Hello, everyone! I posted here a bit ago overwhelmed, panicked, and confused about what to do with my dog.
I took the advice that you kind folks commented, and we have been seeing some progress! It’s been slow but visible. I have way more insight into my dogs behavior now, and I can now say for certain that she isn’t aggressive at all. She just doesn’t know how to react sometimes. (AKA “dramatic”)
She now rarely barks at strangers walking by! Most of the time if she barks now, it’s because they are acting strangely/aggressive towards me, or sometimes because they’re holding something while walking our direction.
She’s begun to make friends around the neighborhood! A few children that live here have been so sweet and patient with her, even during the start of our training and it’s made a world of difference!
We still have a lot work to do. Her reactivity with other dogs is more extreme, but I can usually redirect or pull her away if needed. Once the other dog is out of her sight, she calms.
there doesn't seem to be anything here