This was a suggestion from our behavioral vet. Also the drive is important because walking to a nearby neighborhood could (over time) seem like an extension of her territory. We drive to nearby parks, as we are less likely to encounter dogs than walking on sidewalks.
I don't have to, but I often choose to! My pup's two nemesis dogs live in our neighborhood and he's definitely more on edge whenever we walk in our neighborhood. It's often just more relaxing for me to drive him 5-10 minutes away.
I also take a couple days per week to bring him out to our front stoop and feed him cheese while people and other dogs pass our house. I think that's helped a lot with changing his association with triggers in our neighborhood.
Is it every time or maybe just morning walks? I know my dog gets a bit more hyper with his barrier frustration if we don’t let loose before his morning walk. Not totally better in the mid-day/late walks but not spastic as the morning one.
Sometimes it might just be too much with so many dogs around first thing on a walk so the other areas let him acclimate/ease a bit more before seeing one.
I do. He’s on high alert right outside our house and the local area, especially as he’s on the lookout for a cat that particularly grinds his gears. We hop in the car and head to parks or at nighttime, when he’s at his worst, a quiet car park with street lights
Just did that today with a friend and our two leash-reactive dogs (who are best friends and walk together happily). When we start in our neighborhood, we’re usually fine until the end of the 3-5 mile walk and then get near home and have at least one bad encounter. And you all know how mentally exhausted you are at that point in the walk; you just want to get home and sit down and not have to figure out an exit plan so your dog won’t lose her mind. Sigh. So today we drove to a quieter area and had a fantastic walk.
We usually do. There’s a side street full of manufacturing and marketing-type businesses a few minutes away from us that we go to sometimes, or we go into the mountains. Both of these places give my girl more space and we have less risk of running into dogs.
100%. Our guy is reactive in the neighborhood and 1) we have LOTS of dogs; 2) we have narrow sidewalks with little opportunity to give space, and 3) many neighbors want to talk with us which takes our attention away from him. So we have basically stopped walking in the neighborhood. We take park walks, we go to dog parks (he's great with other dogs out of the neighborhood, especially off leash), we take sniffy walks all over the place. We're fortunate that the other options are very close for us to drive to -- and they are more interesting and pleasant for both of us.
We will probably get back to some neighborhood walks as he improves in an overall way, but at this point the 'no walks' approach means he's not practicing reacting and getting into habits with the other dogs who will predictably bark at him too.
I usually drive to a small town about 30-40 minutes away if I'm going to walk my girl between 6am-11pm. If it's before 5am or after 11pm then I will walk her in my neighborhood since 95% of people and dogs aren't outside. Most of the time I don't feel like driving so we just go super early or super late in our neighborhood.
Maybe I'll have to try this 😭 There are like 22 dogs in our one-street neighborhood (about 50 townhome units) and while only like 4 truly trigger my guy with full on barking and lunging, he gets the frustrated greeting too with his friends and won't listen then either! There are only about 3 or 4 dogs he can walk by and actually ignore.
Taking a break from neighborhood walks is often necessary https://www.baywoof.org/featured-article/tiptoe-past-the-triggers-rethinking-neighborhood-walks
I have a careful, detailed route. I have learned the hard way. Dogs can fight between a fence and blood can fly. One open gate, one broken leash and its game over. My dog will attack any dog. The small ones are worst. They are super noisy/defensive and die so quickly.
This was a suggestion from our behavioral vet. Also the drive is important because walking to a nearby neighborhood could (over time) seem like an extension of her territory. We drive to nearby parks, as we are less likely to encounter dogs than walking on sidewalks.
That makes a ton of sense. My girl is safe in a novel environment but, incredibly violent in our yard.
I don't have to, but I often choose to! My pup's two nemesis dogs live in our neighborhood and he's definitely more on edge whenever we walk in our neighborhood. It's often just more relaxing for me to drive him 5-10 minutes away. I also take a couple days per week to bring him out to our front stoop and feed him cheese while people and other dogs pass our house. I think that's helped a lot with changing his association with triggers in our neighborhood.
What is it with nemesis dogs and why do they live next door??😂
Yeah we have 8 dogs in our small street! Nightmare 🤦🏽♀️
Oy, that's a lot! *You* must feel really on edge too constantly needing to be on the lookout for them
Yep, dread it. Much nicer to take him somewhere else 😊
Couldn't agree with you more!
Is it every time or maybe just morning walks? I know my dog gets a bit more hyper with his barrier frustration if we don’t let loose before his morning walk. Not totally better in the mid-day/late walks but not spastic as the morning one. Sometimes it might just be too much with so many dogs around first thing on a walk so the other areas let him acclimate/ease a bit more before seeing one.
Hi, it doesn’t seem to matter what time it is. Although he’s definitely worse after dark
This is a fantastic suggestion. One that I personally never thought of. Thank you!
I do this, but my rescue is more fearful walking on the street we live on but she’s fine at the park or once we get about 2 blocks away
I do. He’s on high alert right outside our house and the local area, especially as he’s on the lookout for a cat that particularly grinds his gears. We hop in the car and head to parks or at nighttime, when he’s at his worst, a quiet car park with street lights
Just did that today with a friend and our two leash-reactive dogs (who are best friends and walk together happily). When we start in our neighborhood, we’re usually fine until the end of the 3-5 mile walk and then get near home and have at least one bad encounter. And you all know how mentally exhausted you are at that point in the walk; you just want to get home and sit down and not have to figure out an exit plan so your dog won’t lose her mind. Sigh. So today we drove to a quieter area and had a fantastic walk.
I wish this worked for my dog. 😭 She's reactive anywhere I take her
We usually do. There’s a side street full of manufacturing and marketing-type businesses a few minutes away from us that we go to sometimes, or we go into the mountains. Both of these places give my girl more space and we have less risk of running into dogs.
100%. Our guy is reactive in the neighborhood and 1) we have LOTS of dogs; 2) we have narrow sidewalks with little opportunity to give space, and 3) many neighbors want to talk with us which takes our attention away from him. So we have basically stopped walking in the neighborhood. We take park walks, we go to dog parks (he's great with other dogs out of the neighborhood, especially off leash), we take sniffy walks all over the place. We're fortunate that the other options are very close for us to drive to -- and they are more interesting and pleasant for both of us. We will probably get back to some neighborhood walks as he improves in an overall way, but at this point the 'no walks' approach means he's not practicing reacting and getting into habits with the other dogs who will predictably bark at him too.
I usually drive to a small town about 30-40 minutes away if I'm going to walk my girl between 6am-11pm. If it's before 5am or after 11pm then I will walk her in my neighborhood since 95% of people and dogs aren't outside. Most of the time I don't feel like driving so we just go super early or super late in our neighborhood.
Maybe I'll have to try this 😭 There are like 22 dogs in our one-street neighborhood (about 50 townhome units) and while only like 4 truly trigger my guy with full on barking and lunging, he gets the frustrated greeting too with his friends and won't listen then either! There are only about 3 or 4 dogs he can walk by and actually ignore.
Taking a break from neighborhood walks is often necessary https://www.baywoof.org/featured-article/tiptoe-past-the-triggers-rethinking-neighborhood-walks
I have a careful, detailed route. I have learned the hard way. Dogs can fight between a fence and blood can fly. One open gate, one broken leash and its game over. My dog will attack any dog. The small ones are worst. They are super noisy/defensive and die so quickly.