Many owners of reactive, anxious or simply on-lead dogs tell me the same thing:
“It’s not the dogs that exhaust me — it’s the people.” 😔

Loose dogs rushing up.
Recall that doesn’t happen.
Comments like “they’re friendly”, “they’re only young” or “this is a safe place”.

If this sounds familiar, here’s something important to remember 👇

You are not responsible for teaching strangers how to manage their dogs.

In those moments, your job is not to:

• Win an argument
• Change someone’s mindset
• Deliver a training lesson
• Get approval or understanding

Your job is to set a clear boundary and protect your dog 🛡️

That can sound calm and simple:

• “Please call your dog away.”
• “My dog needs space.”
• “Dogs on lead shouldn’t be approached.”

If recall isn’t happening, it’s okay to be firmer without being confrontational:

• “This isn’t safe for us.”
• “My dog isn’t comfortable with dogs approaching on lead.”
• “I need you to keep your dog away from us.”

These statements aren’t about blame.
They’re about safety and clarity 🧠

Here’s the hard truth: most people won’t learn in that moment. Defensiveness or sarcasm often means they’ve had this conversation before and aren’t ready to change. That can be frustrating — especially when you care deeply about welfare and training.

So let go of the idea that you have to educate.
Focus instead on boundaries.

Boundaries don’t need agreement.
They don’t need gratitude.
They don’t need a long explanation.

They just need to be clear — and then you disengage 🚶‍♀️

If you speak up, advocate for your dog and walk away, you’ve done enough.
If you say very little and simply create distance, you’ve done enough.

Protecting your dog’s emotional and physical safety is what matters — not whether a stranger takes your words on board ❤️

If you’re feeling tired of these encounters, you’re not alone. Many thoughtful, responsible owners experience the same thing. Be kind to yourself — this is hard.

Your dog doesn’t need you to be polite at all costs.
They need you to be clear, calm and on their side 🐾