u/Due-Professor8834

I ordered this Big Snoof muzzle for my stranger reactive dog. After sending in measurements and photos, this was the standard size they recommended. Does it look okay? He can take treats through it. I guess it makes sense, but I didn't realize it would wiggle up and down? I've tightened the chin strap and can fit about 1-2 fingers under it. And the neck strap is now as tight as it goes.

My beautiful boy is a great pyr/Aussie mix. I thought he was a pit/border collie mix when I adopted him until the DNA test so I knew nothing about guardian breeds before this and have been learning so much as we go. He's about 1.5 years old now.

We've done tons of formal training, he even got his CGC when he was just under a year old, his recall is great, we have 3 young kids and 2 cats and he's great with them all. I have been socializing him and taking him every where with me since I got him. We have a few friends with dogs and he is great with all dogs he's met so far.

Since he's turned about 1, he started with selective stranger danger/reactivity though and it's scary when it happens. He has such a big bark and can get that barky/lungey vibe. It seems to be very specifically when we are out and about and someone approaches us. If we are hiking, and people walk by and say hi, he's fine. But someone saw my friend and I taking a photo the other day on a hike and he was about to walk over to volunteer to take a picture of all of us and my dog said ABSOLUTELY NOT.

Another example- was at a cafe and eating outside, dog was in a relaxed down, head down and all, and a man approached the table unexpectedly and asked if he could pet the dog, to which the dog again said ,ABSOLUTELY NOT.

Will he outgrow this intense reaction to strangers approaching? Again, he's fine at walks at a busy park, he's fine in dog friendly stores, he's fine sleeping while I drink a coffee outside. But if someone unexpectedly approaches, he jumps to defend mode.

How can I help him? Or do I just accept this is part of his genetics ?