- Joined
- Mar 18, 2013
- Messages
- 481
A bit of a vent:
I have a reactive dog. He was not abused or beaten, he's just a dog that doesn't like every other dog. I actually walk him with my neighbor's dog, because he's likes her, but he is his own man and he decides who he likes and who he doesn't. As his owner, I am responsible for him and making sure that he's feeling safe and happy.
I am working with another dog trainer (I used to do animal handling training, before i left to pursue writing) and she is teaching me a lot about reactive dogs. I'd never had one before, so this is new and challenging. I'm learning a lot of it has to do with showing him that I will handle the situation and that it's not always about making your dog the "I love every body dog," because I am learning not every dog can be that dog. They all have their own personalities and it's more about working with your dog's personality to make it feel safe and confident that you will handle anything that comes their way.
This being said, I walk him on a leash. It's the law in our neighborhood and it's the safest thing for him and everyone else (including me) or so I thought-- turns out people in my neighborhood don't think the law applies to them. There are dogs off leash everywhere and I am a NERVOUS WRECK.
Here I am, trying to build my relationship and leadership role with him and I have people with their dogs running towards me while I'm screaming "HE'S NOT FRIENDLY!" They can't catch their dog or they WERE confident that it wouldn't just take off towards me, but now, here I am, TERRIFIED that I will have to break up a dog fight, beyond worried that my dog will get hurt, the other dog will get hurt, and that a human will get bit. Now, given that my dog was leashed and their dog wasn't, chances are they can't sue me or make me pay their vet bills--- but what about my vet bills if that happens? What if my hands-- which I use to type and paint and sculpt with are ruined? Because I had to pull dogs apart.
People who have "friendly" dogs and walk them off leash outside of a leash-free park are putting themselves, their dogs, myself, and my dog in danger and it is so scary. It doesn't matter how friendly a dog is, the other dogs might not be, and other people may be afraid of dogs. It's a law for a reason. Leash free parks exist so that dogs have a place to run free and backyards are great for that too. I know I used to walk my older dog off leash, she never wandered, but I would leash her the MOMENT I saw someone else, but the truth is, you don't always see that other person and I am -really- seeing that now.
I have debated on what to do for weeks. With the signs posted saying it's the law and the fine listed, I have started to honestly yell at people, lol. It's a horrible feeling, but they just stand there while I'm positioning myself between two dogs. I tell them it's the law and that they are putting me in danger and I"m going to call the police. Should I go to the station and make a complaint? Do you think the police will actually help me out? Add some stops to the park and around the neighborhood an issue some tickets or warnings? Anyone else have experience with this? A woman honestly yelled at me the other day saying "You're ruining it for everyone."
I hate all this confrontation and fear/anxiety, but I have to be able to walk him. He's a sled dog breed, he needs exercise and he has the same right to be out and in the park in the sunshine or under the shade of a tree as anyone else. I pay taxes too and we need to be able to walk in our neighborhood safely.
Anyway, thanks for reading!
I have a reactive dog. He was not abused or beaten, he's just a dog that doesn't like every other dog. I actually walk him with my neighbor's dog, because he's likes her, but he is his own man and he decides who he likes and who he doesn't. As his owner, I am responsible for him and making sure that he's feeling safe and happy.
I am working with another dog trainer (I used to do animal handling training, before i left to pursue writing) and she is teaching me a lot about reactive dogs. I'd never had one before, so this is new and challenging. I'm learning a lot of it has to do with showing him that I will handle the situation and that it's not always about making your dog the "I love every body dog," because I am learning not every dog can be that dog. They all have their own personalities and it's more about working with your dog's personality to make it feel safe and confident that you will handle anything that comes their way.
This being said, I walk him on a leash. It's the law in our neighborhood and it's the safest thing for him and everyone else (including me) or so I thought-- turns out people in my neighborhood don't think the law applies to them. There are dogs off leash everywhere and I am a NERVOUS WRECK.
Here I am, trying to build my relationship and leadership role with him and I have people with their dogs running towards me while I'm screaming "HE'S NOT FRIENDLY!" They can't catch their dog or they WERE confident that it wouldn't just take off towards me, but now, here I am, TERRIFIED that I will have to break up a dog fight, beyond worried that my dog will get hurt, the other dog will get hurt, and that a human will get bit. Now, given that my dog was leashed and their dog wasn't, chances are they can't sue me or make me pay their vet bills--- but what about my vet bills if that happens? What if my hands-- which I use to type and paint and sculpt with are ruined? Because I had to pull dogs apart.
People who have "friendly" dogs and walk them off leash outside of a leash-free park are putting themselves, their dogs, myself, and my dog in danger and it is so scary. It doesn't matter how friendly a dog is, the other dogs might not be, and other people may be afraid of dogs. It's a law for a reason. Leash free parks exist so that dogs have a place to run free and backyards are great for that too. I know I used to walk my older dog off leash, she never wandered, but I would leash her the MOMENT I saw someone else, but the truth is, you don't always see that other person and I am -really- seeing that now.
I have debated on what to do for weeks. With the signs posted saying it's the law and the fine listed, I have started to honestly yell at people, lol. It's a horrible feeling, but they just stand there while I'm positioning myself between two dogs. I tell them it's the law and that they are putting me in danger and I"m going to call the police. Should I go to the station and make a complaint? Do you think the police will actually help me out? Add some stops to the park and around the neighborhood an issue some tickets or warnings? Anyone else have experience with this? A woman honestly yelled at me the other day saying "You're ruining it for everyone."
I hate all this confrontation and fear/anxiety, but I have to be able to walk him. He's a sled dog breed, he needs exercise and he has the same right to be out and in the park in the sunshine or under the shade of a tree as anyone else. I pay taxes too and we need to be able to walk in our neighborhood safely.
Anyway, thanks for reading!
