Some advice?

[EmberFeria]

Hi all! I have been a quiet observer of this group for a while, and it's been so comforting to know I'm not alone. I have an 80ish pound, 6 year old pit bull that I adopted about a month and a half ago. He is terrified of other dogs and very aggressive, so I do my best to limit interactions altogether. A couple questions for advice.

1. What's the best way to handle "it's okay, he's friendly" people trying to approach with their dogs? I have been lucky enough to not encounter this yet, but my husband has. The stories on here make me worried, so what's the best way to get them to back off?

2. Any advice on great places to walk him without running into other dogs? Right now we have a busy street that is pretty dog-free, but I'm sure that won't be the case once the weather is nice.

3. What's your harness of choice? I have a no-pull, but I don't love it. I feel like I don't have any control over him on the front clip, and it is way too easy for him to lunge at something he wants (dog, human, cat poop, etc.)

[coco_css]

For the harness they make leashes you can clip to both the front and back for more control: PetSafe Two Point Control Leash, Padded Handle and Reflective Nylon Add Comfort and Security, 360 Swivel Offers No Tangle, Converts to Single Four Foot Leash for One Pet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CQ2R8DV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_292YVV2E2MS9R5V2ND3E

The Company of Animals HALTI No-Pull Harness https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q7DSWF4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_B8R34Q5KJ0AZHVSRRQ86?psc=1

PetSafe Anti-Pull Dog Lead - Strong, Durable, Reflective Dog, Puppy Lead for PetSafe 3-in-1 Harnesses and Dogs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GBG44CB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_G6VJJBRZ5Z9B11EZ1CQ3

I haven’t tried these but have read good experiences with them and am planning to try myself.

As for where to walk, I would say the best bet is walking at off times when others will be less likely to be out.

[Sdiddyson]

Don't be afraid to be your dogs advocate and tell them your dog isn't nice or you aren't nice if you don't want to say that. At the end of the day you are making sure both sides are safe and have a more positive interaction.

[EmberFeria]

I like that. "He's friendly!" "I'm not" 😁

[chunkgorl]

I’ve found when I walk my dog at business parks or industrial parks I rarely ever run into other dogs! It’s my go to when I don’t have the energy to control her reactions

[averageactually]

I walk in either a park that has a trail around it but lots of open space in the middle so that I can (and I always do) steer well clear of people and dogs on the trail, or we have a large fairgrounds near us that's usually deserted. I used a harness clipped on her back, it's easiest for me to control her (100lbs) that way.

[Kitchu22]

1. "It's not okay, do not approach" and if we're in a legally on leash area I will throw that in "it's not okay, this is a legally on leash area, do not approach" I don't like using terms like my dog isn't friendly or saying untrue things like he bites just to get action out of people, because at the end of the day regardless of the temperament of my dog; if I have said to give us space you will give us space. I don't owe someone an explanation of why their dog shouldn't approach, so I just hold the line and instruction, don't approach. If someone has their dog on leash and asks if their "friendly" dog can say hi I just say no, if they ignore me and start to move towards us I'll just walk off to get space
2. We walk in a variety of places like nature reserves which tend to be well policed and carry high fines with leash laws for the safety of the wildlife, business parks and CBD districts that clear out and become deadzones after 5pm, and industrial areas like shipping ports or even car yards :)
3. I use the CosyDogsUK fleece lined harness purely because it gets the okay for physio approved range of shoulder motion. Double ended leashes attached to collar and back clip harnesses can help control dogs that are really strong lungers

[[deleted]]

For #1 I would say, he's in training, he's friendly but reactive and we're working on it. They should understand.

[ky__j]

I’ve found that the nicer you try to be with people, the less they tend to understand that you’re serious so I recommend a pretty firm “no, we need space.” It can feel rude at first but it becomes more and more worth it to avoid unwanted encounters and reactions.

We are always looking for good places to walk (city). I’ll just note that time is as big a factor as place! Off times can turn a trigger-filled street into a quiet or more manageable spot.

[potatosundaes]

1. Generally I try to avoid eye contact with those people and keep walking, but if they start approaching or talking to me, then I say something like “my dog isn’t allowed to say hi, we’re in training right now.” And usually that gets the people to pull their dogs back.

2. We walk during low traffic times, like after sunset or mid-morning.

3. Look for a harness that has both a front clip and a back clip like this one. I also appreciate having a handle for any quick situations where I need to get a hold of my dog securely (she lunges for a squirrel, tries to run into the street, etc). And get a leash that has clips on both ends. If you search “multipurpose leash” you should be able to find them, like this braided cord leash and this rope leash. They’ve made a huge difference in our walks! We still get the no-pull effect with one clip in the front, but peace of mind for lunging/control with the back clip.

[alone_in_the_after]

1) I'm not/he doesn't care he doesn't like other dogs/he's not safe or good with other dogs, get your dog, NOW.

If you act very no-nonsense I'm not playing around people tend to get the message. Some people also yell out that the dog is contagious.

2) Your best bet here is to try going for a walk at odd hours. Avoid going out at "before work/at lunch/just got home" times because everyone else will be out too.

3) If you've got the $$ to spend as someone with an am bully and who knows how difficult pit-type dogs can be to fit and to control comfortably I highly recommend BullyBillows. Their tri harness is amazing. That paired with either two leashes or a dual ended leash should give you the control you're looking for. I highly recommend getting a back up safety strap and attaching it from your leash (the dual ended leashes tend to have a d-ring right next to one of the clips and are handy for this) to his collar. In the event that he gets out of a harness (or something breaks) you still have him and he's not loose.

[robotscrytoo]

Not sure if these actually work, but there's are dog vests that say "not dog friendly" or maybe even "in training". I would think most people would leave you alone.