I have had a dog reactive dog in the past. It was an incredibly challenging time and now that I have two dogs with good social skills, I am the owner that I wish others had been when I had that dog.
My belief system tells me not everybody wants anything to do with my dogs. Therefore, I will manage my dogs to avoid others, unless the people tell me otherwise AND I believe the situation is safe for interaction. I have really upset some people by choosing to avoid a dog they insisted was friendly, and I didn't like the body language I was seeing.
If your belief system is that everybody should love your dogs and you will allow/ encourage your dogs to approach anyone and everyone - our belief systems are going to clash.
However, we don't have to.
If you want your dog to interact with mine and I choose differently, that's my right. It's not personal. I don't hate your dog. I'm just seeing different things to you and choosing different things for my dogs.
Please respect that. It's polite.
There are NUMEROUS dogs out there with stressed out owners who desperately want other dogs to stay away from theirs.
Please respect that.
It's not personal. It's polite.
They will be GRATEFUL to you.
We are each totally entitled to believe what we believe and yet still do what others need from us right now. It doesn't make us inauthentic. It makes us thoughtful and empathetic.
When you're thoughtful and empathetic, there's a better chance that everyone will walk away from the non interaction feeling good. If you'd pushed for the interaction - it might all have turned ugly.
I'm all for thoughtful, empathetic and feeling good. What about you?
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