DH and I took the dogs for a walk at a trail in a park that is on-leash only. As we were almost to the end of the trail, there was a guy in the parking lot with a loose lab. the dog came FLYING over the bridge at us. jack and I were and front, and while Jack is fine with other dogs, Sally is reactive and has gotten in a scuffle with a black lab that that was off leash and ran up to her before.
Since the dog was coming right for us the only thing I could think to do was yell--I yelled at the owner (who was still in the parking lot and NOT even attempting to recall his dog) and then yelled repeatedly at the dog to "GO HOME!!" (the only thing I could think to yell), and pointed away from us until the dog ran back to his owner, who then leashed him.
Sally reacted more strongly to this dog than I think I've seen her react to any dog. Unfortunately my husband didn't just turn her around and walk her away from the situation in the first place and I couldn't get her to calm down until we got to the car.
I feel like my yelling upset her more than usual but I didn't know what else to do--I couldn't think of another way to get the dog away.
Did I over react? Was there something else we could have tried?
Since the dog was coming right for us the only thing I could think to do was yell--I yelled at the owner (who was still in the parking lot and NOT even attempting to recall his dog) and then yelled repeatedly at the dog to "GO HOME!!" (the only thing I could think to yell), and pointed away from us until the dog ran back to his owner, who then leashed him.
Sally reacted more strongly to this dog than I think I've seen her react to any dog. Unfortunately my husband didn't just turn her around and walk her away from the situation in the first place and I couldn't get her to calm down until we got to the car.
I feel like my yelling upset her more than usual but I didn't know what else to do--I couldn't think of another way to get the dog away.
Did I over react? Was there something else we could have tried?