BTW, here is what I use for my bait bag. It's one of my very favorite LB items:

http://leerburg.com/736.htm

It's funny... that bait bag looked so perfect to me, I bought one 2 months before we ever got our pup!!

I would NEVER go to one of those. I have always thought they were stupid, long before I found this site. As a matter of fact, I agreed so strongly with Ed's opinion on that subject, it became one of the reasons I am a follower of this site.

Actually, I picked this park because it is a municipal school park and dangerous dogs would never be tolerated. In fact, dogs are not supposed to go there. I go when it is empty and the kids are in class.

Still yet, we get the occasional idiots who go, at the same time I do and let their dogs off leash. So I try to keep my eyes open and avoid situations.

Thanks for your wonderful advice.

 Quote: Carol Blumlein

It's funny... that bait bag looked so perfect to me, I bought one 2 months before we ever got our pup!!

Good instincts!

 Quote: Carol Blumlein

I would NEVER go to one of those. I have always thought they were stupid, long before I found this site. As a matter of fact, I agreed so strongly with Ed's opinion on that subject, it became one of the reasons I am a follower of this site.

Good instincts!


I sense a pattern .....

My favorite bait bag also I have 2 now but getting a few more one for every vehicle and every house.

When I work with a reactive dog, I do, like you have stated- lots of planning and preparing. We can try and anticipate every challenge by expecting to be surprised.
I also turn and say let's go and we march off in the opposite direction when way, way up ahead I see a loose dog, kids running toward us or riding their bikes, or a group of people coming. Like connie was saying, I also like to build positive experiences for reactive dogs, build them so strongly that we build new behaviors to rely on in those situations. Sometimes it is hand targeting, or another behavior. Working on the far side of the dogs threshold to keep it calm. Progressing as the dog becomes more comfortable by shortening the distance.
It does annoy me when people allow their dogs off leash and don't mind one bit when their dogs come barreling toward my dogs on leash. But I try and use that situation to train for the unexpected. In my town we have lots of loose dogs, and people who keep their gate open which results in dogs charging out of their yards barking. So now, I do what Steve says, I drive to my walking spot, I walk in a shopping center where not that many dogs are. It has helped. Don't give up, it takes time to reshape dogs learned response to something. Keep up the good work, your pup will benefit greatly from it. Sharon "Hot Digity Dog Training"