Picture this: you and your dog are walking down the street, and an off-leash dog rushes up to greet you. How do you influence the situation to achieve a good outcome? What should you do? 

Two Different Dog Encounter Experiences

There are two types of encounters that dog owners have to navigate: expected and unexpected. We must understand them and develop a plan of action for when they happen. This post will give you some ideas for confidently negotiating those unexpected encounters. 

Unexpected encounters can be tricky and can end with an injury to you, your dog, or the other dog. Many of us have reactive, defensive, and even aggressive dogs and must take these situations seriously and plan for success. 

We know these events can happen, and they are likely to occur if you live in a place with many pet dogs. That means that we must prepare for it. I prepare my clients by teaching them how to teach their dog to value being calm while on the leash. If a dog is reactive, we must address that before prepping for unexpected encounters. 

Second, I teach my client how to teach their dog to get behind on command and with leash tension. If you have time to tell them to get behind you, you can, but we also prepare for times when the other dog appears suddenly. There might not be enough time to ask your dog to run behind; that is when we teach them to move behind with leash cues. 

Once your dog is taught to move behind you, we practice addressing the dog and blocking. I teach them to ignore the dog’s owners because if they had control of their dog, it would not rush at your dog so rudely. Since the dog is making the decision, address the decision maker. 

We do this by turning to face the dog, taking a wide stance, bending at the knees and waist as if you were preparing to tackle a person while playing football. We extend our free hand toward the dog’s face and say “No” in a firm, authoritative voice. We practice being on the balls of our feet and ready to pivot. 

To a dog, this looks like strange human behavior. Normally, they will slow down to assess what is happening. When they slow down, I teach my client to step towards them and say, “No” again or “Go Away”. Most dogs will not get closer and start moving away. Some dogs try again. That is why we are prepared to pivot. I have done this many times. I have never encountered a dog that needed more than 2 pivots. Multiple dogs approaching from the same direction can be handled in the same way. 

The idea is to claim the space you and your dog occupy and show the other dog that you are prepared to defend it. This can be a bluff. You might not do anything if the dog continues their approach. I am not bluffing, I will make contact with the dog if it continues with its threatening behavior.  

Creating Confidence

If my client is not confident in their movement or has a physical issue that makes movement difficult, I counsel them to carry a stick and use it to create space. A drumstick or a long-handled wooden spoon works well for this purpose. While no one intends to strike a threatening, charging dog that approaches you and your dog, the stick can be used to defend yourself and your dog if the dog is truly aggressive and wants to do you harm. 

Remember, knowing how is one thing. In the heat of the moment, my client must still be prepared to act. We practice reflex-development drills to ensure we are prepared if and when that moment comes. If you would like to learn more about this and to prepare yourself for rushing dogs, contact me. I will be glad to share with you. As always, thank you for reading, and Enjoy Your Dog!!!