LPT: If your dog runs up to someone and they ask you to call the dog back, your first response should be "HERE!" or whatever your recall cue is, not "Why?", "He just wants to play" or "It's okay he's friendly".

I have a reactive dog. He’s been attacked multiple times in the past, he’s fine with my other dog and that’s really the only dog he’s ever around because of his reactivity. I was out walking him once, coming back towards my house and a person with a dog is walking in our direction.. we are about 10 feet from my door and my dog was upset. Me trying to avoid a problem asked this person to step back and give us some space so I can take him inside. This person developed a shit eating grin, and kept inching forward towards us, saying “here?” …. “Here??” While acting like it’s all a joke. I felt like I was being blocked from going into my own house and being bullied by this person. It was extremely stressful and I could not believe a grown adult was behaving this way. I only asked them to step back a few feet so I can have space to take him into my house. After a back and forth, I got frustrated, walked around the corner and waited for them to pass while I was absolutely fuming pissed off at this person. This person passes and turns around and says “have you tried not having a mean dog? It makes life a lot easier!!”…. Like for fucking serious?! I lost it and shouted back at them that my dog had been abused before I got him and had been attacked.. I heard a half hearted “yeah whatever” before storming into my house. I have anxiety and I can’t stand confrontation. I was left shaking and mad. I felt like I really tried to do the responsible thing and avoid a potential problem and this person behaved like a child and proceeded to blame my dog without knowing me or my dog… it simple. He doesn’t like other dogs, he gets upset and reacts when he sees other dogs, especially a few feet away from him. I absolutely could not believe something so ridiculous happened to me… I was nice and trying to be courteous and it felt like this person had spit in my face for it. Nothing matters more than the safety of mine and others dogs to me. I am alert and cautious whenever I go out with him, and I was so absolutely frustrated by this persons behavior.

/r/LifeProTips Thread