Off-lead dogs approaching my reactive dog

[xorose]

I have a three year old Maltese who has always been nervous around other dogs and despite previous attempts at socialising him and using positive conditioning he is still very reactive towards other dogs and will bark at them. For this reason he is always kept on a lead, wears a yellow harness and is walked at quiet times. However, it is getting more and more common that other off-lead dogs approach him despite his bright yellow harness which says "KEEP AWAY".

I walk him around parks and off-lead dogs come bounding up to him whilst the owner tries to call their dog back which the dog completely ignores. I walk him around quiet residential streets at quiet times and three times (!) in the last month dogs have come bounding out of their owners houses straight up to my dog, even crossing busy roads to get to him.

The dogs just bound straight up to him, ignoring his barks. I then just feel so helpless, I tighten my dogs lead so he is at my ankle and try and change directions but we are circled by a dog incessantly trying to reach my dog. It happened earlier today and afterwards I literally shake like a leaf as I just feel so helpless and vulnerable when there is a dog there and my dogs barking is escalating I also always feel guilty so I apologise to the other owner like I have done something wrong despite having control of my dog and loudly and clearly warning owners that my dog does not like other dogs.

I am so fed up with it. I can understand if it was happening at busy parks frequented by dog walkers (which is why I avoid those areas), but walking around a quiet neighbourhood at dusk when there is nobody around and yet nearly once a week a dog will run out someone's front door towards us.

Does anyone have any advice?

Always on a lead, tightened by a shaking you when the other dogs approach. OP, your reaction is vastly contributing to your dog's. He can feel your tension down the lead, you're communicating that the other dogs are to be afraid of.
If you are out in a field or park and another dog comes up, ask the owner if they are friendly before reacting with fear for your dog. If yes, let yours off the lead and let them interact. Yours might bark and be scared the first few times but gradually, if encounters are positive and you try your hardest to be relaxed and keep walking, your dog might relax a bit too.
Leads can make a dog like yours defensive. They don't have the option to fight or flight, only to fight and your body language is saying they must as there's a danger.

Other dogs shouldn't be off lead if they don't have perfect recall.

One of my Rotties wants to play with everything, which in his case means big powerful playing and not everything can cope with that.

I don't know if it's because of his breed, but when I see another dog coming over and not responding to its owner I'll get between my dog and the approaching one. The owner then tends to get more on the ball about getting their own dog back.

I'll continue to walk my dogs where there are others as they need the exercise. They're also learning not to interact with every other four legged creature. Plus, if I have the good sense to keep the not-perfect-recall dog on a lead then why can't everyone else? Why should my dogs be even more restricted because of others stupidity?

For free run we hire an enclosed field 3 times a week. They can also all be off lead out in the hills where there's no other dogs or livestock.

I have the same problem. The yellow harness did not seem to alert people. I now have purchase a yellow dog warning coat from a company called D for Dog. This has helped a lot where owners are concerned, but there are still some who see the large lettering of KEEP YOUR DISTANCE as an invitation to per her. Problem, as you say, is the dogs that are out of their owners control.

My dog is intact because I want to breed her when she’s older, and I get absolutely sick of off-lead dogs approaching mine and trying to have sex with her. I don’t take her out during her season but obviously they can still smell it for weeks before and after. I pick her up but the dogs get really agitated and attack me to get at her. They can be really vicious and on occasion I’ve unfortunately had to kick a dog away from me. Of course the owner pays attention then!

I would avoid parks and open land where dogs are likely to be off lead, yes in an ideal world dogs have perfect recall but there is always going to be puppies still in training and as dogs can't read there's a lag between them heading towards your dog and a responsible owner realising and recalling. On pavements dogs should always be on a lead so yabu there, I admit my dog is sometimes loose in my front (with us) but he's a lazy antisocial thing who can't be bothered to walk the 15m to the pavement (big front garden)

@BizzzzyBee

Even the best trained dog may not be able to resist a bitch on heat. I think your expecting a bit much for dogs not to approach.

Leave the fields and parks to owners and dogs who are friendly Yeah fuck off.
I'll walk my on lead dog wherever I want, if you don't have enough control to recall your dog - put it on a lead.

People like you are the worst type of irresponsible dog owners, thinking you have more priority.

@Solonelywastheballard the problem is, the on lead dog shouldn't have to feel the need to defend itself. If it has to snap at the other dog, then its going to make the underlying behavioural problem worst.

