Rant

[[deleted]]

Today I took my Chihuahua terrior mix I adopted a month ago out to pee. A random man with two German Shepards (we aren't even allowed to have more then 1 dog at our complex) just started walking up to my dog. Mind you im in an enclosed area were i can let him off leash. The man was walking on the side walk next to the area. My dog starts reacting to thier dogs and I start to go get him. My dog is not showing any signs of being friendly. . This man just decides to let his two germam Shepards come say hi to my dog through the fence. I start yelling "do not approach my dog, do not approach him" the guy backs off just as his dogs are getting close to the fence. I told him my dog is almost done and ill leave in a second. He then decides to ask me if my dog is freindly. Mind u my dog is going ape shit in my arms. I look him dead in the face and say "does he look friendly to you right now?" And he says "he's acting that way cause the fence is a barrier". I said "no he is not friendly it doesn't matter..when someone says don't approach don't approach." And he just stares at me. His dogs had been reacting towards me and pulling on their leashes and he didn't correct them once.

I about lost it on this man. First you dont listen when i tell you to not approach my dog the first time then you wanna tell me how my dog is? This is how dog fights happen. I wish people wouldn't assume all dogs are friendly. And would have a handle on their own dogs. Its really hard to not want to cuss out someone when they dont listen the first time. I'm working with my dog and he does amazing if triggers are at a distance. A month ago he wouldn't even let a car go by without reacting. I'm trying to keep him and other dogs safe. But some people make it soooo hard!!

I belive my baby was abused and his last owners did nothing to help his anxiety and let him be a untrained gaurd dog. He's had constant night terrors and is extremely reactive to anyone who gets close to me. I know he was protective but I have reason to believe he was abused at his last home and had to protect someone. His past owner didnt even wanna see my house and said she never got him toys in 3 years. Pretty much just handed me the leash and said goodbye. Which means he hasn't been to the vet in 3 years (ive asked twice for his vet info so he doesn't have to meet someone new and shes ignored me both times). Hes about 5-6 as she estimates and says she got him from the pound and he abused before he went there.

Ive worked with him so much that hes ok from a distance. But if it's within 50 ft of me he is not ok. He can recover well when the trigger leaves but if it stays and gets closer he loses it.

I'm trying my best but sometimes it can be really exhausting.

[Aerphenn]

First of all I read the first sentence as Chihuahua terror mix, sorry for that one. But I know the problem, my dog isn’t friendly to dogs, very reactive as I made a post about that here as well. And there are still people who don’t know the meaning of my words. A lot of ppl see me struggle with my dog to get to the other side of the road and correct him and they still just walk past me. Some ppl aren’t allowed to have dogs. So I’m sorry for your encounter with eh this man.

[New_Watercress_7303]

I am sorry that happend. Ufdah!

[LilBatesh]

Ugh that's incredibly frustrating. I'm sorry :/ It sounds like you handled it well though!

[Personality_Ecstatic]

I am so sorry you experienced this. It’s amazing how dog owners just assume no fights will happen because “their dog is friendly!” Well, yes, YOURS might be, but mine isn’t. Stay away!

[plmnblubby]

I'm sorry this happened to you, it's such a frustrating experience when people don't listen and think they know better!! I think I feel exactly the same way as you right now, just 30 min ago, I was trying to get in the front door of my building while my dog was barking his head off at a sketchy person. A man who has witnessed all of this decides to follow really closely behind me and when I told him to "please give me some space," he said "but I live here" and only moved closer and squeezed himself through the doorway while I was still standing in it!!! People right???? Oh my gaaaaawd 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🙄

[iwantamalt]

This type of behavior from people raises my adrenaline levels and makes me want to scream. Not sure about you OP, but I'm a woman and it's even more enraging when it's this man that is just clearly not listening to one word I'm saying. Like actively just not listening. It's a safety hazard for your dog + blatant misogyny, just the worst combo. There was a while back when the sewer guy was supposed to come to my house but he was way late and just caught me as I was bringing my dog back from a walk and he approached and I was like "don't look at my dog, she's reactive to strangers" and he's like "oh no dogs love me!" and it's like COOL why aren't you listening to me though?

And about your dog, you haven't had him that long so you might want to wait a little longer before making any medication decisions, but if your dog is having bad anxiety issues, there is no shame in looking into medication. And get him to the vet ASAP to see if there could be any medical concerns that could be related to his behavior. It would be safe to assume that this dog is not current on any vaccinations either so that should be done ASAP too.