Walking reactive dogs

[Cheerfulmarybrown]

I know a few of us have the reactive dogs there are some good pointers in this article on how to enjoy walking them

Enjoyable walks with reactive dogs

Do people really think that dogs should pass each other like British people swimmers in lanes, ignoring each other?
Who's to know that you have a dog who's liable to react/attack unless you tip them off with muzzles or tabards or yellow kit or something? Most dogs which are on leads ime are on them because their recall is not 100%, not because they are aggressive/ reactive. You have to help people out a bit.

Thing is, it does not matter [i]why[/i] a dog is on-lead: you can assume it is for a good reason. It is then basic consideration to recall your dog and not let it approach. If your dog continues and leaps in my dog's face, then don't get angsty at me when mine kicks off - would you remain calm if someone did that to you? In this situation, I think the term "reactive" dog is a misnomer since it would have to have an extraordinary level of calmness or be in a coma.

Most issues can be resolved with a good recall. Mine turn on a six-pence and come back from 99% of distractions (it took a good year of training in many situations though!). I do help people out. If their dog is approaching, I forewarn them that one of mine is not friendly. This is what happened on Sunday:

Man: "Oh if your dog snaps mine will just walk off"
Me (thinking): WHAT ?! What kind of idiot is happy to stress his own, and mine, dog out because he is too lazy to bother training a recall.

Another woman: Oooooh come here (running around aimlessly whilst her two terriers repeatedly zoom up to Scrabble's face). Said woman makes noises about the "bad" dog. Dozey mare. I told her from a good distance, and could she recall her dogs? No.

Woman: "Don't worry. Not all dogs are [friendly]." (She then recalls her and leashes it until safely past).

The latter is someone with a clue, but the first two encounters are the more common type. RECALL YOUR DOGS PEOPLE. IT'S MAINLY WHY MINE REACTS BADLY.

And yes, I do think dogs should pass each other calmly. At most, there is no need for more than a very quick sniff (a second or so is enough for them). It's a myth that dogs need socializing with other dogs in close proximity on a regular basis (just as we don't interact with everyone passing us). But, as I said, I cross over the road or turn around - it's a very threatening situation for the average dog.

So. I bought a yellow bandana with the word nervous on it. Wasn't sure what I was expecting or even thinking it would help. For £6 I thought worth a try.

Put it on him today and it was good. He is not great with people coming up and stroking him. People do it all the time. And keep going when he is hiding behind my legs growling. Some people don't have a clue.

Today. So many people as we walked past made 'awwww' noises at him but no one came over for a stroke. Which is wonderful. When that happens it takes him ages to calm down and walk camly again. So that was a big plus.

Also we walked past another dog. The lady saw his yellow bandana. Moved her dog to the other side of her , gave me a wonderful smile and encouraged her dog to ignore.

Though as lovely as it was her dog went nuts and raffles completely ignored him

I am going to put it on him for the next couple of weeks to see how it goes.

It did not however help when two people walked past with some suitcases and sent him in to tizzy.

"Do people really think that dogs should pass each other like British people swimmers in lanes, ignoring each other"

If you see a dog on a lead, you keep yours away unless the owner says otherwise, it's not rocket science and I've managed it with every dog I've ever owned, so it's not exactly unrealistic.

The thing is, mine is muzzled, in a bright colour so that it shows up, I always shout over to owners that he is not friendly and he makes it pretty blooming obvious that he's not as well - and we still get dogs bouncing on him.

Before the behaviour was an issue he was on lead only for a very long time due to joint issues and recovery from surgery, telling people that didn't make some people stop their dogs from bouncing on him either.

I move away when I see a dog coming because mine has a spectacularly long threshold distance, so he's already reacting by the time most owners could hear me anyway, so on top of the very obvious muzzle I'm actively avoiding them...

How much more help do they need to work out that their dog isn't going to be greeted with delight?

I don't think that bouncing on an approaching on- or off-lead dog is appropriate. Not at all.
However, I think that most normal well-adjusted people and dogs will interact to some extent if they pass each other on the street, for example, and so if your dog's interaction is likely to be unpleasant, the onus must be on you to highlight it to others.

I don't pass dogs on the street, it's too close.

I cross roads, turn round, shove him in bushes, lol...I never ever actually pass them on the same path or pavement.

I've just ordered a bandana too. I think it gives the explanation without having to try and verbalise to other owners what you're doing.

Signing in as another reactive dog owner. Just been away for a few days and, yes, had some 'lovely' beach walks. Just wish it didn't have to be managed like a swat team alertness training session tbh. All the training sessions we've done, all the helpful tips, etc., as much as I adore my boy I do sometimes long for an uncomplicated walk. You know the sort of walk - mooching along enjoying the time together and passing chit chat with other dog owners.

Also signing on. Our very reactive rescue dog is also affecting our other dog too- she's becoming reactive which we're trying to work on. Our rescue really hates new situations and change- I miss doggy holidays.

Best tip I was given- if other owners still persist in coming close, in spite of being told, tell them that your dog has mange. It really works and they don't come near you!

swat team alertness training that's it exactly! I'm always watching, watching, watching. What will I do if "this" happens? should I risk walking on the path or keep to the woodland?
This morning she ignored 2 joggers ...so a good start to the day.
If I avoid people/dogs for ever am I giving up? (ie accepting that she will never improve).
How do you all cope with holidays? do you ever put your dog in kennels? I am contemplating trying a "one nighter" just to see how she copes.

I went to an industrial estate yesterday. Realised how beautiful it was. Lots of green parts. And field out the back and no dogs, joggers people etc. May go there another day. Seems like a stress free walking place. Never seen an industrial site so pretty.

