2 year old golden retriever.
She’s very anxious always has been. Absolutely loves you once she’s seen you a couple of time, we have friends round to the house all the time with no issue.
But she cannot bear strangers running up to her in public. She cowers and barks at them, inching forwards, then jumping back. It’s not based out of aggression, it’s anxiety based.
We try and mitigate it, we have had trainers to help us. It’s just part of who she is.
Usually, I walk her 45 mins in the morning, dh walks her 45 mins at night. We do it at times when it will be quiet. Better weather is so much easier and I walk her for an hour and a half or so in the woods, but it’s a sea of slippy mud at this time of year.
Today, routine was out of the window as I had an early hospital appointment. It’s fault, I should have skipped the walk and waited for dh, the park was busy, but I thought I would risk it.
Two separate people came bounding up to her. Even though she wears a harness saying “in training” and “not friendly.” I took her out of their path, shouted “she’s not friendly”, got her to sit next to me and wait, had her focus on me in the hope they would walk by (I do this with everyone, she’s absolutely fine when people just walk past, and will walk past people on the street with no issue, but in the park, it gives a clear indication that I am training and we shouldn’t be disturbed. most people are fine with this, and just smile or say how good she is and carry on). Both of them were just suddenly in her face, waving their arms about and making high pitched noises at her.
She is barking and cowering , I’m saying, “please, she’s very anxious, I am training her” both times I got “but she’s a golden retriever, why is she so aggressive? Come here stop being silly.”
I had to tell them both very clearly to please stop trying to touch her.
Why can’t people just leave dogs be, especially when they can see the owner is trying to get them to focus. It drives me mad.