How to deter another dog going for mine on walks

[GentlyGentlyOhDear]

I have an 11 month old male dog and we have been on the receiving end 3 times now of other dogs off lead coming up to him on lead and going for him. I think once they realise he is intact but that might be coincidence. It happened again today with an exuberant large dog that got nasty after sniffing ddogs rear end and the man couldnt control it, my dog was squealing and I was panicking and the kids were scared. Thankfully he grabbed it my dog is fine. Stupid man was claiming it was fine and I was 'just panicking' 😡

Mine is always on lead (unless in clear open field) as he doesnt have reliable recall. And I am fed up and quite anxious now about being out with him with the kids and it happening. Our lovely old shih tzu was attacked as a puppy and ended up dog reactive after it and we never fully resolved it and I am really worried about this happening again.

Im wondering what I can take with me on walks to spray to shoo other dogs away and deter them to protect my dog?

I’d be very careful in spraying things at other dogs that are reacting to yours.

I would focus on what you can do for your dog:
• walk places where leads are expected
• hire own training field so no other dogs and owners around

Unfortunately there are other people who allow their dogs to approach others on lead (which isn’t OK) and as you can’t control those people, I’d walk elsewhere.

It's because he's intact.

Realistically, there is nothing you can do. It's one of the downsides of not castrating your dog (no judgement, I haven't and won't castrate mine).

None of the sprays you can take on walks work properly, and those that would work are illegal in the UK (presuming that's where you are).

Best advice, see another dog and call out that your dog is not friendly. Depending on your breed (and size) or dog, that'll work better than anything else.

It's funny. I used to tell people my boy was nervous (he's not) and they didn't care. But now I tell them he's not friendly? They move pretty damn fast because he's big. He's perfectly friendly (and actually friendly, not 'friendly' in the way idiots with unfriendly dogs yell out 'he's friendly.'). But, for his own good, I only let him interact with dogs I know or females.

Luckily, I tend to walk very very early in the morning and very remotely...so I rarely bump into other people. That would be my other suggestion - don't walk busy routes at busy times. It's a sorry state of affairs, but some people just don't control their dogs.

I agree to shout out your dog is not friendly. My dog occasionally goes for other dogs so is on lead around other dogs. Off lead dogs approaching us is when I call out, and position myself in front of my dog.
It's horrible seeing your dog get set upon.

I hope it gets better soon.

Thanks both for the tips and acknowledgement that its bloody crap.

So frustrating that I have to modify our behaviour for dickheads. Sadly not big or scary to others so not sure how effective shouting hes not friendly will be, but I will try that when offlead dogs approach. Or shout hes contagious or something 😂

He's a maltipoo so quite small and loves other dogs and has some little dog friends he plays with offlead. I worry he is going to end up reactive if we keep having these incidents.

We will likely get him castrated but advice is now to leave it a bit longer so theres at least another 3 months of managing this.

Would a whistle work maybe to distract the dog? I will be more proactive about calling out to any offlead dogs I see. I find it stressful as well constantly scanning when out walking for other dogs. Back to more street walking it is for the time being...

First rule of dog walking etiquette is don't let your off lead dog approach an on lead one. So it's a shame people are allowing their dogs to do this. But no surprise that they are then the type of person to blame you for the results of their actions.

I know two people whose entire males were continually being picked on by other dogs.
One had hers castrated just after he turned a year old. It was earlier than she would have wished to do it, but she didn't want to risk him becoming either nervous or reactive. He's been left alone ever since.
The other one didn't castrate her boy. She said he was a lovely dog and didn't want to change him. Six years on, he's still being attacked and walks are stressful for both of them.

I don't think there is a right or wrong way to deal with it. For me, it would come down to how easily I could manage the situations.
I too had years of walking a dog, who became fear reactive after being attacked by other dogs. I wouldn't want to go through that stress again.