[TiggerBounce]

Have you considered getting a muzzle and muzzle training her? I know it's frustrating. But ultimately, you still are responsible for preventing your dog from biting, even if they do come super close like that with no warning.

I've taken Tigger to some cities and towns where it's basically inevitable for that to happen. There's traffic, side walks can get crowded, and your dog has to be ok with people zooming by on foot, bike, skateboard, with other dogs or not....VERY close too, in the dogs space. And nobody thinks or even considers the possibility that your dog may react or lunge or bite, because if it might, then it's consensus that you shouldn't be taking it out to busy areas like that in the first place.

 

[TiggerBounce]

Maybe it's just your area?

Idk. I've never, anywhere I've been in CA or even Utah, had a runner give me a heads up before running by me from behind. Whether my dog was with me or not. Same with bikers or people on skateboards. That's why it's weird for me to expect a warning, or say that not doing so is discourteous. To me, what he did is perfectly normal and what I expect.

 

[TiggerBounce]

Yeah I know the op intentionally tries to walk in less populated areas and be strategic so she'd less likely to encounter things that will trigger her dog. Of course if a bite does happen then the owner is still to blame no matter what. I have a dog I never wal because of reactivity. I'm very doubtful she'd ever bite anybody. But she's a big gsd. I don't need people being frightened by her.

 

[TiggerBounce]

100% agree with @PoppyKenna. I was a little confused with some of the responses.. I've always thought it was common sense/courtesy to give pedestrians a wide birth or warning when coming from behind regardless if they have a dog. I know not all people are going to do this, but that doesn't mean it's okay..

My dog can be motion reactive, so if someone decides to whiz by, there's a chance he might react (ie bark and lunge with the intention of chasing not biting). It's part of his herding instinct and there's no way I'm going to muzzle him for that.. From what I'be read , it sounds like Tessa reacted similarly.

This is all just so crazy to me because that is so NORMAL here LOL. I've never thought of it as rude or anything like that. It's a public sidewalk. Oh well. I guess it's at least a heads up to know that you can't always expect people to give wide births or warnings from behind. I know some of the places where I've taken Tigger, there's no way a reactive dog could handle it. People automatically expect your dog to be perfectly fine...You brought it in public, so they assume it's not going to react or bite or lunge at them. If it does, then you get dirty looks from everybody.

 

[TiggerBounce]

It's GOTTA be cultural/regional if some of us are looking at this situation and going "WOW how rude!!!" and others are just like "ummm, that's normal??" lol.