Watch as Craig demonstrates what to do when a stray or loose dog approaches you and your dog out on a walk.
The main goal is to keep your dog safe! To do this, most importanly, make sure that your dog is BEHIND you, and that you are in between your dog and the loose dog at all times during the confrontation. You can yell or be loud, puff yourself up and stomp your foot to claim the space in front and around you.
The more space we claim and the more intense we are, the more likely the loose dog is to respect your strength and space in hopes that it will retreat or run away.
As he describes, having a stick can be helpful in establishing space between you and the loose dog. Carrying an air sprayer or air horn can also help to scare the stray dog away.
Another important thing to remember is that whatever you do, DO NOT RUN. Dogs are prey driven animals and if you run, they will chase! It is imperative that you stand your ground and claim your space rather than to retreat.
The key element here is making sure that you keep yourself in between your dog and the loose dog. Keeping your dog safe is paramount when it comes to maintaining trust between you and your dog. Allowing your pup to be attacked in this scenario can put a huge rift in your relationship and can manifest into trust issues that will take much time to repair and regain. A strong pack leader always protects their pack and our dogs rely on us for their safety!
Use these tactics if ever approached by a stray or loose dog on a walk and keep your dogs safe!
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