DOG WALKING TIPS AND ETIQUETTE
During my 10+ years of petsitting and dogwalking I have been pulled down, dragged through grass and trees, tripped over, jumped on, knocked down, and gotten skinned knees and bruises galore. And now that I have an 80 lb. dog of my own that gets super excited when he sees another dog on a walk, I thought it was time to write about the proper etiquette of walking a dog and give some tips for when we walk with our dogs.
I have to do a few things to properly prepare for when another dog comes towards us when walking my dog or another dog. I move completely off of the trail or sidewalk and as far away from the trail/sidewalk as possible, or I get my dog to sit while the other dog passes, or I have even gone behind a tree to use the tree for bracing myself when the dog pulls and/or lunges. Since I have gotten my very hyper 80 lb. dog, I have become very hyperaware of what the other person and dog are doing. And what I have noticed is that people don’t care or think about if I am struggling. Is it their responsibility to do so? No, but if their dog is friendly, then they just keep moving forward and this is the message that I want to get out. Pay attention to your surroundings and think about all that could possibly occur. Even though my dogs are friendly, I have a huge fear of being pulled down by my big dog and I have a huge fear of being hurt.
Now that I have gotten my experiences out of the way; here are some dog walking etiquette tips that are very common but need to be said none the less.
- Always pick up your dog’s poop. This means that you have to remember to carry poop bags. The best way to remember poop bags is to have them attached to your dog’s leash. And teach your children how to use poop bags and to pick up the dog’s poop. I know this sounds like common sense but a young child who is walking their dog is less likely to pick up their dog’s poop. I just think it is common courtesy to pick up your dog’s poop when walking your dog.
- Be safe! Always keep your dog on a leash while walking. Your dog may be friendly but other dogs along the way may not be. And keeping your dog on a leash also prevents the dog from going into people’s yards or out into the street.
- Another way to stay safe is to be very aware of your surroundings. Yes, hard to do when we have our eyes glued to our phones or our phones in our hand, but it is vital to stay very aware of your surroundings. Be aware of other dogs and people. Or notice potential hazards like broken glass or holes in the ground or a raised sidewalk (we have all tripped over a rise in a sidewalk before).
- If you see another dog coming towards you, do not just allow your dog to go up to the other dog. It is proper etiquette to ask the owner of the other dog if their dog is friendly and ask if they can meet. Don’t be offended if they say no. My dog LOVES other dogs, but will pull me down and drag me if I were to go up to another dog.
- This is a hard one, especially with small dogs. But don’t let your dog jump on other people. Nobody likes a dog that jumps up on you especially when you don’t know the dog. And don’t let your dog jump up on a dog that you go up to (with permission). This can be a sign of dominance and shouldn’t be allowed.
- So I know it is very hard to fathom, but not everybody likes dogs. Some people may be afraid of dogs or just not like interacting with them. Respect other people’s personal space and respect them when they tell you they are afraid of dogs. Always ask before going up to another person (with or without a dog) and respect their answer.
- If you are going to an area that allows off leash dogs (not a dog park with barriers), then make sure that your dog is well trained and responds well with commands. If not well trained, they could run off and get lost or even worse get hit by a car, and they could also get into fights with other dogs, especially those that are on a leash.
- If you have a dog that barks at everything while on a walk, pay attention to the time of day so as not to be a nuisance to others while others are sleeping.
- And finally, just pay attention to your surroundings and be respectful of others and keep your dog under control. By following the dogwalking etiquette tips, you can ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.