The way I am trying to correct my reactive dog, is by getting her to trust me. To trust that I will stop the scary dogs running over to her. That I will defend her so she doesn't have to.
However when I tell other dog owners to recall their dog and they say 'oh well he/she will have to learn not to go up to every dog' - I am failing to protect my dog, and she feels that she has to defend herself. And she will start to defend herself earlier and earlier to the point where a dog 100 yards away is a threat.

Just one dog running up to a reactive dog can put training back weeks.

Furthermore, if the dog does make contact and injure the other dog, do you think the other dog owner is going to happily accept that or demand the vets bills are paid?

RRJR
I agree.

There are places where dogs are allowed off lead. If that's a problem them walk your dog on any of the million places where dogs aren't allowed off lead.

My dog is well trained. She stops before approaching another dog and waits for confirmation from me, other owner, or the other dog's body language. Her recall is good.
I wouldn't trust any dog 100% but she is well behaved.

I can't stand it when people get shirty with off lead dogs when they're choosing to walk their anxious, nervous, bitey dogs in places known to be where lots of dogs are off lead. If the dog is liable to bite then it needs a muzzle. If the owner is stressed and worried about off lead dogs then don't take them to a place where dogs are off lead.

For clarity, I have no issue with dogs on lead in areas where dogs are allowed off lead.

I just can't be arsed dealing with shirty owners who don't like off lead dogs choosing to walk their dogs where dogs are off lead. It's like going to the beach and complaining that there's sand.

LolaSmiles Then you are a terrible dog owner too. What on earth gives you the right to claim a place? I bet you think people who are scared of dogs shouldn't walk through the park too.

Don't let your dog interact with on lead dogs. Problem solved.

@LolaSmiles Wait, now I don't know whether I agree with you or not!

If onlead dog owners get shirty if an off lead dog interacts with their dog. Quite right.

If the on lead dog owner is getting shirty just because there an off lead dog in the area, then that is obviously unreasonable.

LolaSmilesThen you are a terrible dog owner too. What on earth gives you the right to claim a place? I bet you think people who are scared of dogs shouldn't walk through the park too.
I'm not claiming a place.
What part of
For clarity, I have no issue with dogs on lead in areas where dogs are allowed off lead.
means 'I am claiming a place'?

Don't let your dog interact with on lead dogs. Problem solved.
What part of
She stops before approaching another dog and waits for confirmation from me, other owner, or the other dog's body language. Her recall is good.
means 'I allow my dog to approach other dogs at will'?

Disagreeing with someone doesn't make them a terrible dog owner.

Many people with on lead dogs manage just fine accepting there are on lead and off lead dogs and that's part of going somewhere that allows both means you're going to encounter both.

I have an issue with people who have an issue with off lead dogs going somewhere where dogs are off lead and then bitching about the fact that there are off lead dogs.

It's like going to the beach and complaining there's sand in your shoes, going to a pub on a Saturday night and complaining there's people who've had a drink.

So if you’ve a reactive dog, where are you supposed to walk it? The OP reads quite clearly that it happens on streets as well...so I’m not really sure how anyone has missed that bit.

Op- a muzzle helps a bit, but sadly there’s no real magic bullet, there are far too many owners with badly socialised dogs who think they’re friendly...

Nesssie
Cross posted with your update.

If an off lead dog is out of control then that's an issue.

But there are many people who are uptight with dogs on leads who tut at them, start tugging at their dog's lead when another dog comes into eyesight, eye rolls when off lead dogs are chasing each other and playing etc.

I've been told I should have my dog on a lead when my off lead dog came on command and was walking to heel as their yappy little thing was on a long lead (that they didn't pull back) trying to antagonize my dog. At that point I did point out my dog was 4 inches form my ankle and calm, theirs was 3 metres from them trying to provoke other dogs and if their dog has that much of an issue they should perhaps reconsider their walk choices.

My rescue dog is reactive. I walk him in the middle of nowhere now. So he can get off lead and have a run and I don't have to worry.

Got sick of picking 4.5 stone of dog up when others let their dogs jump all over him.

Even the best trained dog may not be able to resist a bitch on heat
Exactly why they should be on a lead! If you can’t guarantee to recall your dog and keep it away from mine it shouldn’t be off the lead.

