What do you do about off lead dogs approaching your on lead dog?

[Lovetosleep1]

My German Shepherd is almost one. On the whole she's a great dog but can be reactive to other dogs in that she will growl if they run up to her and bark at them if they persist. She is neutral to other dogs if they don't approach and actively friendly to dogs she knows. She has had loads of training and it's on going.

Most owners are sensible and put their dogs on a lead when they see her on a lead but some idiots don't or can't. What do you do in these situations? Should she be muzzled? I don't want to just do road walks to avoid off lead dogs but would also hate her to hurt another dog.

We've actually stopped doing our local walk because the Covid Dogs have taken over near us - all of them have behavioural issues and hi-viz warnings. I now drive 15mins away to a place where dog owners generally let dogs off leads to roam as they wish. Zero issues, whereas the old walk I hear stories of old men with well behaved Labradors being sworn at by people with dogs snarling and snapping because they are on the same path, no where near. The dog walking landscape has changed around us since Covid anyway.

Yes you're right but there are always signs, subtle to the human untrained eye but a well socialised dog should be able to detect most of them.

I think we'll have to agree to disagree as our opinions here will likely never align.

I personally think an off-lead dog should never be close enough to an on-lead dog to provoke a growl in the first place. If they haven't understood any of the other body language and the dog is forced to growl, then IMO they're not listening very well.

If you read my last post I said i agree that dogs that become distressed around other dogs should not be the ones teaching other dogs the rules of socialisation. They need to learn from others who have well socialised dogs who are not reactive or anxious.

I will say a huge part of this whole problem is under socialised dogs on both parts. Not always, but certainly enough.

whereas the old walk I hear stories of old men with well behaved Labradors being sworn at by people with dogs snarling and snapping because they are on the same path, no where near.

Nobody should be swearing at anyone, but I have to wonder why would a well behaved Labrador that's not bothering anyone would be getting snapped at to begin with?

I have a lab who is lead reactive after being told off by another reactive dog, she is especially bad when I'm with my children ad she knows she can't protect them.
What annoys me more than people not calling their dog back and putting it on a lead, is people who do put their dog on a lead and then still let them come and say hello to my dog and then act like it's my fault that my dog has reacted! Idiots!

I agree about under-socialisation being a problem but I also think over-socialisation is just as big a problem.

Lots of people want their puppies to play with everyone but long-term this can result in dogs with no recall because they think other dogs are the best thing ever - even if those other dogs aren't the slightest bit interested in them.

@Ilovelurchers this is what I partly do at the moment as I walk her very early because of work. They're actually my favourite walks because it's so quiet. I'm going to take this advice though and find some quiet routes for during the day where we're less likely to run in to people.

Dogs have to learn how to interact with other dogs and that sometimes involves them telling off/ being told off by other dogs. They only learn dog appropriate behaviour by being allowed to be dogs - you can’t teach it, because you’re not a dog and you can’t rely on other people train their dog in to the same rigid set of rules as you have.

This rise in neurotic “reactive” dogs has been fuelled by scared people not letting their dogs be dogs. Dogs are supposed to interact with each other.

I agree people need to train puppies to walk on by and not say hello to every single dog all the time. An important lesson.

@Junobug yes! Even more annoying!

As I said, all of the dogs in our area are Covid dogs and highly reactive. They all grew up in the same area and presumably can't play together unlike the dogs we all walked in the years leading up to Covid. They just see another dog and go mental.

Totally agree with this.

I have 2 very placid dogs. My smaller dog was very enthusiastic when she was younger but has soon learnt to keep her distance if other dogs give clear signals that they are unfriendly. She needed to learn that from being given those signals.

Sometimes their owners are very over anxious about things like growling and barking but it's just communication. Any dog that's prone to bite should have a muzzle on.

@BoobyDazzler lots of German Shepherds just hit an age and they don't want to socialise, aloof is the perfect word for the way they behave. It's actually part of the breed standard if you look on KC. Mine has absolutely no interest in other dogs and acts like they're not there other than 2 that she has grown up with and loves to play with. Looks completely through people like she can't see them other than the 4 people she lives with who she absolutely adores.

I agree with this, so many nervous dogs being walked on leads when it is not necessary.

You ask them to control their dog, they give you a mouthful of abuse, your on lead dog gets stressed, you get covered in mud or scratches, the other owner carries on walking.

I wish I knew another answer.

Maybe your onlead dog Is stressed because it can’t be a dog? Feels trapped by being on the lead and is anxious because you are?

Maybe the approaching dog is acting in a completely normal canine way.

Why?

I put my dog between my legs or just behind me whilst using my body to block the other dog from approaching. If the dog persists I use some of the lead to flick at the dog.
All the whilst screaming at the owners that my dog is not friendly and they need to train their dog or keep it on a lead.

My dog is dog reactive so if they allow theirs to run upto mine there's is going to be bitten 🤷‍♀️.
I do try to avoid walking places where there's dogs but i can't avoid all of them.

@makeupme not all reactive dogs are "COVID dogs" and I don't think it's a particularly helpful stereotype.

My puppy was walking on the lead by a road way before Covid when two terriers bolted out of a garden, pinned him to the floor and bit him multiple times.

If your dog has never had a bad experience then count yourself lucky.

Oh I know they aren't all, but the majority of the ones near me are. At least 8 families bought dogs/puppies during Covid, none of them are socialised and they all hate each other and every other dog on the planet. I was just talking about my area.

Excellent way of showing your dog that other dogs are THE WORST THING POSSIBLE and something TO FEAR.

Have you ever let your dog be a dog?

@Lovetosleep1 I was at the beach with DH our 2.5yr old and had our shitzsu on the lead. He barks at dogs when he sees them. This couple had 3 (almost like greyhound shape/size dogs) off the lead. They were running all over the place and circling us whilst trying to walk, minding our own business. I was terrified it would have a go at my tiny dog. The owners just looked at us and kept walking. We had to go back off the beach because of the dogs.. they wound my wee dog up & wouldn't go away. Why can people not just keep their dogs on a lead when in public places. Just because you say your dog is 'harmless' you don't know if something could just make them turn. So very Fcxking annoying 😩

I see the entitled dog owners have arrived. No dog, adult or child should be circled and jumped on if they don't wish. I don't wish to go home covered in mud from another persons dog. A quick sniff and to carry on is normal, not to run around circling, yapping, jumping on, nipping; with the owner grinning or telling you to fuck off.

She has plenty of off lead time in appropriate areas.

Yes my dog used to love off lead walks in the local woodland until an out of control spaniel bit his face and wouldn't let go, ripping his ear nearly clean off.
He was never the same after that.
But thank you for your input in telling me how to protect my dog in situations you have no idea about. Top contribution.