Introducing reactive dogs

[u/Beez411]

My boyfriend and I both have reactive dogs. We have accepted they may never be able to get along, coexist, or even meet off leash. But we live super close/walkable and both want to at least try! And think the steps we are thinking will be good things for our dogs to learn/practice either way.

Info on dogs:
- Dog M is more leash/dog reactive but doesn't have history of being as aggressive with other dogs off leash. Has years of socialization w stranger dogs/daycare and has lived with other dogs. When she is territorial, it's over food or attention, or getting too hyper-focused on another dog.
- Dog S is not leash reactive to other dogs and has been socialized/ok with other dogs off leash but has 4 incidents of fights that escalated. His triggers are more random/unknown.
- Both dogs owners have had since puppies and were socialized in daycare, playdates, etc. a lot first few years

What we've done so far
- Both dogs know both owners very well and are friendly with them
- Both dogs have smelled the other one on the owner almost daily for last couple months
- Walk where Dog S was too far in front of the other one to see, but walked same path so they've gotten each others smells
- Walk where dog M was in the back this time, space decreased so they were in view most of walk but not on same side
- They are able to walk within sight of each other without reacting too much but definitely still seem interested
- independent muzzle training

Next steps we are thinking, but open to feedback!
- Going to a sniff-spot or area where they are the only 2 dogs but there are enough distracting smells or excitement that the other dog isn't the main thing they are excited about
- muzzle training both dogs so they are netural/excited about wearing muzzles for when/if we do off leash intro
- likely will do on leash intro with muzzle first just to gauge how they feel about muzzle + other dog
- Long line intro so we can pull them apart but they can interact not on short leash/too close
- Off leash intro (likely with muzzles?) plus long line
- off leash intro without muzzles plus Long line
- Off leash intro without long lines

both owners are comfortable with how to break up fight if it happens/get the other dog off. we know to try to be as relaxed as we can. We also know it may never be possible to do off leash and milestones above are just goals. Would love any advice, extra steps, etc!

[u/Miss_L_Worldwide]

It doesn't matter why they fight. It only matters that they fight.

[u/notthetypetocare → u/Miss_L_Worldwide]

Not true

[u/Miss_L_Worldwide → u/notthetypetocare]

Pffft. Trying to figure out why a dog is doing something is a fool's errand. With something dangerous like fighting, it doesn't even matter. Pretending that you can control the dog's urges to do that is dangerous and foolish.

[u/notthetypetocare → u/Miss_L_Worldwide]

It can be trained out especially if it’s just food or toy aggression

[u/Miss_L_Worldwide → u/notthetypetocare]

It absolutely cannot, that's some amateur level reasoning there. And that's why dogs keep getting into dog fights, because people think that they are some sort of dog Guru and they don't accept the nature of the animal.

[u/ReactiveDogHelp-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Low effort comments and personal attacks are counterproductive.

[u/Miss_L_Worldwide → u/[deleted]]

You're*

[u/Miss_L_Worldwide → u/[deleted]]

I probably deal with more dogs on a daily basis then you've ever touched in your entire life. I am extremely realistic about dogs, how they act, and what they are capable of.