01/09/2026
I play in dog sports and I train A LOT. My particular sport is 3 sports in one and requires a serious level of training if you want the scores. 2-3 times a week I drive to Buffalo to train regardless of weather. Today I stood in rain and slogged through a field of standing water to train “c phase” , protection. A phase is tracking that’s on hold until spring B phase is obedience that’s an all year game. I’m sure many of you have seen me training my dog, Bjorn, in the little park by work. I have goals and dreams to fufill. About two weeks ago I was getting my dog out of the car to go clean and train obedience. I heard one of our increasingly reactive dogs leaving. I waited in the parking lot. The owner came down the sidewalk and cut into the parking lot letting her dog who was barking non stop come straight at my dog. Obviously they are oblivious to the dogs defensive behavior because they stood there with a smile 🤦♀️ At the same time another owner lost the leash of their reactive dog who now charged us aggressively. He took one whiff of the in tact, confident, 85 lb male German shepherd and thought his original decision was a poor one. Luckily my dude is very confident and was cool through this. HOWEVER this can plant seeds and in a timid dog the outcome could be they in turn become reactive and defensive. In another defensive dog the out come could be injury for all dogs involved. And you know what gets you dismissed from a trial? Reactivity. So yeah hours, miles, money I’m not tossing that away. Ignoring reactivity does not make it go away. Ignoring reactivity and letting your reactive dog march up to other dogs is frankly just not cool. I don’t care what size it is. Years ago I rescued a dog that unbeknownst to me had terrible leash reactivity. A 17 pound Boston Terrier. It was incredibly embarassing. But I kept going to classes. She got better never great and I managed that dogs behavior for 14 years. But I always worked at it! Ask for a trainer referral and at least try. I may not always have a persons best interest at heart in these sutuations but I always have the dogs.
