Picking up dog

[mynamechangemyrules]

I've just written this whole post and posted it and it vanished so apologies if I leave something out on the re-write

My rescue dog is a terrier. He likes to chase small creatures and isn't friendly to other dogs. The few he 'knows' (family dogs) he's fine with.
He wears a lightweight muzzle and is walked on a lead.
When we pass other dogs I keep him on a short lead by my ankles.

Today our usual walk was heaving with weekend warriors who drive to get to our little patch of green (side moan!)

We do a lot of battle with the 'don't worry he's friendly' brigade. So so many people with their dogs off lead and they come bounding over with their owner calling out some variation on the above. I always smile and say 'sorry he's a nervous rescue' 'oh sorry he doesn't really like other dogs' etc
Today, I just picked him up (he's 7kg!) each time one of these 'friendly' dogs came up. I just couldn't be arsed with the whole exchange tbh. I'm tired of 'excusing' my dog when I'm already doing my best to keep him and others safe.

Then I panicked that I'm teaching him some weird link between being picked up and other dogs or something?

He seemed very calm when picked up (he'd be yapping if still by my ankles as the other dog comes toward him). He loves all humans and hugs.

AIBU picking him up? Will it teach him something bad? It saved so much hassle on a busy day like today,

(Our usual morning walk is at 6am and we have the place to ourselves so this isn't a usual or long term solution)

Plus also any new phrases for me which are a polite version of 'Fuck off with your friendly dog nonsense' are gratefully received!

I would be worried you are teaching him that there’s an anxiety by picking him up all the time and worsening the issue.

I would just say he’s a nervous rescue but if he’s already wearing a muzzle and on a short lead it should be obvious. You can tell people to call there dog back.

Yeah that's what I'm worried about. Will continue the spiel about him each time 👍🏼

I have terriers, I know exactly what you mean.
I just shout 'but mine are not' in response to owners who justify their out of control dogs with 'don't worry, he's friendly'.

Picking them up is not the best idea as that's what they think will happen whenever a dog comes along. Plus what if the other dog is not friendly? It may try to get to your dog and attack you in the process. Better to be able to drop the lead and let yours run should the worst happen.
I'm currently doing a specialist terrier class to try and help sort these behaviours, and my ability to manage my dog. Hopefully it'll help!

Today our usual walk was heaving with weekend warriors who drive to get to our little patch of green (side moan!)

you bought/rent you house, you don't own the 'little patch of green' 🙄🙄🙄

Our lovely lake walk was heaving today. It was lovely to see people enjoying it. I'm fortunate to be able to enjoy it when it's quiet & also when others are enjoying it too.

'Mine's NOT, please keep yours away'.

Do you have a lead and collar/coat with 'Nervous/anxious dog' on it?
https://myanxiousdog.co.uk/collections/harness
A lady walks her nervous dog near us and I know to keep my dog away when I see it from afar.
I'd book a few 1:2:1 lessons with a dog behaviorist.

The thing with picking dogs up (I used to pick my dog aggressive JRT up as was easier than the upset) is that dogs correlate height with power.
Picking a small dog up tells the dog that it is more powerful than the dog on the ground so you sort of reward the little dog barking and snarling or whatever it does. In the picked up dog's mind, he has dominated the dog on the ground, if that makes sense?

It's a really bad idea to pick your dog up to remove it from another dog (even a friendly one).

1. It reinforces to them there is something to be scared of (and can make their behavioural issues worse).
2. If the other dogs are persistent then they will jump up and could, inadvertently, do more damage to you/your dog and themselves.

Also you've described your dog as 'not friendly to other dogs,' - muzzle it and keep it on a lead (as you have said you are). That is way more likely to keep other dogs away than picking it up or calling something out. I have a dog-reactive rescue. That is how I walk her. On a lead and muzzled - it's the only responsible way to walk a non-friendly, reactive dog.

Thanks for top tips!

I agree with the others, picking up your dog isn’t a great idea. I know exactly what you mean about the weekend walkers - of course you don’t own the space but it’s annoying nonetheless. We have similar here so I just accept that I have to alter my walks at the weekends and bank holidays.

