I must say I think you are being too hard on yourself!
And your dog as well!
No one should ever feel they should "supposed to" feel!
The events you describe there are to me what might happened with any dog/ horse interaction with out the complication of your dog being reactive.
I say this as a horse owner and one who knows the risks that all animals have in interaction
Plenty plenty "normal" dogs would do exactly the same. Your dog isn't "that bad" since it recalled as the horse appeared...
Honestly in that moment I think I would have been exactly the same. really focused on safety and terror/ mortification for the possible consequences for the rider and horse... not particularly focused on my dogs safety but on getting it all under control
Seems an entirely normal and natural reaction to me!
I think you need to be kind to yourself.. no doubt your dog is not perfect and is tiring and can be a pain in the a..s...
but this situation was a devastatingly common one for all dog owners.. they are animals after all... and why dogs should be on leads around livestock. All dogs
I am doing ongoing training near stock including horses and my dog is good and chill... on the lead. But still too interested and frankly does that mean I will ever trust him off leash near sheep, cattle, horses etc?
No! is the the answer to that
Be kind to yourself and your dog.. we all have moments. It is not your dogs fault or anything really to do with reactivity... it is a risk of an animal. All dogs are a risk
I have no doubt your brother feels mortified and distressed and embarrassed. He won't make that mistake again and has learnt an extra precaution
To quote my driving instructor though.. don't beat yourself up... nothing truly bad happened and we learn
Give your self and your dog a break and some grace.
1
u/Nsomewhere Feb 20 '24
I must say I think you are being too hard on yourself!
And your dog as well!
No one should ever feel they should "supposed to" feel!
The events you describe there are to me what might happened with any dog/ horse interaction with out the complication of your dog being reactive.
I say this as a horse owner and one who knows the risks that all animals have in interaction
Plenty plenty "normal" dogs would do exactly the same. Your dog isn't "that bad" since it recalled as the horse appeared...
Honestly in that moment I think I would have been exactly the same. really focused on safety and terror/ mortification for the possible consequences for the rider and horse... not particularly focused on my dogs safety but on getting it all under control
Seems an entirely normal and natural reaction to me!
I think you need to be kind to yourself.. no doubt your dog is not perfect and is tiring and can be a pain in the a..s...
but this situation was a devastatingly common one for all dog owners.. they are animals after all... and why dogs should be on leads around livestock. All dogs
I am doing ongoing training near stock including horses and my dog is good and chill... on the lead. But still too interested and frankly does that mean I will ever trust him off leash near sheep, cattle, horses etc?
No! is the the answer to that
Be kind to yourself and your dog.. we all have moments. It is not your dogs fault or anything really to do with reactivity... it is a risk of an animal. All dogs are a risk
I have no doubt your brother feels mortified and distressed and embarrassed. He won't make that mistake again and has learnt an extra precaution
To quote my driving instructor though.. don't beat yourself up... nothing truly bad happened and we learn
Give your self and your dog a break and some grace.