A dog's need for space and choice

This is a really interesting article, especially for those of us with nervous/reactive dogs but something to think about for everyone

https://positively.com/contributors/safety-first-why-spatial-issues-can-create-reactivity/

It's so true, we expect our dogs to want to go and meet everyone and be greeted by inept humans patting (hitting?) them on the head, towering over them and forcing their way into the dog's space. We want them to like every dog they meet, even if the others are full on or in groups. Would I want to have this forced on me? No way!

I know this might really belong in Training and Behaviour but not everyone goes in there.

read this a great read

Great post Liz People need to understand this way of thinking!

that's a good article - I like Victoria Stilwell.

Really helpful article especially for understanding how I can support Sox.

Thanks Liz!

That's a good read Liz. The article relates to me & Flo quiet well in that if she is unsure of how to react when over the park she will look to me and her Stix as a source of reassurance (her Stix is more important than me). She will very noticeably take a wide path around groups of dogs a dog that she isn't happy with.

The piece that I hadn't noticed with Flo was the "giving space" bit. We all do expect our dogs to be happy greeting people but having read that article perhaps it should be her choice.