[xqdrocherz]

Hi guys, I'm new here. You can read my intro thread on that forum (although I'll shamelessly show off my girl here too):



Ahh, that's better.

Ok, so here's my deal. I rescued her three months ago and she's gone from being a total spazz to a generally well-trained and obedient dog. I've had to be a total drill sergeant but we're doing really well and making a lot of progress.

The thing we're still struggling with is her reactivity to other dogs on the leash. I can generally divert her attention and re-focus her. But when a dog comes running at her or is showing aggression toward her, it's very hard to keep her calm.

For some reason, there are a lot of idiot owners around here with retractable leashes who think nothing of letting their dog run right at Amy. Especially small dogs which probably look like a furry snausage to her. Sometimes it happens really fast and we live in a very dog-saturated area. I usually have to loudly say "PLEASE keep your dog back, my dog gets really nervous" but some people just don't get it. I guess this is more of a rant, but I'm wondering what other people say in these situations.

[werkeeque]

I TELL people to grab their dog. I don't ask. And I don't smile. Usually does the trick....

[fluoxet]

Saying loudly that your dog doesn't play well with other dogs and moving away usually does the trick when I'm working with a DA dog. If you're truly worried about her hurting another dog then you may want to consider picking up a wire basket muzzle for walks

[valiumcheepval]

Yea, people try that with my dog who wont hesitate to grab something fluffy if its close enough and I have to TELL them to get the fuck back from my dog, I am honest and say "He isnt friendly, he wants to grab your dog and shake" and that usually keeps them at bay, if not I am ready usually with a foot.

I would rather them get their dog kicked than have my dog attack theirs because they are stupid.

[tabcdyop]

Luckily I don't have that problem much here. Two of my three are fine with other dogs. Nick, not so much. If someone approaches with a dog, I either make him sit & focus on me, or I'll remove him. If anyone says anything, I tell them that he does not play well with others. For some reason, they seem to understand that better than other things I've said.

The worst was when I had him in an ob. class. The puppy class before us came out of the building. I was standing back, out of the way when this gal comes up with her puppy. I told her that he wasn't good around other dogs. She said, 'but I just want to say hi, he's so cute' About that time, he tried to lunge at her puppy. She steps back, and says 'that wasn't very nice'.....DUMB!!!!!!

[br`lorance]

I'll only yell at them to grab their dog, if they already didn't see my quick actions to steer away from them, the moment I spotted them approaching us to begin with. Usually, most owners see Zoey's reactivity and get the picture. I've only had one idiot literally chase after us, demanding to allow his dog to say "hi" to Zoey, while the closer he was nearing, the more of a struggle I was dealing with to keep Zoey under control, than when the idiot came close enough I said, "she doesn't want to say hi, she'll do the opposite as you can see!". He just stared at first with a sort of confused face, but than finally turned around.

Yesterday, I had a younger teen girl taking her little dog for a walk around the neighborhood, unleashed. As soon as I spotted them, I began crossing the street after the car had passed through, but than the freaking thing began running after us and right in the middle of the street (as a couple of cars were approaching again), I had to scream "HEY!!" while restraining Zoey who was a couple of inches away from snatching it literally putting up a fight as it all had happen so quickly. The girl came screaming after her dog and I kept moving while I gave her the ugliest look for her complete stupidity.

[Hixinfineedom]

These are the only moments I'm the "Super Bitch Pit Bull Owner" !! Normally, I'm as friendly as possible when out in public with a bulldog, to give a positive image... but when it comes to idiot people who just don't understand that their dog doesn't belong anywhere near mine, I plainly say loudly and firmly, "Please control your dog, mine is not friendly with other dogs!" - and I've been known to say this even when walking a dog that IS good with other dogs, just because I don't want to reward this other person's idiocy by letting their dog up to mine!

What I REALLY hate is when people argue with me about it! Telling me how friendly their dog is, or that my dog *looks* friendly so can't they just say hi for a moment? When they tell me how friendly their dog is, I'm always wanting to say (and have in a few rare instances!), "Oh, well it'll be a short fight then!" but I usually settle for, "That's nice. Mine is NOT!" and then they tell me my dog looks friendly, I tell them "That's only because he wants your dog to feel safe to get close enough to grab!" though I really usually just want to say, "He's a silent killer." LOL

[valiumcheepval]

What I REALLY hate is when people argue with me about it! Telling me how friendly their dog is, or that my dog *looks* friendly so can't they just say hi for a moment? When they tell me how friendly their dog is, I'm always wanting to say (and have in a few rare instances!), "Oh, well it'll be a short fight then!" but I usually settle for, "That's nice. Mine is NOT!" and then they tell me my dog looks friendly, I tell them "That's only because he wants your dog to feel safe to get close enough to grab!" though I really usually just want to say, "He's a silent killer." LOL

Thats what I get, "oh he LOOKS so friendly!" uhm no, he is tricking you into walking that tasty bite sized dog up to his face! lol

It took one lady getting her dogs ear grabbed for her to realize his calm sit and wagging tail werent all he made it out to be!

