Pulling towards people then barking

Hi all,

I'm after some advice again please. When we first had Misty back in Feb she was never walked or socialised so it took a while for her not to be scared of anything and everything. Our walks used to consist of her barking at anything. Nowadays she is just a different dog, people can honk their horns or shout and she ignores pretty much everything. However she has now recently acquired a new thing with certain people when we are on walks or in the park she will pull and pull towards them. As she is pulling to meet them the people always try to stroke her and talk to her(as I would if a dog was pulling to say hello to me) as soon as they do she starts to bark at them! It's quite upsetting as the people seem so shocked especially as most of them would have walked past ignoring us but only stop as Misty is pulling to say hello. I have tried the watch command and sit but when she is pulling it falls on deaf ears. She doesn't do it to everyone but it can be totally random. I took her for a walk with my friend and his retriever the other night and she always completely blanks him but loves his dog! Do you think one way to stop the behavior would be to turn around and finish the walk and go home straight away? I just get the feeling she wants to meet people now but is scared when they acknowledge her. We went to our new training course yesterday, there were so many new dogs there. She did amazingly well, did have a bit of a bark and growl at a greyhound ( gh was doing exactly the same it wasn't one sided) but I think the face to face meeting went on too long. Hubby tried to back away but the greyhound just stayed but they were fine after that, didn't bother each other. Any advice would be welcome.

I would do as you suggested yourself and turn and walk the opposite way but don't end the walk just keep walking in loads of different directions. You'll look barmy but it will keep her focused.

This is similar to what Bug does, but she has occasionally lunged/snapped and is clearly uncomfortable with men. Is there no rhyme/reason to who he barks at? With Bug her worst is generally older men, or anyone with a walking stick, she also doesn't like the sound of high heels. I do as yourself and Hayley have mentioned - cross the road and then ask for a sit/focus. The key is to create space between her and the trigger so that she can practise keeping settled, I had to go very far away initially and at times Bug would put her breaks on and refuse to come with me (which resulted in me luring with food). I only really socialise people with Bug within the home. Occasionally I'll get chatting to someone on a walk, but I ask for a calm sit next to me and don't allow interaction initially. Once she's figured them out from afar I might let her say hello depending on her body language. Bug was the same - fearful at first and then wanting to interact but freaking out when it actually came to it. She's not so fussed now that she's better socialised. Mistakes could potentially be made though, so I would avoid her carrying out this behaviour at all costs.

ah bless her emma i would do and do as advised above , sometimes tae them a wee while to get used to everything after a long about a year training mia i think her previous owner put the fear of god into her about motorbikes she used to go mental even when she seen one don't think i was purely the noise. today she just looked as to say oh its that noisy thing never thought id ever get the stage shes at the now bless her. id take things day by day with misty .xx