Why my reactive dog is your problem too..

Dalmatian with a ball

Now before anyone comes at me for the title, please read the whole blog before having an opinion.

In current times there are ALOT more reactive dogs than there ever used to be. Whether it’s down to lockdown, bad breeders, trauma or whatever. The issue is larger than ever.

I can guarantee you the owners out there of reactive dogs who are aware of the issue are doing something about it. Whether they are managing the situation by doing late night and early morning walks, going to more private locations or seeking out behavioural assistance… something is being done.

So why do members of the public also have a responsibility when it comes to reactive dogs?

If you have a dog who is overly friendly and may run up to every dog it sees, you are responsible.

If you love dogs and just have to say hello to every pooch out there, you are responsible.

By allowing your friendly dog to run up to every dog out there, not only do you risk a reaction from the other dog. You risk your dog being bitten or attacked, you risk your dog becoming reactive themselves. You risk a fine because the law deems and offlead dog with no recall as “out of control”.

By trying to say hello to every dog out there yourself you risk being bitten yourself, you risk confrontation from a concerned and upset owner, you risk stressing out another animal for your own game.

As much as it is or should In the human world, permission and consent should always be granted in the dog world before you approach any dog.

Let’s reflect on this in human terms, as a parent it’s your responsibility to keep your child safe. To teach your children not to talk to strangers, not to wander off too far, to keep their phone on and to keep you updated on where they are. You cannot rely on other people to keep your child safe when it is your own responsibility.

It is your own responsibility to keep yourself and your own dog safe, and under control on public.