Bad Experiences (4th May)
Dear Flickr friends, this morning I had probably the worst experience since we adopted Harbie almost a year ago - some abuse from a woman just at the corner of our street. We had just set off for our morning dog walk and we came headfirst into a dog that I think lives a couple of doors away round the pub on the corner. Predictably, Harbie barked loudly at the dog - there was no way of avoiding it - and the owner was shouting at me. At first I thought she was being kind, but we turned round to get away from the situation as I couldn't hear her over the noise. After a moment I stopped as she was still shouting and I wanted to try and hear her. I think I heard the words "seen you before"/"report your dog" as she walked away! Despite Harbie's reactivity I've never had any harsh words from anyone in the year I've had him, so this was a bit of a shock! If only she knew how difficult it is to walk a reactive dog and how hard we've been working on it. Every day is different but with treats and avoidance Harbie is making gradual improvements when we're out (It's only dogs he barks at - he likes people and children). Even when we had a difficult experience at the vet's before Christmas, the vet didn't think he was aggressive, just anxious and over excited. But because he barks when I'm in close proximity to another dog I never get the chance to explain anything to other owners.
This has really dented my confidence, which is already low! It's very hard to avoid walking past the house I think the woman lives in and Harbie has more days when he doesn't bark than when he does, but I have come across the woman and the dog before, so she's probably only ever seen him barking. I can't not walk him, tempting as it is, cos he whines to go out and he enjoys his walks. Could she report us? I really feel at the end of my tether today! (I use a yellow lead with the word "nervous" on, so it's hard to know what else to do. If only she knew how lucky she was to have a dog that doesn't react!). Maybe it's amazing that we've had him this long and it's the first time someone's had a go at me for 'not being able to handle him'.
The only thing I can add is although I have had a very unpleasant encounter this morning, I put this info on a group I'm in on Facebook (so it's not all bad) and have had loads of kind, supportive comments back.
Bad Experiences (4th May)
Dear Flickr friends, this morning I had probably the worst experience since we adopted Harbie almost a year ago - some abuse from a woman just at the corner of our street. We had just set off for our morning dog walk and we came headfirst into a dog that I think lives a couple of doors away round the pub on the corner. Predictably, Harbie barked loudly at the dog - there was no way of avoiding it - and the owner was shouting at me. At first I thought she was being kind, but we turned round to get away from the situation as I couldn't hear her over the noise. After a moment I stopped as she was still shouting and I wanted to try and hear her. I think I heard the words "seen you before"/"report your dog" as she walked away! Despite Harbie's reactivity I've never had any harsh words from anyone in the year I've had him, so this was a bit of a shock! If only she knew how difficult it is to walk a reactive dog and how hard we've been working on it. Every day is different but with treats and avoidance Harbie is making gradual improvements when we're out (It's only dogs he barks at - he likes people and children). Even when we had a difficult experience at the vet's before Christmas, the vet didn't think he was aggressive, just anxious and over excited. But because he barks when I'm in close proximity to another dog I never get the chance to explain anything to other owners.
This has really dented my confidence, which is already low! It's very hard to avoid walking past the house I think the woman lives in and Harbie has more days when he doesn't bark than when he does, but I have come across the woman and the dog before, so she's probably only ever seen him barking. I can't not walk him, tempting as it is, cos he whines to go out and he enjoys his walks. Could she report us? I really feel at the end of my tether today! (I use a yellow lead with the word "nervous" on, so it's hard to know what else to do. If only she knew how lucky she was to have a dog that doesn't react!). Maybe it's amazing that we've had him this long and it's the first time someone's had a go at me for 'not being able to handle him'.
The only thing I can add is although I have had a very unpleasant encounter this morning, I put this info on a group I'm in on Facebook (so it's not all bad) and have had loads of kind, supportive comments back.