Why would you take a dog aggressive dog on the school run?!

[Soubriquet]

The school run here is awash with dogs. There are people who have children in the school but also residents around the area all walking their dogs usually during the morning school run. It’s a well known route and there are always some dogs around.

My two dogs don’t like other dogs but it isn’t aggression it’s fear. I keep them on their leads and under control

Today, a woman took her two dogs with her (french bulldogs) and she was struggling keeping them under control as they were pulling her quite strongly. One of her children was walking ahead and said to keep my dogs away as their dogs will fight other dogs.

So I tucked myself away as far as I could to the side, and hid my dogs behind my legs. One of mine is only 2.5kgs so she’s a diddly little thing.

The frenchies were pulling badly and came uncomfortably close but luckily the woman managed to pull them away.

Why?

Why would you take dogs who are dog aggressive on a route where you know there are other dogs?

She’s never took them before, so I don’t know why she’s suddenly started to.

Why should my nice quiet happy dog be upset by your dogs barking?
You have massive double standards, if you take your ill-mannered dogs, I don’t see why she shouldn’t take hers.
Also, just because you think your dogs won’t attack doesn’t mean they won’t if you end up trigger stacking like this.
You need to gradually get them over their fear not overwhelm them every day.

Why would you take dogs who are dog aggressive on a route where you know there are other dogs

Well quite, why would you? Because that's what you're doing.

Dogs don't belong on the school run, especially if they're fearful as you describe yours. A fearful dog can be just as dangerous as a nasty one. What if a child got in between your aggressive dog and another? Doesn't bear thinking about.

Barking dogs set my rescue straight off on the defensive.
It’s always little ones but because they are small and just yapping it’s never them that’s the issue. If mine barks back she’s aggressive.

Seems like it’s a similar thing here OP.

@Soubriquet if you are on Facebook, can I suggest this group www.facebook.com/groups/dogtrainingadviceandsupport

Your dogs are showing fear and distressed unacceptable behaviour. There is no reason you should not have them as well trained as if they weighed 10x as much.

Move out of the way then.
They are French bulldogs not feral Alsatians.
Talk about non problem.

Op you should not be taking your aggressive dogs on the school run. Barking at other dogs is aggressive. It's not fair for quiet well behaved dogs to have to put up with your dogs barking at them. Its also not fair on other reactive dogs because this will eventually cause a fight which your dogs may well have started. Its also unfair on your dogs to he under this stress for no reason. They might be ok with children but its risky because once they are under this stress its an accident waiting to happen no matter how unlikely you think it is that they would bite, they might, they are stressed animals.
I take my assistance dog on the school run id he absolutely fuming if I came across yours barking at her. Shes exceptionally well trained but it still causes her stress none the less, which means she has to work extra hard to continue her job. Stop being a dick and learn about dog behaviour and train your dogs. I have lost count of the amount little yappy shits I come across that owners do nothing about.

Reactive or aggressive or difficult to control dogs, should not be walked at school run time.
Hers AND yours.
It's obviously stressful for the dogs and can be scary for children that don't like dogs.

foreverhoundstrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Trigger-stacking-and-coping-thresholds-fact-sheet-2020-1.pdf

You might find the attached on trigger stacking in dogs useful for yours. Yours are never going to learn to be confident or calm around others if they are always in a state. You need to look at building up gradually, maybe booking private fields so the can be relaxed when exercised in a controlled environment and then start with watching other dogs out of the car window, and build up to short introductions to quiet well known dogs.
Maybe get advice from a behaviourist if you can afford it. Your dogs won’t be enjoying the school run, and it’s not fair for them to go through life stressed and scared

[quote wtfisgoingonhere21]@AnEpisodeOfEastenders

Couldn't agree more.

I look after rescue ex racers and I wak them in quiet areas at quiet times because of the sheer volume of smaller dogs off lead that like to challenge them

Problem is the other owners not the dogs.

I'm responsible. Mine are double click harness walked and two of them have soft cloth muzzles not because they are aggressive but because they constantly get rana d jumped at by dogs off lead or long leads with dickhead owners

My dogs are also entitled to walk and excercise so op saying the others shouldn't be out should be thinking the same about hers. [/quote]
I’d reconsider using soft cloth muzzles. It may sound nicer to say “soft muzzle” and they may look better/kinder than wire or plastic cage ones but they are actually much less humane and not intended to be worn for exercise/long periods. They are just intended for being worn for a few mins at the vet or groomer and can be dangerous and uncomfortable as they don’t allow panting or drinking like the cage badkerville ones do

Also just because your dogs are quiet or not openly aggressive doesn’t mean they aren’t scared. Lots of dogs shut down, and their owners mistake that for them being ok.
If you know they are fearful of other dogs then you know they aren’t ok and you shouldn’t be walking them.
The French bulldog lady shouldn’t be either.
You are both stupid.
There are lots of activities and places my dog loves, but I can’t do them with him anymore because other dogs will be there. Same for you, it doesn’t matter that they love the fuss from the kids, if they are fearful of other dogs then they shouldn’t be there.

Oh and I just realised your dogs do bark. Well just 2 points to consider that I can think of.

1. A small yapping dog would be considered aggressive by my big boy. Yapping dogs actually scare him. And think about it, your dogs are barking to show their displeasure at something.

1. From your perspective if you put them in situations where they will bark at approaching dogs. The only way this goes is down. It will get worse, because barking is self rewarding. Reactivity and fearfulness becomes reinforced very easily and before you know it your dog’s behaviour will escalate and they will stop hiding behind you and start feeling they need to defend themselves. I speak from bitter experience. I hate myself every day for the mistakes I’ve made. My boy sees a behaviourist once a week but I’ll never undo the damage.

Dogs should not be taken on the school run. Schools should ban dogs. Dogs and children do not mix.