Owning a reactive or aggressive dog can be frustrating. You need to take them to the vet, or maybe you have them out because you are working on training him to be comfortable around whatever it is that makes him react (dogs, people, etc.). I understand this firsthand because I have a reactive dog. But, it’s not the dog that’s frustrating – it’s the people and dogs you meet while out training.
When Merlin first started reacting to things out on walks and trips to the store, I tried all the “cues” that people say to use – everything from a vest that says “do not pet,” to the yellow ribbon (which unfortunately no one knows), to yelling, “my dog doesn’t want to greet yours” as they rush up to me.
Merlin used to do this with people too, though he now runs up to them (if they don’t have a dog) looking for cookies because we have done a lot of work. But prior to that, keeping people, at bay was tough. After all, when your dog looks like Merlin does, everyone wants to pet him:
It didn’t matter if I screamed “my dog is scared of people.” By the time it was out of my mouth, they were already reaching for him. That was when I learned that I had to be something I am not naturally: blunt and confrontational.
Glasgow Dog Trainer and Behavior Consultant John McGuigan, has been training dogs for over a decade. He uses only positive methods, without physical aversives such as prong, chock, or e-collars or rattle cans and spray bottles. If you haven’t seen his Facebook page, check him out, he has a lot of good information. He has a whole video about this very subject.
When it comes to reactive dogs and people coming at you, his video below says exactly what I have found to be true: there is really only one way to get people to leave you and your dog alone.
His main points:
#1 – Be Assertive
#2 – Be Short
The reason? If you start a conversation with them, they are going to be more likely to want to get engaged with your dog as well. And, by the time you get “my dog is scared” or “please don’t pet my dog he doesn’t like people” out of your mouth, it’s too late. They are already sticking their hand in your dog’s face.
#3 – Be Rude
You may say, that’s rude, and maybe it is. McGuigan says that’s not what matters. What matters, is whether your dog likes to be petted or not. If not, then you should just say No.
Don’t engage in a conversation with the people, just say no and keep walking!
Watch the whole video with more tips below:
So that’s it. Be assertive. Be short. Be rude. It may seem awful to just say “No,” and leave it at that, but you are talking about the safety of your dog, the person approaching him, and yourself. Which is better: you being “rude” or your dog biting someone?
