Here is my article on STRANGER DANGER!
(Stranger reactive dogs)
Dogs that are reactive to strangers is a very common problem- many dogs don’t trust their human to keep them safe, so the dog is forced to deal with the situation in their own way.
Usually in this situation once the human starts consistently advocating for the dog, most (if not all) of the stranger reactivity stops.
Being an advocate for your dog is just as important as being their caretaker. Advocating protects the dog (and others around them) from the stress and potentially dangerous actions as a result of the dog’s fearful behavior. Just one mishap can set your training and trust the dog has in you back by months.
I would never expect a “Do Not Pet” vest to stop a stranger- in fact, the vest often encourages certain individuals to go out of their way to touch the dog because they have everything to gain and nothing to loose. They feel they are entitled, and get a big ego boost because they did something they were directly told not to. If the dog bites the stranger it will most often be the dog and owner who are penalized, having a “Do Not Pet” vest on the dog won’t hold up as enough evidence with authorities- or in court.
THINGS YOU CAN TRY
Create space- I train my dogs a verbal cue to get behind me, this allows me to physically block the oncoming stranger if needed.
Train the BETWEEN (or MIDDLE) command to your dog, most people are hesitant to put their hands on a dog’s head when it is right below a stranger’s crotch! 😏
I stand up straight with my hand facing palm out towards the stranger (like a traffic cop), solid eye contact, and a very firm “NO!”, this will stop most.
Saying a firm verbal LEAVE IT to your dog and calmly walking away from the stranger is often an effective option. Never run away, you may be seen as prey.
SUGGESTIONS
Always pay attention and be on the alert for potential issues.
I’m never on my cell phone when I am handling my dog in public.
No to music on earbuds as well.
Be hyper vigilant to your surroundings, similar to driving a vehicle- watch for a safe way out. Rearrange your route of travel if needed to avoid conflict.
It’s imperative to put your dog’s safety above feeling uncomfortable about a biased opinion from a stranger. It’s okay to come across as unfriendly or rude to a stranger who is being disrespectful. Entitled strangers don’t feel bad for ignoring your boundaries, embarrassed for being intentionally rude to you, or sad for putting you and your dog in a dangerous position- often very much the opposite.
My dogs are also all properly muzzle conditioned so they are comfortable wearing one, strangers are MUCH less apt to want to touch a muzzled dog. You can tell people the dog is wearing a muzzle for it’s own protection, not for theirs. Even good dogs wear muzzles. I have a detailed article on how to train proper muzzle conditioning at my blog.
Think about this for a moment, it may help you get a better mindset for advocating. What if your dog was actually your human baby, and a stranger was going to do something threatening to your baby.
How would you feel?
LEARNING TO ADVOCATE
Start practicing in front of the mirror- stand up proudly, attitude is everything. Focus on being calm and confident. Practice until it becomes muscle memory. It’s hard at first- but the more you do it, the easier it becomes. You can even reward yourself with some special tasty treats when practicing, pieces of chocolate work for me!
WHAT TO SAY WHEN STRANGERS CONTINUE TO ADVANCE
“NO”is a complete sentence, if that is all you want to say, then that’s fine.
“Sorry, but he doesn't like to be petted.”
“Not while he is working, Ma’am/ Sir”.
“Please do not approach my dog”
“No, he is in training”.
“Please give us space”
“Sorry- she is old and is in pain, so please don’t touch her”
Once you begin feeling more confident, start practicing with your friends and family members. You can have them give you honest feedback as well, if you feel that would be helpful. Then once you have mastered that, start applying it in real life scenarios.
When it comes to your dog , he looks up to you to advocate and protect him. Doing so will help build a greater bond with your dog. Other than your Veterinarian and staff, no one “needs” to touch your dog.
And yes, I have had to physically push a person back away from a client’s dog I was handling when the person repeatedly insisted on forcing her hand into the reactive dog’s face “to say Hi”. Believe me- the alternative of the woman getting bitten would have been much, much worse for everyone involved- especially for the dog.
Personal dogs are NOT public property.
Advocate for your dog like their life depends on it, for someday it well may.
More articles like Pup Basic Manners Training, Building Engagement With Your Dog, Senior Dog Care, Training Recall, Deterrents for Aggressive Loose Dogs, and Structured Walks are available at my blog- which is open to the public, and free of charge. ❤️🐺❤️
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