other dogs when infact the more time she spends with him the more she wants to rip his ears off, I think she now accepts they will never be friends!

[worsestershiresauce]

It's good to know there are others out there, coping! I can't walk dog2 at the moment as I'm 8 months pregnant and breaking up dog fights is an ask too far.

DH has taken over, and using tactics which go against every training manual I have ever read is making great progress. He turns dog2's back to the approaching dog, holds him firmly and talks to him completely calmly. In really tight spots he lifts dog2 up so his front feet are off the ground. This works. In 90% of situations dog2 relaxes and seems to feel safe. If the other dog barks, growls or lunges all hell still breaks loose, but generally speaking walks are becoming less traumatic for everyone.

I suspect his success has much to do with him being a big authoritative presence and his total calmness.

[Scuttlebutter]

Love it!! Exactly right. Funnily enough, we are doing BAT with one of our dogs and our trainer said we should be doing ninja BAT with him - there is obviously a theme going on there.

I mainline gin.

[ChickensHaveNoEyebrows]

I particularly identified with the 'be a ninja' bit, and the 'squirty cream straight from the can' bit. Except I mainline biscuits and sometimes gin.

Hully, my hound is similair. He never chooses to engage, but if another mutt runs up to him, he basically screams 'FUCK OFFFFFFF' right in their mush. It is a tad embarassing, and usually my fault. So far, no actual bites or injuries, but....sigh. I am sure I am royally cocking it all up.

[ClaimedByMe]

Haha! Love it, I could have wrote that!

[Hullygully]

Hey chickens, my pore ol dog sees another dog and just goes very still, or tries to cross the road and go in a big circle around them since she was attacked. She also doesn't start anything, but whereas she used to ignore other dogs' barking, she'll now let them know she's not to be trifled with.

Dh was walking her recently and met two dogs, one each of the breeds that attacked her, and as they were friendly he thought it would help her to get over it...(hahahahahahahaha dh). She told them very clearly she didn't like their kind (I cheered secretly).

[jennybeadle]

That's brilliant. I particularly like "make sure you treat yourself too". Not sure I could manage dog treats, wine, chocolate and a lead all at the same time though...