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Originally Posted by RMKC  Mine are that way too , specialy Apollo  he gets realy agressive, but only with big dogs, he just barks his fool head off...not at little dogs though..a big dog comes along and he acts like a Pitbull... had something realy scary happen about a month ago on one of our walks... a lab was running loose, and Rosi and Apollo where on a Retractable Lesh, well when i saw it i picked Rosi up and was going to pick Apollo up, he was jerking on the leash and before i could pick him up he litterly frayed that leash in half and he ran towards that lab with me screaming after him , he was nipping on that labs hind feet...omg i thought he was a goner... i about had a heartattack... thank god that lab must of been mellow and only snapped at him by the time i reached him... my knees where shaken 3 hrs after.... |
It is not aggression it fear... it a make them go awsy so I do not get hurt ( best offense is a great defence.) It is a lack of knowing that those big dogs well some not all are ok and dogs. Soicial skills and dog speak skill help be good thing.
Why I dislike retractable leashes it that in an emergency I can not get them up and away to my arms... long line I can pull it in and stand on it and have them up in seconds. yup done it. Had mine all but pulled out of my arms by a big dog.... so I no the fear. Now you are afraid and so is little man and you are making it worse for each other. As hard as it is and it hard you have to calm yourself to calm him.
Start by forgiving yourself...... yes you have quilt so did and do I. let it go you did the best you could and look still are and you kept your dogs alive. yeah well done.
Also take a break try and go out without other dogs around... I still go out after the day is quite and walk my dog in the peaceful time.
make walks fun again and less of a oh my is there going to be a dog.
Trust me that was hard for a long time for me.
Take him out on his own teach him you will protect him and that he does not have to do it,,, he got that in his head. work at the outside edge of where both you start to get worried that dog may get to close and feed him treats and tell yourself good job.
take time to heal both you and him.
JL