I did some searching, and unless I'm not using the right key words or just not digging deep enough I really didn't find much discussion on the aspect of reactivity that I'm curious about: How others handle situations where you are approached by loose dogs.
When I adopted Iris I knew that leash frustration/reactivity was an issue I would be facing. Early on we did have some positive experiences with a couple loose dogs approaching her and meeting another on leash. In both cases we were taken by surprise, the loose dogs approached from behind and the leashed one rounded a corner. In both instances she was calm, tail wagging and greeted properly. Subsequent experiences didn't go so well, and I think the other dog being visible allowed her to build anxiety. She would tense up and start breathing deeply. Some dogs would get the hint and leave, others she snapped at. Two felt threatened by her body posture and came at her (separate occasions). Confined dogs would always get her attention, and the more animated the other dog would get the worse her reaction would be. Leash issues aside, I would not generally consider her to be dog aggressive. Any properly managed introduction has always been successful.
Over the last 2.5 years we've made some great progress towards managing her reactivity, and the last 6 months have been overwhelmingly positive. I'll avoid other dogs on walks or dogs that are visibly loose in their yard. I identified the dogs in our usual walking areas that were calm in our presence and used them as a tool to work with. I can now keep her moving past calm dogs with ease and the more animated dogs with only mild excitement on Iris's part. I rarely have to deal with the lunging and screaming fits that were common in the first year.
Now obviously the factor in this that I cannot personally manage: loose dogs. It's a never ending battle that seems to go in spurts. I can go weeks without encountering one, this week I'm already up to 4. I always start with verbal commands to the other dog, and if that fails to stop them from approaching I will either lift Iris's front end off the ground (lifting under chest), or in situations where there is no owner coming to get the dog or I feel the other dog's body language is concerning I will attempt to carry Iris away. I've noticed in the last while that Iris has been calm rather than tense or worked up the way she used to be when other dogs approached but at this point I'm not comfortable letting them meet, and am not sure I ever will be. But it got me wondering how others handle situations like this. I'm capable of carrying my 55 pound dog home, as ridiculous as it may look, but I know many others would not be able to do so.
So how do you guys deal with these situations?
When I adopted Iris I knew that leash frustration/reactivity was an issue I would be facing. Early on we did have some positive experiences with a couple loose dogs approaching her and meeting another on leash. In both cases we were taken by surprise, the loose dogs approached from behind and the leashed one rounded a corner. In both instances she was calm, tail wagging and greeted properly. Subsequent experiences didn't go so well, and I think the other dog being visible allowed her to build anxiety. She would tense up and start breathing deeply. Some dogs would get the hint and leave, others she snapped at. Two felt threatened by her body posture and came at her (separate occasions). Confined dogs would always get her attention, and the more animated the other dog would get the worse her reaction would be. Leash issues aside, I would not generally consider her to be dog aggressive. Any properly managed introduction has always been successful.
Over the last 2.5 years we've made some great progress towards managing her reactivity, and the last 6 months have been overwhelmingly positive. I'll avoid other dogs on walks or dogs that are visibly loose in their yard. I identified the dogs in our usual walking areas that were calm in our presence and used them as a tool to work with. I can now keep her moving past calm dogs with ease and the more animated dogs with only mild excitement on Iris's part. I rarely have to deal with the lunging and screaming fits that were common in the first year.
Now obviously the factor in this that I cannot personally manage: loose dogs. It's a never ending battle that seems to go in spurts. I can go weeks without encountering one, this week I'm already up to 4. I always start with verbal commands to the other dog, and if that fails to stop them from approaching I will either lift Iris's front end off the ground (lifting under chest), or in situations where there is no owner coming to get the dog or I feel the other dog's body language is concerning I will attempt to carry Iris away. I've noticed in the last while that Iris has been calm rather than tense or worked up the way she used to be when other dogs approached but at this point I'm not comfortable letting them meet, and am not sure I ever will be. But it got me wondering how others handle situations like this. I'm capable of carrying my 55 pound dog home, as ridiculous as it may look, but I know many others would not be able to do so.
So how do you guys deal with these situations?
Leash reactive - dealing with loose dogs?
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