Hi, I could really use some recommendations of more experienced people than I.

I go daily on walks with my dogs (only one at a time) and chose different environments. On low distraction spots which they already know well, I can insert little training sessions with exercises they are familiar with. On spots with a bit more distractions I can do engagement work.

They are also used to a little haven (between 4 and 5 o'clock in the morning), when there is no crowd yet, only some fishermen passing by, strays etc. Normally this all works without problem. But one day recently I had a big problem. I came with Slippie, (one of my Pits, 3 1/2 years) to the place, where the ferryboat arrives, and she began fearfully to pull at the leash.

I first thought, it was because of the noise of the boat and the cars coming out. I was surprised about this reaction, because she had experienced this many times before. Then I realized that it must be because of the wind. The gusts had unexpectedly increased. But I could not go away with her fast enough, because she panicked. In this situation of course no engagement helped any more. She pulled with her 39 kg like mad in all directions and I had the greatest difficulties to pull her up on her hindlegs and drag her behind the next building, where she then calmed down.

My questions:

1. Has anyone an advice how to master such a situation better? I do not like to drag my dogs, but I had no other choice.

2. How can I desensibitise her? I do not want to avoid such situations, yet I know I will have to prepare her somehow. But how gradually simulate wind? The hairdryer will certainly of no use. Slippie is used to rather windy days, but I cannot foresee whether such sudden and violent gusts will come up.

I'd be grateful for any idea.

Large area fans - I would set one up in an outdoor area starting at low speed and walk her into it carefully from a distance, gradually work closer in and gradually turn the air speed up. Floor models are pretty inexpensive at Walmart, etc. And afterwards you'll have a go to option for hot days in the summer

Once a dog's mind is completely in panic mode, I am not sure what you can do other than what you did. Sometimes I find that touching my fearful/reactive dog on the top of the head can 'interrupt' his fear and get his attention back on me.

Thanks, Kristin, I'll try this in order to prepare her better.
I'm also glad to read, that in this special case you found it ok how I handled the situation. I found it somehow brutal, but it would have been brutal too trying to pull her on four legs (if this would have worked at all) and she would have been much longer exposed to those gusts.
Toching her calmly on her head would not have been possible, because she reacted so wild and I needed both hands to get her away.
Do you think it would help, if I remain on windy days behind buildings and risk perhaps two or three steps into the exposed area? So I could go back to the protected spot as soon as I see her becoming irritated.
Thanks a lot!

I think the best way to start with a fear like this is to use the BAT method, where you're trying to gradually work up to a threshold without overwhelming the dog. A mildly windy day would be when you would want to work on it, at first, and then work up to the gustier ones - but starting with manufactured wind is probably going to be the safest way.

I can completely understand that a thrashing dog is not going to be calmed with a touch - I have been lucky that my dog has never been in a situation (while I was there) where he is that completely overwhelmed. His thing is storms (fear) and cats (oh tasty reactive barking) and we're at the point where he can be inside the house with us, loose without trying to dig through the door during a storm - but I would not at this point go out of my way to try and work with him outside during a storm. Too soon, and there is the matter of intensity.

A link to some information on BAT : http://empoweredanimals.com/

Yhanks for the advice, Kristin. Yes, I think, I will have to go some steps back with Slippie. Inside the house unfortunately I cannot do it, as they are always outside in the yard, because my husband has an allergy. Nevertheless, I think, I will be able to follow your advice about finding out where here threshold is. Slippie is quite used to wind and rain (during walks). but here she was really overwhelmed. From about level 5 to a sudden leven 10.
Thanks also for the link. I haven't had the time to read it, but I will certainly. Great to find people here, who are interested in problems of others and their dogs!