I have my head on a swivel when I am out when I know people have their dogs out because its not worth it to me.

[Hixinfineedom]

I have my head on a swivel when I am out when I know people have their dogs out because its not worth it to me.

So do I. I've had people tell me I need to "relax and enjoy the walk"... and I tell them I AM enjoying the walk, but I'm also hyper-vigilant for idiots, because they don't watch out for themselves lol

[TheReallyBest]

I give a dirty look and say he's not friendly to animals and will try to kill them if given a chance. If that doesn't work, stupid me picks my dog up so he can't grab the other dog. If I then have to kick, I do.


Pookie, how do you manage to get your head on a swivel? That's some trick!

[xqdrocherz]

That's a good point about other owners who argue with me. The two times I've had incidents with Amy, I've listened to the advice of the other dog owner instead of my gut. I'm a new dog owner so I thought maybe they know something I didn't. The first led to a fight with a standard poodle at the dog park (it was just my dog and I there after hours and the poodle came in. I wanted to take Amy out but the other owner wanted them to play and said he could handle anything that happened - STUPID of me). The second led to Amy nipping another dog's ear. They did a sniff greeting on leash and I felt she was getting too excited so I was pulling her away and the other owner said "oh it's ok, her tail is wagging still" and I listened. Stupid me. I go with my gut now.

[yahyynzer]

My Dane is leash reactive, and people in my neighborhood are awful for letting their dogs loose in their yard. I've had labs, westies, GSD, and a bunch of 10lb mutts come running out onto the road with their owns shouting about how friendly their dogs are so I don't have to worry. I just tell them that my 140lb dog is NOT friendly, and he's properly contained while theirs is running loose, so if he causes harm, I'm not at fault. They usually come collect the dog after that.

[mireOpekrhype]

I have learned to become human aggressive to protect my dog and can anticipate stupid behavior BEFORE it happens.

We yell "get your dog on a leash, it's the law...and I won't be responsible if my dog bites yours." That is just one of my many comments.

---------- Post added at 08:56 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:55 AM ----------

people in my neighborhood are awful for letting their dogs loose in their yard. I've had labs, westies, GSD, and a bunch of 10lb mutts come running out onto the road with their owns shouting about how friendly their dogs are so I don't have to worry.

sounds like our neighborhood...

[tattcasetle]

I have not had this problem that much but I have had to almost kick people's dogs and if there is a off leash dog with no owner I use a firm loud dominating voice telling it "GO HOME" that normally gets it going and I use intimidating gestures, being 5 foot tall I still can get a GSD to back off. If I can tell the dog is not ganna go before I do this I can use submissive gestures and get by them, my boy seems keen on offleash dogs and knows if he can try to intimidate them or if he needs to cower but if they get close he would not hesitate in "protecting" us from whatever size dog is in front of him.

I think learning dog body language is essential to any dog owner. You can better react to someones fluff ball if you know its being aggressive, dominant, fearful or friendly. And seeing your dog in the same way you can better figure out what you have to do quickly to stop a confrontation.

[Doncarlito]

There's really not much you can do about other peoples dogs, or ignorance. I suggest you become proficient at scooping up your own dog. Its all you can really control.

[myspauyijbv]

Why put the dog in this situation! Why not excersize him or her at home?

---------- Post added at 06:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:20 PM ----------

Why put the dog in this situation! Why not excersize him or her at home?

Is being a responsible owner of a APBT putting them in situations with strange dogs and expecting them not to react?

[xqdrocherz]

I don't have a yard. I walk my dog. There are other dogs in the world. I suppose I could lock her in a 900 sqft condo for the rest of her life though so she never sees another dog.

[myspauyijbv]

I don't have a yard. I walk my dog. There are other dogs in the world. I suppose I could lock her in a 900 sqft condo for the rest of her life though so she never sees another dog.

ever heard of a carpet mill? tread mill? slat mill?

[xqdrocherz]

yeah, thanks. But I'll keep walking my dog. You're welcome to disagree with my decision.

Thanks for those of you who posted helpful advice on being very direct with other owners.

[myspauyijbv]

And who the hell cares if she see's another dog! APBT's do not need play mates!or friendships with other dogs!They are happy just beingaround thier owner and family.