I do find mine is far less likely to bark at other dogs if we’re away from our home turf - he can get a bit territorial so by walking him elsewhere I know I’m more relaxed which in turn means he’s more relaxed. I have a bank of walks from busy to deserted, close by to further afield, on lead to off lead, and vary accordingly.

I have a terrier who is similar, I would work on getting him to ignore other dogs with high value treats.

With my dog if I see another dog approaching I'll get a treat ready, get his attention, hold his attention and the minute the other dog has walked on give him the treat.

Now we're at a point where he will walk nicely past other dogs and then he looks to me for the treat!

It's not ideal to pick up your dog as if they are reacting to the other dogs you are rewarding them for doing so with the attention of you picking them up.

Also as someone else has said the other dog may try to get to yours and injure you in the process.

However, unless you are actively trying to retrain your dog not to react to other dogs I don't think it will hurt massively, and if it makes walks a little more relaxed then it's only a good thing.

Agree with giving treats as you walk by. If I sense mine is hyper focusing on another dog I’ll move him onto my side furthest from the other dog, move my hand down the lead so he’s pulled in closer, give a clear signal (I say “leave it, walk on” and repeat) and then as we’re walking past the other dog I will hold chicken or ham (high value treat) tight between my fingers down at his nose and let him nibble and lick at it as we’re walking past. Once we’re past I give the marker word (mine is is yesss) and release the treat so he can eat the whole thing.

I practise this throughout my walks and in the house and garden so he knows it’s not just happening at a time when something not nice is happening.

There's a difference between picking a dog up because they're at risk, and picking a dog up just because you see another dog in the vicinity.

If you feel your dog is at risk of reacting or is at risk of being bitten, then it's absolutely okay to pick him up to keep him safe. Small dogs can get badly injured or even killed by larger dogs, and if your dog is muzzled, he has no means of defending himself should the worst happen.

By picking him up, you're teaching him that he's safe with you and that you'll protect him.

@DSD9472 brilliant website! Thank You 👍 (owner of a anxious rescue mutt 🥰🥰)

I had the same thought as you, Op when walking my pup recently but really had no choice or else he might have been hurt. And I think any potential fight or injury leaves a far more lasting impression on them.

In our situation a lady was walking her dog on a lead towards us on a really narrow path. As we were feet away her dog turned into the Tasmanian devil and was like a thing possessed. It was straining on its lead to get to our pup so I scoped him up as the owner kept saying “Oh he just wants to play!”. Like heck he did! He was in full on attack mode.

You need to advocate for your dog. If that means picking him up then do it. You’re only teaching him you’ve got his back.

My dog is a 7 kg terrier and we pick her up if she looks rattled by another dog. It’s actually helped her confidence no end and now she will actively come to us to deal with it instead of bolting or aggressing (which she has every right to do).

You can’t reinforce emotion. So you are not making him more scared. Just being his advocate.

We had a terrier and a ruffwear webmaster harness. It has a handle (which I think is really for lifting them over stiles etc) but even though I would tell other owners he wasn't particularly friendly to dogs he didn't know, they'd still let them near so I'd just airlift him up if I thought he was about to start a rumble, and it just saved any problems.

That method worked for us too and surprisingly quickly. Keep walking, distract our dog with a treat and reward with the treat when we'd passed the other dog quietly.

It is exhausting having a small reactive dog, especially when big dogs come too close and they kick off with the other owners commenting on their yappyness. Thanks, we didn't notice.

I've been working so hard with my PomChi who was a private rehome and also reactive, she's so much better with positive rewards. We also did a Dogs Trust Dog School Reactive dog class which helped with lots of tips. I am still guilty of occasionally picking her up to get out of a situation, but it's far more rare, the only time I did it this week was when I saw a regular with his small dog always on a loose zippy lead and we were on a narrow pavement on a busy road, it was a scoop up, let her scream in my ear and then as soon as we were past and they were out the way she was back down and I asked for her attention and a sit for a treat.

Treats have helped and she's VERY foody, as long as dogs don't come up to her now we can safely walk past at a distance with her attention on me, rewarding her especially if she looks at the other dog and then chooses to disengage herself and look at me instead, the second she does that it's a "good girl" and a treat. Making looking at me far more rewarding than screaming at the other dog.