Member-only story
Yes, My Dog is Reactive
Thanks for pointing it out to me …
Rolo was a street dog, came to me covered with ticks at the age of about six months. He got along with all dogs, and started to learn that people = treats. He didn’t like men, though, except for a chosen few who worked hard to earn his trust.
Two months later he hit puberty and decided he was my guardian angel-dog.
I didn’t really need an guardian angel-dog. Still don’t.
He was a nightmare to walk. People would see us a block or two away and turn back rather than walk past us on the street. He convinced my other two dogs that barking at others dogs and people was normal, fun, and awesome.
He went bonkers if I tried to have friends over to my house. He drove a friend out who came to stay. She moved into a hotel, too afraid to leave her bedroom. Another friend stayed a few nights. This guy was great with dogs and he didn’t let Rolo phase him. One evening we sat together on a long couch watching TV. Rolo wedged his butt against me on the couch and sat faced my friend, staring him down, totally on guard. I was protected. Completely unnecessarily, but he was going to protect me no matter what.
About a year ago, I was walking all my dogs in an early attempt to figure out how that could work, and a man passed us on the sidewalk, jogging. Rolo…
