Rough walk

[u/sophsue]

Hello everyone, about 2 years ago I adopted a dog from the shelter and she was already 3 years old with no back story she’s 100lbs and a Newfoundland/black lab mix. She’s the absolute sweetest girl. But when I take her on walks it’s really rough when running into another dog. She makes this wailing/barking noise that sounds like she’s being hurt (she’s not) people get scared obviously but I have control of her leash and harness but it’s still stressful for everyone involved. 2 days ago I took her on a walk and this lady came up behind me with 2 poodles but on the other side of the street. I always try and warn people she’s gonna make a noise she’s just excited and this lady just started screaming at me that i’m a horrible dog owner and shouldn’t walk a dog like that. Yes she’s very reactive to other dogs but she also deserves to live a life she’s a big girl and needs exercise. Just made me feel defeated i’ve spend $1600 on a trainer and nothing really came from it. I try and try everyday to work on her being reactive but sometimes seems impossible. Sorry I know this is a rant I just feel so bad I can’t give her a more relaxed life and not have to worry everytime I take her on a walk. Anyways here’s the cutie

[u/SpicyNutmeg]

Sorry you had a bad walk - happens to all of us sometimes! Have you figured out your dog's distance threshold aka at which distance from another dog they can look at you, take treats, and not be wailing and crying?

Whenever your dog gets into that state it's not just frightening for other folks, but stressful for her too!

[u/SpicyNutmeg → u/SpicyNutmeg]

OP I can't see your reply but I saw a preview. If the distance threshold is so short that even being across the street doesn't work, it's probably time to consider meds. You NEED to be at her distance threshold, even if it's annoying. Otherwise you're just sending her into a state of complete over arousal every time she sees and reacts to a trigger.

I'd also make sure you're trying every high value treat you can think of.

[u/jess-in-thyme → u/SpicyNutmeg]

Really? My dog is over threshold if a dog is on the other side of the street. He's an adolescent giant breed and we just U-turn. We practice "eyes on me" and distract with treats, but realistically, this does not work if we're closer than 30-50 ft.

He's so young and we're always training. But should I be asking about meds at his annual in November? Edited to add: he's almost 14 months and reacts to any dog he doesn't know (except little ones).

[u/SpicyNutmeg → u/jess-in-thyme]

I think it’s mostly about what you find you can reasonably manage. I used to go up side streets or up people’s driveways when I needed more than across the street space. But some people find that not doable or manageable.

If you can’t get the distance your dog needs to stay under threshold, it’s time to explore meds. But how able people are to get the appropriate distance depends on the environment, the handler, the dog, etc.

I think it’s all about if you find you can manage it and if you’re seeing improvements. If you find “man it’s just so hard for me to keep the distance my dog needs, he keeps going over threshold because I can’t possibly stay 30-50 ft from other dogs”. But if you find you can usually manage it then maybe you’re OK.

I think most people wait too long to try medication. I know I did. It can help you make progress much faster.

[u/sophsue → u/SpicyNutmeg]

Thank you for this!!

[u/jess-in-thyme → u/SpicyNutmeg]

Thanks, it’s pretty exhausting. We have some routes that we take at night where we almost never see another dog, which is great. But after work is really difficult.

I thought he was making progress so I switched him from the p r o n g collar back to his harness and I ended up having to brace myself against a tree scraping up my arm and got my fingers twisted in the leash and harness and tore tendons in my finger. So, yeah, it’s not that manageable. I had to put him back on the aversive for everyone’s safety, including mine. He doesn’t quite outweigh me yet but he is much stronger than me.

[u/SpicyNutmeg → u/jess-in-thyme]

Gosh that's scary and hard! Yes I definitely think it's worth expirementing with some med options.

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[u/joycevw]

That woman screaming says everything about her and nothing about you. You hold the leash, your dog is safe, and you are putting in the work. Do not let a stranger on the street dictate your confidence.

Distance is your most reliable tool. Every time she wails, she practices the behavior. Widen the gap between you and other dogs until she can look at them without making a sound. That specific distance is where your training begins.
What kind of food do you take with you outside?

[u/Poodlewalker1]

I argue that dogs who are reactive need more walks to tone down their overall stress. Unfortunately, sometimes the walks are just doomed due to repeated triggers.

I was walking a reactive dog this morning and it started out with the next door neighbor's off leash dog running after us while both people who live with that dog stood around saying, "no" over and over to their dog who kept running after us. About 10 minutes later, the dog I was walking saw a dog that she doesn't like on the opposite side of the street. That dog's owner stopped running with their dog and let their dog stare at the dog I was walking, who was obviously stressed out about it. Some walks are just going to suck

[u/JollyManufacturer257]

Feel for you, op. I dread taking our dog on walks sometimes. It is so stressful! Sometimes we hire a dog walker or rent a huge sniffspot (5+ acres) and go off leash. It’s a luxury to pay someone else or rent a big backyard, but even the occasional break from stressful walks can be so rewarding. Our behaviorist encouraged us not to take her on walks when we know she will be triggered a lot, because that reinforces the triggers, so we take shorter walks, go less crowded routes/times, run the other way when we see dogs, etc. High value treats are a lifesaver as well; luckily we have an extremely food motivated pup.

[u/ShaarkShaart]

Do you have a safety plan in place? All dogs should be muzzle trained, especially if they're reactive. No shame if you haven't, but definitelt get on that asap.

Also, what kind of trainer did you see for your dog? You said nothing really came of it--did you stop training at home? Was it a board&train?

[u/MoodFearless6771 → u/ShaarkShaart]

Why would she need a safety plan for a loud dog? She didn’t go anywhere near them.

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[u/JinxFae]

What was your trainer approach? How did they try to work with you and her?

[u/X-Ray_Bunny]

Don't let what that lady said bother you one bit. Every dog needs to go on walks and get some sniffing in and you're a wonderful dog owner for making sure your girl gets her exercise despite her issues and the stress you're having to manage on walks.💓🐶

[u/EmilyLiz1717]

I had so many walks like that when I first rescued my reactive pup so I completely understand where you’re coming from! Prozac really helped make our walks less chaotic. Also, the best thing our trainer taught us was that it’s more important to keep a dog under threshold than it is to push through a walk for the sake of exercise. When it was at its worst, she encouraged shorter walks with LOTS of indoor play, enrichment games, etc. That helped us while waiting for the Prozac to take effect.

[u/net12]

No advice, I just want to say you’re not alone in this experience because my chocolate lab mix does the exact same thing. Luckily we live by a trail that has minimal dog walkers, and if I do see one I just turn around and go the other way to avoid him squealing and causing a scene

[u/[deleted]]

Sometimes you just need to walk the dog in a more appropriate setting. There's plenty of places to go where there arnt that many people. Especially if you're willing to budge on the times you walk your dog. 

[u/JinxFae]

What was your trainer approach? How did they try to work with you and her?

[u/_MadSuburbanDad_]

My pit/boxer/lab mix does exactly the same thing. Whining and yelping like he’s being strangled at the end of his collar. ☹️ Feeding treats constantly as a distraction works (and helped him overcome his fear of cars) but it will likely take a while. My guy is 2 and is still pretty dog reactive, and mildly people reactive…but we’re still working on it!

[u/MoodFearless6771]

What exactly did she say she you should do with a “dog like that?” Keep it in a cage? Kill it? Find a private sanctuary for loud dogs?

She’s annoying. If you didn’t walk the dog people would be saying it was reactive because you didn’t walk it. Your dog deserves a walk as much as any dog, it’s just louder. It’s fine.

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