Sam, yes always watching and alert but trying as well to be as relaxed as possible so the tenseness doesn't pass onto dog! Not easy is it. I'm not sure a reactive dog will ever be totally reliable tbh. With regard to holidays I'm lucky that my sister who he knows and trusts is happy to come and stay here. If we go away in this country we book a dog friendly cottage. Not sure I'd be happy about chancing a dog friendly hotel. Too many strange dogs and people in close quarters. Sounds like a recipe for disaster.

We have a lady that they go to. She spoils them rotten and doesn't push them at all. She also has no dogs. Don't know what we'd do if we didn't have her though!

Signing in to read later.

Hello! May I join also?

We got our reactive dog last June, he is a rescue. He had had an awful life, found tied to a tree in the woods, broke a number of teeth trying to chew the chain off, his jaw is misaligned possibly due to past abuse? I volunteer as a walker at our local shelter and that's where I got him from; he was introduced to our dogs before he came home and all went well....until we got home.

On the first day he randomly attacked both of our other dogs. For the first three weeks he could not be trusted...if in the house he was leashed to me, he could only go out into the garden by himself. I don't think he had ever been in a house before and that caused him a lot of stress.

Eventually he learned to cope with the house and get along with our other dogs. One he was getting along with within a couple of days and the other one it took longer and we still had to keep an eye on things.

Mostly life in the house is good now. He is good with people that come into the house, excited to see them, etc.

Outside of the house is different. We can't walk our two dogs together (one dog died at Christmas) because it is too much for him. He is hyper alert to everything when we are out so therefore so am I. We cross the road when we see other dogs, he still reacts but it is reduced. He is not great with new things so we typically walk the same route every day and we see the same people so they know us now, and some of them will cross the road before I have a chance to. I wish I could explain to them about his former life and that actually he is doing really well considering where he came from.

He is lovely with us. He is affectionate and loves to be with us.

We were a foster family for rescue dogs; we are not able to do that now with him in the house. Since our old boy died at Christmas I would really like to bring another old boy home, but I won't because it wouldn't be fair on either of them to have to deal with the stress until reactive boy is able to cope. There are lovely hiking trails in our area that I wish I could take him to but it would just be too much for him and therefore not relaxing for me either.

When he is relaxed and comfortable with his environment there is no better dog. But had I known what it would be like...

"If I avoid people/dogs for ever am I giving up? (ie accepting that she will never improve)."

No, if you can have an enjoyable walk successfully avoiding people - do it. Remember it's not just you stressed, your dog is too, a nice walk is better for both of you...and every time they practise the reactive behaviour it reinforces it anyway.

My dog will likely never be completely ok with dogs, but I just work towards smaller goals instead. It's not giving up, it's just making it manageable.

Holidays, we've had one, we took him. Nobody can walk him but me and anyone who'd be wiling to have him (friends and family) doesn't have the set up to manage him.

He can't go to kennels or a boarder as he doesn't allow strangers to touch him and he's on a load of medication which he can be iffy about taking from anyone but me or DP, occasionally he'll take it ok for DD, but not even DS.

So I literally have no way of leaving him.

I'd never have willingly taken him on, but I've had him since he was 8 weeks old and he was perfectly normal until just past 1yr old.

My lovely boy is fear aggressive and it can honestly feel like he is the only one out there sometimes! We usually walk with a muzzle on and I reward him for calm reactions- he had been doing so well recently that I tried him without the muzzle. For an entire week I had no problems then I let my guard down and allowed a friend to hold his lead ( at its longest length as well). We walked past a couple and he ignored them so I relaxed and then suddenly he turned to sniff and the lady decided to try and stroke him ( a massive trigger for him) he jumped up at her with such a growl and ended up ripping her glove off 😩 I was mortified. Now I can't stop beating myself up for letting him down and not seeing that he wasn't ready for that kind of situation.

Hendogismylife. Oh I have been there as well. Kicked myself after and thought 'why did I take him there'.

To be honest his nervousness is getting worse and I am in the middle of deciding if I should keep trying and taking him to places or just leaving him be. His nerves have got worse over the last month not better no matter how hard I try.

I am coming round to think of it as not defeat but just letting him be.

Does anyone else find that other people who walk your dog don't have the same experiences?

My elderly FIL seems oblivious to the dogs reactivity and always says he's fine with him. I believe him.

So what is it?

My nerves? Different location? Much shorter walk?

the thing that gets to me the most is other people's faces. They always stare. As if I don't have any control over him. They just have no idea

Springermom1350 keep persevering it will improve. There was a time when I couldn't get Henry to walk if there was another dog or person on the other side of a field but now I can get him to walk (down the middle of a road- thanks to some impressive ignorance from one lady) between two dogs without a reaction. Obviously we have bad days still but I'm so proud of how far he has come. The key is not to overwhelm them because it sets you further back but keep training with baby steps and reward reward reward. I take Henry to work on my days off so that he can meet 'strangers' in a more structured way.

My mum is getting a puppy next month and I am already preparing him. When we visit the puppy I'm allowed to take something that smells of them and I give it to him. This way he will know the smell and it shouldn't change how he reacts to my mum when she comes to visit.

One thing I really don't understand is why so many people feel the need to make eye contact with dogs when they walk past. It's one of the triggers for him. Luckily I have got him trained for eye contact now so he knows that if he meets someone's eye without reacting he gets rewarded. Even better if I need him to ignore something I can just say 'eye contact' and he will gaze at me for as long as I want.

Re your behaviour...yes absolutely the human end of the lead makes a huge difference to how dogs behave.

I know that often with a behaviourist a lot of what they're doing is actually working on the owner because it's the owner that's worsening the behaviours, unintentionally obviously.