How do I stop my dog running up to people…

[Windyouttoday]

How do I stop my dog from running up to strangers when we’re out walking? DDog is 4 years old. Is very good indoors, however when we go out runs up to strangers even when not encouraged to do so. Not everyone loves dogs and besides, I would like my dog to pay more attention and have better recall. Help would be appreciated

Why not just put it on a lead?

Tight lead.
please.
Im absolutely terrified of dogs, the thought of an owner not knowing what to do when a dog runs up to people sends shivers.

Lead

Use a lead, please.

Keep it on a lead.

problem solved.

Surely the answer us a lead. I am surprised you need to ask. You will probably need to walk more but the lead is the answer

Keep it in a lead until you train it and it has better control. Take it to some classes to learn recall.

A tight lead is an interim measure. If you want to move away from it them you need to work on recall and also having your dog walk at heel whilst not on a lead and generally paying more attention to you.

Your dog should be on a (short) lead.

DS is terrified of Dogs after so many have run up to him, the Huskie that knocked him to the floor was a particular problem

You need to start recall work in your back garden (if you have one) and build it up to outside areas. When your dog has excellent recall he should turn around and run back to you as soon as you call him. Get really good treats, chicken or chopped up hot dogs to make it worth his while. It's a slow ish process in that it could take a couple of months for a 4 year old dog to be reliably coming back to you but that's what i suggest

You stop him doing that by having really good recall. You need to take him somewhere with very few people and be the most interesting thing there either by having his favourite toy or some high value treats. When his recall is bullet proof in a quiet location you can move to slightly busier areas and do the same again. Even when he has excellent recall be aware of things that will test it and put him on the lead. My ddog has excellent recall for 10 minutes after which he decides to have selective hearing. So as soon as I see him starting to ignore me he goes back on the lead.

If he doesnt get the recall sorted (some dogs just wont/dont get it) keep him on a lead and go to dedicated dog parks etc for off lead exercise.

Until you have trained your dog you must keep it on a lead.

Lead when out for now, with frequent “look at me” instruction and reward. You could move to a longline (not an extendable lead, they aren’t reliable or safe) after a couple of weeks when he is returning to your side most times.
Recall and reward everywhere. Garden, house, dog field etc. You have to be worth coming back to even if he thinks that person over there looks really, really Fun or Interesting. We still randomly recall our dog around the house, where she is impeccably behaved, because it reinforces the message that coming to us is worthwhile.
Repetition and constant practise should pay off even for an older dog. It just might take longer because he’s used to not needing to listen to you when out.

Use a lead and stop ruining walks for those of us who are nervous around dogs.

This is terrifying, have you just allowed this for 4 years? Very unsafe and you must get control of the dog at all times.

Keep it on a bloody lead.

If you cannot reliably recall it needs to be on a lead for its own safety as well as the safety of others.

I swear some dog haters just hang out in The Doghouse just to scold dog owners asking reasonable questions. What an odd thing to do.

OP is asking for solutions to a problem she knows she needs to address.

TiGHt LeAD I hATe DoGs!!!!!! isn’t helpful.

I have never owned, lived with, or even walked a dog, but even to me the blindingly obvious answer is to train it and keep on a short lead until completely trained

Good advice here!

OP is asking how to solve the problem. In The Doghouse. Where she thought she might have a reasonable chance of getting some tips from other dog owners and trainers.

”Keep ‘it’ on a lead” is not a solution. Disliking, hating, being phobic of dogs is irrelevant.

Yes it's obvious you know nothing about dogs. If you did you'd see that alongside the training the op is going to have to practice what is learnt without the dog on a short lead. Real world practice is part of this, you can't just show an instructional video or practice in an empty field as a proxy for an actual walk w people, other dogs etc passing by.

Dogs don't have gender identity. All animals are "it"

Walking it places with very few other people might work for OP, too.

We, put it on a lead?!

If you can't control it (which you obviously can't) it goes on a lead.

You are legally required to have your dog under control in a public place. Other people shouldn't have to put up with strange dogs running at then just because you aren't a competent owner.

Dogs don't have gender identity. All animals are "it"

How ridiculous. They have a biological sex. Dog/bitch. We’d be in a terrible mess if we all ignored the biological sex of our dogs.
Calling a dog “it” when you have been told if they are male or female is just rude. I don’t put up with it in rl either.