We were doing so good with other dogs.

The other morning we were walking down a main street, and there was a guy with two small dogs. Tasha got excited, so we stepped aside to play a little.

I had no idea that the dogs were off leash and before I even knew it they were nose to nose. The dog had bolted across the street.

I had no time to do anything about it, but it seemed to be OK. They sniffed, Tasha gave a low tail wag and there was a little muzzle licking. I stayed relaxed and praised her for a nice greeting. The owner scooped up his second dog and ran across the street apologizing.

I thought he had gotten the other dog in his reach, so I gave a cheery "Let's go!" and turned to walk away.

I was wrong, and the little dog came after us. Tasha gave a low, scary growl and whipped around, the little dog lunged to bite her. As a reflex I brought Tasha up on the leash and kicked the little dog.

Dammit.

The next dog we saw on the walk had her on high alert.

I hate people.

How frustrating , that would set us back too. I lucked out that Loki's recent nose to nose stayed peaceful, but I would not have hesitated to kick that dog away if I had to.

It is a definite set back. This morning we were surprised by a mellow bulldog as we rounded a corner, about ten feet away. Before it would have been fine , today we had a lungefest.

There was a dog barking from behind a fence across the street, and there was no reaction to that. So its not like everything is completely undone.

I did learn something out of this. The next time it happens I will not turn my back until I am 100% sure the other dog is securely on leash.

The small dog situation worries me the most. Ever since I read a nightmarish story here about a pitbull who killed the small dog in basically the exact same situation. Honestly, I would rather have a rottweiler or an amstaff rush us then a little mop dog.

Lauren, are you just trying to desensitize so that you can walk with no reaction?

Or are you hoping that one day Tasha may be able to associate with other dogs.

If that's the case, it's sometimes easier to just be happy with the dog not reacting and being content with the fact that your dog may never be one that can play or even meet other dogs.

The problem is other people. And although Tasha may "meet & greet' 20 dogs with no problems, there will always be the possibility of meeting that ONE dog that is going to have an owner that says "oh it's ok, he/she's friendly" that is going to put you back to square one.

Nlo, I dont really care if she likes other dogs. I feel confident that she would not attack another dog unprovoked, and she has a few that she plays nicely with. That is good enough for me when it comes to "socialization" as most people know it.

I wish she would be the type of dog that I didn't have to manage so closely, but that's not the dog I have. Its ok.

She will rank, and she will fight. Off leash eight out of ten dogs will accept her as higher ranking and become fast friends, the other two there is potential for a fight.

I've accepted it and I manage any situations as they pop up, and I genuinely make an effort to be responsible and careful.

Its more that when she reacts on leash she looks really scary and its embarrasing. That's what I'm working on.

Ok, well it's good that you realize that she just may be the type of dog that will never be able to play nicely.

Tucker is DA. took alot of work for him to not react to dogs we met on walks. And i just resigned myself to the fact that he was not going to be able to romp around with other dogs. At first i felt bad. But then i realized he really had absolutely no interest in playing. The only dog i ever felt comfortable enough to let him around was an old senior golden retreiver when we were camping. And even then, after the initial introduction, he wanted absolutely nothing to do with the dog. Never sought him out and if the other dog came too close he would warn him off with a snarl.
But he's happier this way, and so am I. He doesn't know how to play with other dogs, he only knows how to fight. Doesn't matter...Big, small, puppy, male or female it doesn't matter.
Tucker used to be a Tasmanian Devil on the leash when I first got him. And i know what you mean about it being embarassing. But she will get better. I can now walk past other dogs, he will hackle, that's the one thing i never can stop. But now he just looks and keeps going. If they kick up a fuss he will try to stop i just don't let him.
You'll get there. It really does just take time and patience. Just really keep your eye out on the walks. I would not allow any meet & greets (I know it wasn't a planned one)for now until you are further along. I know it went well at first, but you just never know what will set Tasha off. Better safe than sorry.

I understand what you are talking about, though. I can get Maggie to pretty much ignore other dogs with the desensitizing I've done. We also had an "encounter" with an off leash dog. Maggie on leash, on a trail. The other dog just plain rushed us off leash. Of course the other owner is calling "come". I got to the side of the trail with Maggie (but on snowshoes so it was difficult and not far enough off and in time). The little doodle just plain started snarling and lunging when Maggie barked after the initial rush. I ended up flat on my back, snow shoes in the air, with Maggie right next to me (I'm holding her so she doesn't kill the other dog). Of course, the owner of the other dog still couldn't get the dog under control and had to pick it up. "Can you all just keep moving up the trail???" I really didn't want to chit chat at that point and hear about how friendly the doodle is.

It set her back a bit, too. She was more hyper-vigilant on our next few walks when she saw other dogs. I just go back to desensitizing...

The hard part is that with a managed introduction, she is really social and enjoys playing with other dogs. Even most other females. Its just that she can be dominant to an extreme on a first meeting. If both myself and other owner have control everything is fine.Once she is good with a dog, she is good with them consisently.

So I do feel bad sometimes. Knowing that she is not totaly DA, but keeping her away from other animals because of the lack of control most owners have.

I do know that the potential for her to become seriously DA is there, that's why I am so careful about it.