hate to disagree with you.... And don't disagree when it comes to relatively minor problems

But, my trainer is of the opinion that if you know or notice that your dog has certain issues (such as dog- people- or food agression) it's best to avoid confrontations in the "real world" to start with as each negative interaction will enforce the dog in its fear (and thus the unwanted behavior) ... She believes that while avoiding the stimulants in the real world you should be adressing the issue in a controlled environment... If for example your dog is dog-agressive, stear clear of situations where the dog will meet other off lead dogs for now, but slowly socialise them with bomb-proof dogs that you know... I know I would prefer the owners of dogs with agression issues to keep their dogs away from mine... And know that if my dog was attacked by a dog which had known problems, I would be none too happy with said owner... Its my job to keep my dog away from on-lead dogs and to keep her under control, its every other owners job to do the same, and if your dog is known to have agression issues... Its your job to avoid confrontations as much as you possibly can....

Hi
I ment that if the dogs involved are normal. If the dog has issues I'd use it as a training opportunity to call the dog back and heap positive association on the presence of another dog.

Adam

Your trainer sounds extremely sensible & knowledgeable & I wholeheartedly agree with this view.

Any desensitisation & counter-conditioning should be carried out in a controlled way & in a place where the trainer or owner can be relatively certain that no surprises will occur. It's all very well saying that incidences that happen unexpectedly out on walks can be used as a "training opportunity" but in severe cases or with any aggression issues, and where the owner/trainer does not have control over all other factors, it can be detrimental to the whole rehabilitation process to use these unexpected incidences as "training opportunities". If it goes wrong, it can make the problem worse, or set back the whole process by weeks. Much better to avoid these sort of incidences if you can, at least until the desensitisation & counter-conditioning has progressed to a stage where the dog can cope more reliably with stressful situations.

I had a conversation about this with dh the other day. Bella is our first dog, and take about 95% responsibility for her.
Like everything I did loads of research before getting her,and still do lots of reading (and spend far to long on here!) about training etc.I am always careful about putting her back onlead when there are other dogs around. DH thinks I am over reacting by recalling her andputting her back on lead whenwe see another on-lead dog. I had to explain a lot to him,but am still not sure he gets it
I can see where he's coming from though,because when we all go out together it is normally to the park, and there everyone it seems lets their dog run round,doing what it wants and running up to whoever it wants...
Still, as I told him, there are lots of bad dog owners out there,just as their are lots of not so great parents out there...and I dont intnd to be in either category! If I take something on, whether kids or dogs, I intend to give it my best!

Ollie can be re-active to some dogs and not others, so if we come a cross a dog we do not know or one we do know he has had issues with, he is always on lead or on harness and long line on the field I call him to my side make him sit and talk to him in a loud voice not for his benefit but for the benefit of the owners of dogs off leash telling him he is a good boy sit calm and wait which he does most of the time.

There is one guy in particular with a GSD who looks at me as if I am mad, I don't care really I am trying to get Ollie back to the confident dog he once was around all dogs, not sure if I will succeed but if I can keep him calm and happy and thats as far as I get I will be happy.

He is like your Cherry he has his doggy play pals he runs around with and some if we meet and they are on lead he will greet and walk with them, others for reasons unknown to us only assumptions of things that have happened in the past he will not tolerate.

I think it is common courtesy to put your dog on lead if you see a dog on lead we do not know the reasons why it is on its lead could be all manner of reasons, or as someone said if your dog walks close to heel and does not bother that dog that is fine.

Common courtesy seems sadly lacking these days.

It really annoys me when people say its ok my dog is friendly just wants to say hello I say so it may be but my dog isn't and doesn't want too. If looks could kill.

But what if it's a small dog off-lead that has approached my two on-lead and being the bred that they are, think that it's a toy and try and grab it? Do you still advise that they interact?

Tension is increased when the other owner's dog will not go back to them and keeps dancing round my two winding them up.

I'm replying with the assumtion that all dogs are off lead in the circumstance.

Adam

I must admit i do always put mine on lead if i see another dog approaching that is on lead just in case. Although it doesn't seem to register with other people, they just let their dogs come running over and they walk in the opposite direction. My dogs are fine with other dogs but i just think it would be all the same if they weren't !

I had my two on lead the other day (i wait until i get to a certain place before i let them off ) and this terrier came running over barking and sniffing their bums, i couldn't get rid of the thing it followed us but the owner made no attempt to come and get it or recall it, in then end Bella got fed up with it and barked at it and then it ran off whinging and then the owner gave me a filthy look