r/ReactiveDogHelp

So I have an older dog, he was a rescue and has some ptsd from before I got him. I have been training him but I can’t figure out how to train him so he doesn’t get annoyed by people and children. He’s good with kids I know and have been around me but when strangers pet him and lean over him he growls and has a few times nipped. And I don’t want judgement I’m genuinely trying to help him but he has broken skin a few times they’ve been in our yard when he has so it wasn’t out and about he attacked someone but typically he gives a few warning growls and then nips and sometimes he breaks skin but majority he doesn’t he just gently taps them with his teeth or mouth area. What do I do to help break that cycle? I don’t have the money for like a full on trainer and stuff but I take him places and he’s fine he does have a hard time with other dogs but I keep him at a safe distance and make sure to reward good behavior when he’s interacting with dogs. But when he’s in our yard people just lean over him to pet him and he growls or stays away from them and they don’t listen to the signs he’s giving. I’ve witnessed a few times where my brothers friends will taunt him and stuff and I’ve pulled him out of the situation. But with the nipping and drawing blood how do I help correct that behavior? I’ve done google research but nothing I find helps.. so can someone give me something that you personally know has worked?

Edit: Just to clarify, I do have a muzzle for him and we use it when appropriate. I also currently keep him away from unfamiliar people when they come into our yard because I know there is a bite risk. What I’m asking for is advice on how to actually work on the underlying behavior so that eventually I don’t have to remove him from his own yard every time someone unfamiliar comes over. I’m not looking for advice on how to ignore or excuse the behavior. I’m specifically asking for training techniques that have helped other people with similar reactive dogs.

My BMC went after someone yesterday. She has lunged on walks before and we even paid $2,000 for training. She’s on Prozac as well. She’s going to be 6 in January.

She’s gotten so much better or so I thought. A neighbor wanted to say hi and my dog was so friendly AT FIRST. SHE was the one that went up to him, so happy, he bends down to pet and she went after him. Technically she didn’t bite but she ripped his sleeve off his shirt. The guy said it was okay but I still felt so bad. I offered my info. She didn’t break skin or bite but if he didn’t have that sleeve…

I felt HORRIBLE. I went home and sobbed and just felt so defeated and disappointed in her. She will no longer approach people on walks I’m aware. I’m going to muzzle train her now but I’m so anxious because we’re moving soon the neighbors have kids but we have no fence in the new house.

Now do I have to be worried about her there’s of her life?! How do I get past this?

Posting this as an example of how force free and positive only training make people believe that their dog cannot be changed. A balanced trainer can sort this out in less than a month and more often than not in just a couple sessions. But positive only adherents want you to believe that you have to put up with this for years and years and years because it's impossible to change it. Well, you don't and it's not.

Why do they want you to believe this? Personally I think it's because they can squeeze every last dime out of you if you take lessons from them for years and years and years and the slower your progress, the more money for them. They will earnestly tell you that it's a long process because it is good for their bank account.

Don't fall for it, and don't fall for the fallacy of taking advice about reactive dog training from people with reactive dogs of their own. If they knew what they were talking about, they wouldn't have a reactive dog anymore.