This week, Denver was attacked by an off-leash dog.
Thankfully, quick action from a fellow service dog trainer prevented the situation from becoming much worse, but incidents like this can have a lasting impact on a young service dog in training.
In this video, I break down exactly what happened, show footage from the encounter, and discuss how I handle reactive and off-leash dogs while working with a young service dog. You'll also see another training example where Denver and I were surprised by a reactive dog at a fence line and how we recovered in the moment.
We'll cover: • What happened during the off-leash dog incident • Why repeated encounters with loose dogs can create long-term problems • How I help a young dog recover after being startled • Defensive handling strategies for service dog teams • When to lower criteria and give your dog a break • Why resilience and recovery are critical traits for service dogs
Whether you have a service dog, service dog in training, or pet dog, these situations are unfortunately common—and knowing how to respond can make a big difference.
Have you ever dealt with an off-leash or reactive dog while working your dog? Let me know in the comments.
**As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Click on the above link to support the creation of these videos at no cost to you. I receive a small payment even if you don't purchase the products shown here.
