Managing a reactive dog when off-lead dogs keep approaching

[Doggyhorseymum]

I’m at my whits end, is it just me??

one of my dogs is reactive, I know he is reactive and take the route of I can’t police other dogs so I police my own. I walk them at off peak times and he is always on lead despite perfect recall. If he is walked at peak times he is muzzled. When did it become the norm for people to allow their dogs with no recall to run riot. In the last month alone, I have had 3 instances of badly behaved officers lead dogs running up to mine and nearly ending up in a fight. I see other dogs miles before people see me (despite my dog being a big blue lurcher!!) I always tell people he IS NOT friendly and to call their dogs back. Most people are respectful - they are more respectful if he is muzzled (which is sad).

unfortunately, my dog gives minimal warning if he doesn’t like another dog so I have to be the judge of body language etc which obviously makes the situation worse because I take the defensive stance to ensure a fight doesn’t occur.

WHY can people not learn that if they cannot call their dog back instantly and if the dog is not in their eyeline, their dog SHOULDNT be off the lead?!

on a similar topic, he is quite an insecure dog and also a cryptorchid. He needs to have the op to remove the retained one, I can’t decide if I get both gone or if this will make him worse…he’s 5, I inherited him from an ex partner. I knew his issues and we make it work.

I feel your pain. I had just started letting my 13 year old DD hack her pony out alone this summer, but we've had to stop as twice now she's had off lead, out of control dogs charge at/chase her. Pony is used to dogs, has no issues with dogs walking past him or even sniffing him, but these dogs come charging up, growling, hackles raised etc. Owners both times useless, zero control and shrieking at their dogs to come back without any success.

I'm beyond fed up with these sorts of dog owners lately.

I feel your pain OP. My dog is also reactive (attacked when he was a puppy and nearly killed). I find it infuriating when people let their dogs wonder over to my dog, who is always on a lead, and these dogs, more often than not, have zero recall. I'm always met with the "Oh, but my dog is so friendly", usually before it snaps at mine!

Have you heard of the Yellow Dogs campaign? It's aimed at promoting awareness that if a dog has a yellow collar / lead, then they need extra space. You could always wear a high vis jacket that indicates your dog needs space (these were recommended by my dog's therapist).

Also, with regards to the cryptorchid, would you speak with your vet about the chemical castration? It's an injection into the neck, which lasts about 6 months. I tried this for my dog as, after he was attacked, I found other dogs would try to go for him because of the hormone smell. It gave me an idea as to how he would react if he was to be fully surgically castrated - it's temporary too, so if it doesn't work for your dog, the effects will wear off.

It’s utterly ridiculous. My other dog is what I describe as friendly but antisocial. She won’t do anything but doesn’t want to be involved. She is also only 6.5kg terrier. One of the off lead encounters started with a dog (who’s head she was smaller than!) come bounding up to her from behind completely taking her by surprise, she politely told it that that was not how we behave and scarpered so it promptly came to harass the one who WILL cause it damage if it doesn’t get the message. All this ‘it’s friendly’, there is friendly and over friendly to the point of being rude

My vets are recommending to just remove the retained one. They don’t recommend full castration of larger dogs unless you want to.

I’ve experience with chemical castration so may ask them. I just worry with the anxious side of him the lack of testosterone will make it worse

Ugh I feel your pain OP - our old girl was reactive (a Romanian rescue). I used to bellow across a field at people to call their dog back, that mine isn't friendly and start walking away while feeding treats to my dog to make sure she was focused on me and my commands. If the other dog was still harassing us, I would make my dog sit between my legs and grab hold of her harness, and get between her and the other dog and say loudly (but calmly) to the other dog "NO, SIT" and that would usually make it clear enough to the other dog and owner that they needed to get their dog away from mine, pronto.

It was always amazing to me how cross the OTHER owners would get about it though, rather than apologising profusely. I'm like - I'm the one with my dog on the lead, but somehow it's my fault that your dog won't come back to you?!

Most vets will not recommend castration because if a dog is reactive, which is usually due to fear, the removal or reduction of testosterone can heighten anxiety, reduce confidence and make the issue a lot worse.

The tide has truly turned on castrating male dogs as a substitution for training, acclimation etc.

Yes, that’s my thinking but open to opinions. He is not untrained, just does not like other male dogs, particularly entire dogs coming into his space - particularly at full tilt displaying defensive/aggressive body language, stiff body, tail up, eye contact etc. he is fine with bitches and controlled, sensible encounters. He is actually the biggest softie, who loves to pay and is completely bossed by the terrier

Yes, my little boy (RIP) was exactly the same. He was very, very small and had an off lead husky smash his head when he was a puppy. The husky was just playing but as result, he had to tell all dogs, birds, strangers from the next village that he was around...lol

The vet said he knew his size. Small dogs not knowing their size, according to to my vet and others, is a myth. They said he very well knew he was smaller and didn't want anyone else to forget so he wouldn't get stepped on etc!

He was very sweet but very loud!

I totally feel what you’re saying , I have reactive dogs due to their start in life and the vile looks I get from the off lead dog owners rages me !
yeah my dogs bark and occasionally lunge if one gets too close but they are on their lead and unable to hurt anyone , then you get the off lead gang all up in their face and I’m the issue 🙈🙈
I have lead sleeves , people take no notice whatsoever

My one is reactive to certain breeds and young intact males. He can still be off lead as he won't attack first but will snap at anyone in the above category if they insist on getting too close. As you, I will always scan the surroundings and mostly it's fine, I will put him on lead if I see a shepherd/husky/boxer but some owners just don't get it and keep repeating that their dog is friendly. Yes I get that but my one is out of fear reactive so will react if your one insist on sniffing him. He doesn't care that your one has no ill intentions.

That's one category and the other one is young dogs who just want to play. My one doesn't play, he is getting on a bit and was never one for dog play and if he is being pestered he will tell them of. I get it, my one was hard work when young and wanted to run up to each and every dog in sight but that's exactly why I didn't let him and trained that out of him.

I love my local park but unfortunately it's full of 'a dog must be "socialised" at every opportunity' owners

It drives me nuts. Mine is selectively reactive... if they are chilled dogs she's not bothered at all, but she is nervous of bouncy dogs (she doesn't like spaniels) and really big fluffy dogs...ironic as she's big and fluffy.
We go off lead in places where we rarely see a soul most days. If we do, I clip her on. But walking down to the fields we come across any number of off lead dogs ..most have sensible owners who see me clip her on and do the same, but the 'He's friendly, he just wants to play' brigade are always offended when I shout 'Mine's NOT, please get your dog' and my girl growls at their dog.
She's never snapped or bitten, just warns off with a growl.
It makes me so cross, because every bad encounter makes my dog more nervous and could make theirs nervous too! Why risk it?!