The Etiquettes of dog walking.
The nice weather is finally here, and more people are getting out walking their dog. From the number of calls I have been getting, people who have been struggling with teaching their dog to walk on a leash, are now finding that the world has gotten even more exciting for their dog; white rabbits that pop out of nowhere; squirrels that run along the fences; cyclists and joggers getting out now that the snow and ice is gone; lots of friendly people; and more people out walking their dogs.Â
As friendly as my dog is, he is learning that he cannot Go Say HI to everyone, even though the people may appear to be very nice and smiling; and even though they might have good treats in their pocket; even though they might also be walking a friendly, excited dog.Â
It's a process teaching him how to walk on a loose leash so I am out every day. And because I am out so much I am starting to get to know my fellow dog walkers. We smile and from across the street, or from the end of the block as they turn to take a different route, but because we have this unspoken pact, we keep our distance. We do this for different reasons, one has a young, excited yellow lab, another has a reactive German Shepherd, some just want to go for a walk.Â
Giving our fellow dog walkers some space is one of those unspoken rules of dog walking etiquette and they are nice things to practice. Dog Walking etiquettes are unwritten social rules that are common in the dog trainers or dog sports enthusiast world, but may not be something others know. For example, if you have never golfed in your life there are rules that are not as obvious to the new player, such as the person with the best score on the last hole hits first on the next hole; never cross in front of another persons putting line to the hole; don't talk while another person is hitting. There might be a golf manual out there that tells us this, but I guarantee most of us have not read it when we first step onto the golf course. There certainly isn't any manual for walking your dog either, especially if you are new to the dog walking neighborhood.
What are some dog walking etiquettes?
Give the other dog walker some space. Even if you have that great dog who walks really well on leash, step over as far as you can, especially if you see the them making an effort to stay out of your lane. Stepping away a few feet might be a big relief to them and to their dog as they work through the training process. Some owners are not even aware that their dog is struggling, so I give them space, if even for their dog's sake.
Let others know what direction you are going. If you see someone hesitating, there is a good chance its to let you pass, its helpful, with a little hand signal to point out the direction you are going.  If I am training at street corners, I will often use my whole body to signal to drivers of cars that I am not crossing the street, and I do this by stepping away from the crosswalk to avoid them slowing down and stopping.
Don't come up fast behind another dog. If I see the dog looking back at us as we approach from behind, and the handler has yet to notice us, I'll slow down or move to the middle or other side of the road to give their dog the space he wished he had.Â
Give up the sidewalk to the pedestrian. I know, it's a public sidewalk, but I can't tell you how many dogs lunge at the last minute not as an intended aggression towards the person, but as an attempt to sniff the stranger as they pass or solicit some pets. I also know that there are just as many people who are really fearful of dogs. If there is an incident, most often the owner is just as surprised when it happens. For both prevention and as a great training exercise for your dog, step off the path and reward your dog for being calm.
In our town the paths are shared with bikes and pedestrians. As much as I think all cyclists should have bells to alert people that they are coming up fast behind them - they don't. If you are using a flexible leash, you are responsible for paying attention to where your dog is. Secondly, your dog might appreciate you moving them away from those zooming tires.
Meet and greets on leash. Don't assume that other people want their dog to meet your dog. Stop and talk with the person first, then have the discussion about letting the dogs meet. Meeting other dogs on leash can go badly really fast. You want to know if the dogs are calm, and that one of you has a good recall. If you are the one asking if the dogs can meet, don't be offended if the person says 'No thankyou'!
Leave your judgements and advice to other dogs and handlers at home. I have worked with some dogs that are amazing to walk with very little training. And I have worked with other clients that spend a lots of time working through their dogs issues. What you cannot tell from a 30-second passing on the street, is how far that dog has come.
From me 'A big thankyou to my wonderful dog walking neighbors who see me coming with my young teenage, excited dog and give us a little more space. My dog is not a bad dog; he’s not aggressive, or fearful of the other dogs, he’s simply really excited to see other dogs and people out on our walks,. For him, it's like the world is filled with potential playmates. Unfortunately, for him, it's not play time, and he is learning to distinguish the difference one step at a time'.
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