I really feel for you. I walk my dog with a group of others in a park. Ours are off lead because they all have perfect recall and never stray far from our sides anyway, but there's one other woman who has a young dog that will run off a long way to go up and greet other dogs. It's quite full on and other dogs don't always like it. She doesn't have firm commands, so her dog isn't really becoming obedient. If the other person has their dog on a lead and protests, she's one of these walkers who says "don't worry, he just wants to play". The rest of us have tried to get her to see it from the other person's point of view, and that their dog may not 'want to play' or like other dogs, but she's quite ignorant and just laughs it off. I find it very irritating, and feel it gives the rest of us a bad name.

To my mind it is hard to reconcile loving dogs with expecting all reactive dog owners to find somewhere isolated to walk theirs. Not everyone has that option and for some people it's harder then others (e.g. live in towns etc), especially on a daily or twice daily basis.

The reality is that the harder it is to live with a reactive dog, the more likely that dog will be rehomed. Once the rehoming cycle starts, it often runs and runs, whilst the dog could have had a perfectly happy life with the original owner, being walked on lead and other dogs keeping a reasonable distance.

The small courtesy of everyone keeping their dogs under control and only letting them interact when the owners have all agreed could make a massive difference the quality of life for a number of dogs.

Of course, as always, it's worth also considering we're not just talking about reactive dogs. There are plenty of other reasons someone might want to keep a distance: their dog has something contagious, their dog is undergoing training, their dog is recovering from surgery etc.

Moreover, a well meant apology if your dog does run up uninvited can make a big difference to the other owner's day and happiness with their dog. You apologise and they see the incident as an accident. You tell them their dog is an aggressive little bugger or that yours is just friendly and they feel like they are being judged. Their lives with their dogs are already likely to be much harder than someone with a friendly dog, they are already likely giving up a lot to give that dog a home. Is it really so awful to try and support them in that?

Their lives with their dogs are already likely to be much harder than someone with a friendly dog, they are already likely giving up a lot to give that dog a home. Is it really so awful to try and support them in that?

This is so true. Ddog is anxious and reactive, she's a rescue and was badly treated and under socialised. With the help of a behaviourist we are trying to undo some of the damage that's been done, but she will never be 'normal'. We live near a huge park which should make it easy to stay away from other dogs, but even when we skirt around the edges keeping well out of the way there is still often a dog that will come bombing over from miles away with the owner paying no heed, even when I shout at them. It's not unusual for me to go home in tears because someone else just can't be bothered to watch their dog properly and we've had another near miss and Ddog's progress has been put back yet again.

We can't go to busy towns, beaches, walking areas or seafronts, we struggle to walk on lead locally as she's even more reactive on street walks. All we ask is that when we are really obviously trying to stay out of your way in a big open space, keep your dog away. Is that really too much?

I have the same problem, and I cant get muzzles for my dog breed. My dog has snapped aggressively at other dogs, usually after a good minute or 2 of warning growls to be left alone, and afaic, the blame lies entirely with the owners of the other dogs. My dog is on a short leash and will try and evade other oncoming dogs. Thankfully on both occasions the other owners apologised profusely and joked that it would teach their dog a lesson. If they had not been, I think I would have probably given it both barrels.

Even the best trained dog may not be able to resist a bitch on heat
Exactly why they should be on a lead! If you can’t guarantee to recall your dog and keep it away from mine it shouldn’t be off the lead.

So all dogs should be kept on leash at all times just on the off chance they meet a bitch on heat.

I've come across one, once in three years. And yes I did have to put a lead on my dog to get him away because instinct took over and he couldn't control himself.

You need to except if you want to breed your dog your going to have to put up with males approaching when she's in heat.

@Nesssie

Thank you that make sense.

Oh for fuck sake I've heard it all now. it's very basic. If you really hate other dogs coming near your dog don't go to a park. That's a place for dogs to go off lead. Of course they shoukd have good recall, just as your reactive dog should be muzzled. if its not a biter then ita a bit of a non issue.There are hundreds of places to go with dogs on leads. If your dog is on heat and you take it out be prepared to have puppies or don't take them.into a place with dogs off leads.
Many reactive dogs react because of their owners behaviour, so check that you're not getting them more worried by getting nervous. Show them that it's fine when a dog approaches. If you start getting annoyed or scared your dog will pick.on it.

I totally sympathise - our dog has always been very reactive on lead (after being attacked as a pup) He was fine off lead with dogs he knew. We had two trainers, tried various things over the years but nothing helped. He's now elderly, diabetic and blind so I can only walk him on lead. I've lost count of the amount of people who still let their dogs come bounding up to him despite his bright yellow vest which says "nervous" and me shouting "he's blind, please call your dog away". It's very tiresome for me and extremely frightening for him.