#walkingyourdog

. Dang it, I should have put this one up for Valentines Day. . . #haddonfield #michaelmyers #jasonvoorhees #slasher #slashermovies #drloomis #pajamas #horror #horrormovies #horrorfan #halloween1978 #fridaythe13th #cutehorror #horrorcartoon #pamelavoorhees #loveisintheair #chanceencounter #childleash #walkingyourdog #bluesweater https://www.instagram.com/p/B9UVxuwjAjL/?igshid=1dce0c4w43rzv

My. Life. #runningwiththedevil #doglife #walkingyourdog #squirrel

You expect me to walk ? #funny #walkingyourdog (at Washington Square Park)

This is a reminder that negative situations don't need to remain negative and can always be learning experiences. I was walking my dog at one of my favorite walking spots. We had walked by many dogs already, some pulling their owners along, some barking at my dog, some perfectly well behaved. Due to her status as a rehabilitated aggression case and a victim of multiple attacks, I utilize my switch command, calming conversation, and good leashwork to ensure good behavior passing by dogs. Most days go by with perfect behavior. However, on this walk, one person was walking towards us with her large dog on a long extended leash. Nothing I don't walk by everyday. The dog pricked up its ears and postured up aggressively at mine. No big deal, I told my female "ears down" and we gave some space walking by to ensure respect. However this idiot ignorant owner let her dog go right into my dog's face, despite the fact that I obviously trying to NOT confront her dog, despite the fact I was carrying a large walking stick, and despite the fact that her dog was displaying aggressive behavior. The owner placidly let her dog pull across the small road and right into my females face-- it raised its head and growled as it tried to jump on top of my dog. My female reacted and lunged. I instantly lifted UP on her collar, (never pulling straight back) and walked into her space as I brought her into a swift sit position. I leaned over her as I firmly but calmly (NEVER yell as it makes you have less control) told her "Absolutely not, you know better". I always advocate saying exactly what you mean, as your words carry more weight that way. The other person had scurried away, no apology, no correction to her dog, another clueless owner trying to avoid the situation. I called after them to no avail. Normally I would ask the owner to redo the situation or to walk with me to heal the situation and leave my dog with a positive experience, but the owner was not going to be helpful in this case. But I still was able to work leadership skills despite the absence of that owner. I asked my female to do three or four automatic "downs"and three or four "stays". She knew she was in trouble, but I wasn't correcting in efforts to make her cower or afraid of me. Ethics aside, it would just have made her trust me less, and trust is the key point in these situations. Once she was calm, attentive, and respectful, we resumed our walk as if nothing had happened, although she would lick my hand every minute to let me know "oops, Mom". The very next dog we had to walk by was also reactive with an ignorant owner. I, having learned from my dog, instantly commanded her to leave it, and she, fresh from the previous experience, completely ignored the dog and trusted me to handle the situation. You can't always get other owners to help you heal a bad experience. But you can stay calm, firm, and learn from every experience to get better....trust me, you will have an opportunity to redo it at some point. Learn from your dog, learn together, and you'll leave with a good lesson, increased trust and respect, and all without having to yell or overly punish your dog for making a mistake. Therefore, it was a GOOD experience. That's just another reason why I love my dog. She is no "push button robot"....she is an animal and every situation can be different. She will always remind me to learn, to be in the moment, and to communicate the right way, no matter what happens.