Reactive dog help
Hi! Throwaway because I don't want this linked to my main account and I'm relatively new to reddit so this might be a little messy!
For context I am F27 and have a reactive mixed breed dog. I think he might be shepherd mix. Not giant but not small either, like the size of a male showline Australian shepherd.
I live in Europe so I can't go and buy an E-collar or prong collar.
I live alone and he is so sweet toward people he trusts! But having guests over is a nightmare. He is so stressed with guests (tail down, panting, low posture, avoiding guests. If the guest goes to pet or interact with him he nips at them.)
I got him a muzzle but I don't feel good about having guests over just cause it stresses him so much. The muzzle makes the guests safe but it doesn't make him feel safe.
When outside he is reactive to dogs, a dog attacked him (not badly, just a scuffle at a beach) and after that he has gone nuts at the sight of pits or lab looking dogs. (Bonus points if the dog is dark colored..).
Problem is, since he is pretty large I sometimes have to wrap the leash around a pole to easily keep him from dragging me down. I can handle him but I'm afraid that one day after a hard day after work on a walk the leash will slip and he damages someone or something. I do muzzle him on longer walks but he still could muzzle punch someone.
I've been doing force free methods to change his feelings about dogs, and I think it's working? But the progress is soooo slow.
The second he sees a dog he gets a treat. No reaction? Treat. He looks at the dog and is silent? Treat.
Sometimes he acts like a perfectly trained dog, honestly he is smart and I think he might be just begging for treats using behaviour I've rewarded to get the treats.
But then sometimes if the dog looks at him then he reacts despite him doing well before.
It's a dice roll, do I get the trained dog or a reactive one?
Don't get me wrong, I am so proud but I fear the progress will be gone in an instant if something happens negative with a dog happens.
I'm afraid aversive methods will damage my relationship with him, and I am also worried if he will redirect onto me if I try to prevent him from reacting.
But would aversive methods help him? Should I try "correcting" him?
Am I just spoiling him and he needs to be told "no" or should I keep trying the force free method?