please someone! tell me what to do

Everyone had given some really great advice. I just want to add that you shouldn't beat yourself up when she gets into one of these fits. There will always be bad days! I've learnt to accept that being reactive to certain things (in Romeo's case it's other dogs), is part of his personality and while I can try to change it, that may never happen and at best I can only manage the situation. I don't hesitate to turn around and walk away from anything that I think might set Romeo off; I scan my surroundings and analyse people, kids, dogs and I decide if I want to put Romeo through anything that he might react to. I won't put him through anything I know he won't take well even if the other dog owner wants his dog to meet mine. Don't let people force you into letting them pet her. What a load of work just going for a walk!! :lol: You will soon realise what her triggers are after observing her for a while and you'd know what she can or cannot handle and how she can handle it best. I think it's great that you're reading her body language. That's so important with a reactive dog!!
 
As settled as Earnhardt is,he still does not let anyone touch his head when they approach him. He's always been that way. He will gladly approach strangers,but it is slowly,and the usual sniff,sniff goes on. Then I ask them to foscus on the upper chest instead of the head for petting him.

He tends to be very friendly with small children,and females for some reason.(must be a male thing).
He has from a young age been in crowds such as parades,flea markets,and even walmart,at least 3x a week,he will go with us,and be a social butterfly.

I think I can only recall one instance,that for some apparent reason,we still think it was something he smelled or sensed about this one gent at a parade 3 years ago,but if it had not been for Brian being with me,and taking the leash, I'm not sure what would have happened.

And to us a very normal walk by us, by a man of color. I say it that way,as I do not want to offend anyone, it was either that, or the color of his coat,or something we could not see, but Earnhardt was definetly not happy. And the man never appraoched him or us,he was just walking by us in opposite direction. Earnhardt made an about face,and literally pulled me in the direction of that man.Brian grabbed my waist,then the leash,mind you he was at the time 100 plus pds, and he moved very quickly,and I could have landed on my face on the side walk.
 
romeosangiovese said:
Everyone had given some really great advice. I just want to add that you shouldn't beat yourself up when she gets into one of these fits. There will always be bad days! I've learnt to accept that being reactive to certain things (in Romeo's case it's other dogs), is part of his personality and while I can try to change it, that may never happen and at best I can only manage the situation. I don't hesitate to turn around and walk away from anything that I think might set Romeo off; I scan my surroundings and analyse people, kids, dogs and I decide if I want to put Romeo through anything that he might react to. I won't put him through anything I know he won't take well even if the other dog owner wants his dog to meet mine. Don't let people force you into letting them pet her. What a load of work just going for a walk!! :lol: You will soon realise what her triggers are after observing her for a while and you'd know what she can or cannot handle and how she can handle it best. I think it's great that you're reading her body language. That's so important with a reactive dog!!
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I agree. It also works the same way with extremely fearful dogs. A fearful dog can/will bite also.
 
great advice everyone.


Did I mention that she is only like this on a leash? When she is in an off leash area she is %100 fine!

Can someone tell me what the leash being on her has to do with anything? Maybe because she feels she cannot run off is nervous?
 
Off-leash she may feel like she is more in control and able to 'decide' who gets close and what kind of contact she will allow. You know how girls can be. :winkgrin:
 
I am trying to find where I read this - maybe the book "Help for a shy dog" or "Fiesty Fido". What I read is that a shy dog will bark on leash because they feel more secure. You are at the other end of the leash so they feel they can get away with barking to tell people/dogs to go away because you will 'protect' them, or at least the other dog wont react while you are close by. But when they are off lead they are more aware of doggy etiquette and figure they have to fend for themselves so barking at other dogs could result in an aggressive response from another dog so they will actually be very quiet.

I am not sure how reliable the theory is, but it made sense for Tully because as she got more confident with other dogs off lead she started barking at them.
 
Romeo also reacts only on leash. Off leash he'll run around and sniff everyone without so much as a sound. I've always wondered WHY it only happens on leash. I know one reason that is suggested is because we tense up and the dog feels our emotions travelling down the leash - except I don't even hold the leash (it's looped through my waistpouch so I'm hands free), so that just didn't make sense for me.

I read somewhere else that it could be learned 'aggression', through repeated attempts to interact with other dogs/people which never come about because we pull them back or walk away, thus leading to frustration every time they see an oncoming dog/person.

I do feel that when they are on leash, they know they can't run, so out of their 2 "default" responses, fight or flight, they are only left with fight. That probably plays a role too.

Then there is the fact that dogs don't generalise well. They may be good in one situation but not necessarily good in another. So good off leash may not mean good on leash.

Curiously, Romeo will go all aggro when he sees another dog on walks, but in a dog run, he won't even retaliate, none of that growling barking madness, when he's being humped or 'dominated' but other dogs.
 
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