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.

But also if a strangers dog approaches my dog and the dogs are all friendly and don't give off anxious or aggressive signals often the owner will also say hi and we might say hi to the dogs.

Yep, we do this too and it's lovely.

Luckily I generally know which dogs are likely to cause a problem but there's always one that catches me by surprise!

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?

No. If she has no bite history and she's never shown any interest, don't muzzle her. IME muzzled dogs are considered free game by dog owners/walkers - because people think they can't do any damage as there is a muzzle on them. The idiots don't stop to consider that dogs can be muzzled because they are scared and reactive...

I rarely have an issue with dogs approaching mine on the lead. But, I have three dogs and very few dogs are brave enough to approach that many dogs all at once.

When it does happen, I ask the owner to call their dog back and usually tell them their dog will get hurt if they don't - people care about their own dogs, not other peoples. So best to warn them of the risk to their dog rather than the danger posed by yours. My youngest has landed a dog in an OOH vets because he tried to get away from the little nipper...and couldn't. End result was that he ended up rearing back in fright and putting all his (very considerable) weight on the pug when he landed. 45KG of dog v. pug. Easy to guess the end result...

I've also got a German Shepherd who can be a bit reactive if other dogs come bounding up to her. I've taught her to go to "middle" which basically is between my legs. I can then hold onto her collar with both hands and bend down to talk to her. It's her safe place.

@Devilshands thank you that's really good advice. I think I was just worried she may bite but she has never shown any inclination even when a dog has been aggressive towards her so you are absolutely right.

For other people saying just let them be dogs she is treated like a dog and has a good life she just doesn't want to make friends with other dogs. She has group walks with other dogs with our dog walker, my brother has a farm and she 'works' there, she has loads of long walks often off lead when nobody's around, she does sniff work training for hours on a Saturday and obedience training, I take her to the lakes and the peak district she walks up mountains and swims in lakes. She genuinely is living her best life, just doesn't want the occasional poor mannered dog invading her space.

@ImthatBoleyngirl thanks I'll give that a try too. She's a pretty quick learner and enjoys her training so it's good to add new things.

I also use middle great for dogs to get into a place out of dogs way.

I don’t want someone’s dog running up to my dog whether it’s the friendliest dog ever or not. Your dog shouldn’t be running up to dogs/people. If I am lead walking my dog it’s for a reason, and he’s not reactive just bouncy and a bit enthusiastic so I prefer to not have to stop for other dogs off lead training is going well and he gets off at certain places but then is lead walked home or just sometimes likes to be on lead for his walks. We also take my son out with dog - he has Sen so also do not want off lead dogs running up to us as it frightens him. Dogs don’t need to say ‘hello’ to other dogs we call it minding our own business and walk on if he looks like he’s interested in another dog. People just don’t care they think they can do what they like, dogs are being dogs - under control in the appropriate areas and on lead where they need to be, not running about daft with no care to anyone else.

@Shopper727 I love 'minding our own business: is the perfect phrase for it. Totally agree that dogs don't need to say hello to every random dog and it's often detrimental to their training.

When they can see you're struggling with a reactive dog and either stop to talk or just take their time ambling past. My dog is not friendly and neither am I !!!! Could smash their faces in!

Had a woman a week ago, standing chatting in our local woods. Saw she was holding a lead but no dog in sight, a huge labrador suddenly came out of the bushes and rushed at me and my very small dog, I picked her up as she was panicking because rhe bloody thing was circling us and turned my back on it thinking the woman would call her dog back. She didn't she carried on chatting while watching it annoying us. I then had to block it with my leg as it was trying to get at my dog and finally as it jumped up and put it's paws on my shoulder and I screamed at it ti get down did the owner try and call it back, the dog promptly ignored her and continued being a complete pain in the arse. Owner slowly ambled over and tried to catch it and simultaneously said "he does whatever he wants and takes no notice of me" ... naturally I told her exactly what I thought of her and her out of control dog

Aren’t you a charmer.

I keep treats on me to keep my dog interested in me and encourage them to ignore the approaching dog. I will sometimes throw treats to get the approaching dog to go after them and not get too close.

I block my dog with my body and I shout please call your dog back.

If all else fails I can pick my dog up which I appreciate isn't as easy with a German shepherd 😂

Mostly I try and walk my dog in quiet areas and if I see an off lead dog will walk a different way to avoid it.