Those of you with aggressive dogs.

[Greyhorses]

Are there ever moments where you wish you could just give up? How do you get through them?
It's so frustrating having to plan every walk, miss out on fun things and worry about whether people or dogs are going to approach. I think I have aged 12 years in 12 months!

At what point did you just accept that your dog is horrible and give up trying to change them? Nothing I seem to do ever makes her any better and I am tempted to just never let her show her face In public again

We have a 4 yr old fear aggressive Border Terrier: it kicked off when she was around 3, and we have made some progress with the help of a behaviourist. No 'cure', but manageable (saving grace is her size - double the stress in a larger dog).

I could write pages about it, but the one thing that sets her back is this: people who allow their dog to approach others uninvited. Think about it. Would YOU go up to a random and stick your face in theirs? Of course not. So get out of the mentality of thinking that dogs need that level of closeness. Majority don't. It is rude, and shows a massive lack of understanding about dogs.

Happened again the other day. Passed lots of dogs fine (treat her) until 5 mins before the end when a large dog zooms up with the owner not doing anything. Cue one stressed dog. Her confidence would have been boosted had she been able to walk past without that unnecessary interaction.

Then others look at you as if you are the problem. Well, mine is on-lead and fair warning given. You have to have v. thick skin. Oh, and wine helps. A lot.

No Bertrand. But I do expect people to be able to recall their dogs if it starts coming too close. That's pretty basic stuff which avoids most issues.

We try to avoid dogs, have a yellow lead with "nervous" on, and ask people to recall. Most do, and understand. But those who allow their dog to continue shouldn't own one. They are putting my, and their, dog at unnecessary risk.

Not realistic for Scrabble to never see a dog. Clearly, we can only boost her confidence by slowly increasing the distance between her and what she fears. It's just a pity that there always seems to be one idiot who sets her back.

Today has been a better day, she has managed to pass a few dogs reasonably calmly.

I dont expect everyone else's dogs to be well behaved, however I do expect off lead dogs to be recalled if a dog is off lead. The dog on lead could be there for any number of reasons and by letting your dog run up to it you could be risking letting your friendly dog being bitten. If you can't recall your dog it shouldn't be off lead, and both of mine recall instantly thankfully!

Oh and to be clear...it's ok he's just friendly dogs...aren't actually friendly, if they were their owners wouldn't ever need to say that, because they'd approach with manners and would read the on lead dog's body language.

It's ok he's friendly is only ever said by the owners of rude dogs who rush up and try to roughhouse whether the dog they're approaching wants to or not.

They're the dog equivalent of children at soft play who introduce themselves by throwing things at your toddler and their parents say he was just playing once yours has been reduced to tears.

Admit j put my dog on lead when see one on or owner putting theirs on when see mine till we checked that are ok

But their is one dog I hate bumping into .its always on a lead and I put mine on second I catch sight of and dread bumping into him on blind corners etc as sure one day someone's going turn corner and the dog will have it
The Man covers the dogs eyes but it still growls and lunges we walked past the other day and man obviously though we was far enough and it whipped round at my dog who was far side of me luckily only catching hair

So I would say if your dog is fear aggressive consider muzzling or be 100% sure that it can't lunge

Our rescue lurcher has exactly the problems. He's absolutely great around people and loves them but is scared witless of other dogs. Unfortunately all the dog owners round here fall into the 'inconsiderate' category and continually set back his training by months. He's been attacked by the same border terrier 3 times that the arsehole owners never walk on a lead. Every time I get the tinkly laugh and the 'oh, did she nip him?' They seem to think because their dog is cute and small they can let it run about riot. Total idiots. I just turn around or cross the road to avoid other dogs mostly because people round here seem to think that my dog, with its hackles up and whites of its eyes showing, absolutely cannot wait to meet their untrained dog with no recall that they don't bother walking on a lead. He's great in so many ways but every walk is a stressful affair. I know exactly how you all feel and my commiserations to all who have to suffer the dirty looks, tuts and stares because others don't understand!

My 1yr collie is really reactive and turns into a wild animal when she sees people or dogs it's just her not anything that's happened to her etc. I have had many collies and currently have three,they are pets and working dogs. I am having sucess with a calming cap on her when out, as she has so much 'eye' it restricts what she sees and stops her constantly looking for dogs,people,she is more bothered by what she sees rather than hears. She listens better when wearing it and has less chance of repeating her behaviour.