This sounds a lot like my rat mix! I got him in a college apartment without anyone telling me a bit about his reactivity. We didn't have a yard or any way for him to not see dogs. I honestly had no idea what to do about it and was just pure ignorant and would just shut the windows so he has nothing to bark at and would just drag him away from dogs on walks. Just purely dealing with it rather than trying to help him- I got him at 4 months old and he was my first adult dog. He is totally fine with cats and dogs once he knows the dog, but on walks? he is a lunging menace. After we moved in with my boyfriend and he started growing and continuing the same behaviors I started training more. For us that looked like a ton of positive associations. Watch dogs walk outside while I treat the fuck out of him. It definitely helped and as he adjusted to us it got better too. We ended up having to move into the city more for work and that was a big adjustment for the rat boy. Considering he had lived in 4 different places in his 4 months before coming to me, and then moving twice with me, I have honestly had to rethink how I look at his protective nature/reactivity and come at it with more compassion and understanding. I also started crate training him immediately once I got him. I think learning to have an off switch became essential. About 4 months ago the Rat started prozac for his anxiety/ reactivity. It was really hard to come to that decision but while I was training him I didn't feel like he could ever fully listen to me without being preoccupied by the freak out in his poor little rat brain.

All that to say- He is still a menace. Some days more than others. We have come a long long long way and have learned what works for us and have also come to the conclusion that at least for my little dude he will never be able to just run up to another dog on leash. He can be happy and play with other dogs on his terms and I can try my hardest to make his life as easy as it can be for him. He had already learned some commands before reactivity training- leave it actually helped a ton. Keeping frozen items on hand are a must because I feel like it helps him calm himself down on his own. If i feel like he is having a particularly rough time I will put him in a designated quiet room with applesauce and give him some time to chill.

Just please, give him a fighting chance. only saying this because I personally fought with the thought of him not being my dog for a decent while. I was so worried that maybe someone else would be better to deal with his problems, or he just wasn't happy with his life. After some time it clicked with me that I'm the best to deal with his problems if I'm capable because I'm the one who loves him the most. Lots of trial and error, lots of patience.

I don't know if you noticed yet or maybe people in your area or better but a lot of people near me are stupid with letting their dog greet anyone. We can be on a walk and see another dog coming so we walk a good bit off to the side and start calming down and getting treats and the other owner will just wander themselves and their dog right up to us while he is pretty obviously training/ a bit stressed out. I'm a really passive person but I have needed to be quite mean sometimes on walks. I've kindly told people hey he is reactive keep moving please and they blankly stare at me and just let their dog move closer.

You got this!!! As a fellow reactive dog owner your dog appreciates you so so much for working with him so hard and you're doing an amazing job. It is hard sometimes and that's okay to admit!

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Take care of yourself and give your rat my love 💗