It’s OK That My Dog Doesn’t Want to ‘Say Hi’
Yes, even if your dog is friendly
The reaction I have when I tell someone to please not approach me with their dog varies from anger to hurt. Some assume I am uptight and don’t want my dog to get dirty having a good time; some feel like I don’t understand the nature of their pet. “She’s friendly!” I’ve heard many times called from an owner being dragged by a happy-go-lucky Lab or Cocker Spaniel. But…my dog isn’t. No matter how hard I try. And she’s getting better — with reactive dog training (in a sense, doggie therapy for the dog attacks she experienced as a puppy) and patience, she’s no longer as easily triggered into being ready to attack. But no matter how friendly or sweet YOUR pup is — mine isn’t, at least not with other dogs.
I’ve said this to many people — and had many different responses. Some lecture me that if they were introduced properly, they’d be fine. Sure — but for my dog, being introduced properly isn’t in a public place with your dog running and jumping at her. I already know it’s a bad idea — because I know my dog better than a stranger does. “But we want to socialize him,” is another common one. Socializing your puppy properly is important, and I get it. But unfortunately, as I know well, one bad interaction can give your dog social setbacks or make them paranoid for life — leading to “aggressive”…
