Dog-walking etiquette

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks OP! I'd add keep your dog on your right hand side. That way opposing "traffic" or people passing you don't get close to your dog, and if they do, you're in the middle.

The whole "train your dogs on your left thing" is likely leftover from the British hound training. Doesn't apply to busy pedestrian areas in America.

Makes sense. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t let my dogs approach other dogs and will cross the street to avoid an encounter. I don’t trust other owners, unless I know them. We have German Shepherds and if another dog started a fight, my dog would likely do serious damage. I’m not willing to risk that.

We use the command “leave it” to keep the dogs from picking up anything we don’t want in their mouths.

Train your dog to walk at your side. You should never have to pull on the leash. A well trained dog will walk at your side with slack in the leash.

Retractable leashes are never ok. No trainer would ever suggest using one.

My dogs are trained to the command “watch me”. That means they stop and focus on me. I use it when I see a potential distraction.

They are also trained to “watch him”. That alerts then that I feel uncomfortable. I’ve only had to use it twice. The dogs immediately go into protective mode. They get between me and the perceived danger and make it clear that the person needs to back off.

How did you successfully teach “watch me”? My dog struggles with this.

If your dog likes treats, try saying ‘watch me’ then pay with a treat immediately when he looks at you. Rinse and repeat often. I also do the same with ‘leave it’ when he’s sniffing something like a dead bird or a discarded hot chicken wing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a dog owner I want to do my best to be respectful to other people and dogs. Please help me complete the list. I'll share it with everyone who walks my dog. Thanks!

1. Always use a leash, keep my dog close
2. Always pick up poop immediately after my dog finishes business and dump it in a public trash container or my own trash can
3. Do not let my dog run up to or jump on people
4. Do not let my dog approach other dogs while they are eliminating
5. Keep meet and sniff brief when others approach my dog

All good, except for the bolded.

You can dump poop in a public trash container, don't listen to this person.

I mean it’s better than someone’s private cart, but don’t do it near a restaurant or playground

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks OP! I'd add keep your dog on your right hand side. That way opposing "traffic" or people passing you don't get close to your dog, and if they do, you're in the middle.

The whole "train your dogs on your left thing" is likely leftover from the British hound training. Doesn't apply to busy pedestrian areas in America.

Makes sense. Thank you!

Yes! I walk my dogs on the right, too. The left side never made sense to me in an urban setting especially.

[Anonymous]

If you bend down close to pet them, and they jump up on you, that's your fault. You did it without asking. We would have told you that might happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you bend down close to pet them, and they jump up on you, that's your fault. You did it without asking. We would have told you that might happen.

The courts won’t see it that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you bend down close to pet them, and they jump up on you, that's your fault. You did it without asking. We would have told you that might happen.

The courts won’t see it that way.

Ah yes all those court cases throwing the book at puppies who jump up on people.

God the drama.

[Anonymous]

I’d add please don’t let my dog pee on mailboxes, fences and landscaping. Grass and trees are fine. Where we live, there are sidewalks and a strip of grass in between the sidewalk and the street. I do not allow my dog to enter actual front yards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks OP! I'd add keep your dog on your right hand side. That way opposing "traffic" or people passing you don't get close to your dog, and if they do, you're in the middle.

The whole "train your dogs on your left thing" is likely leftover from the British hound training. Doesn't apply to busy pedestrian areas in America.

Makes sense. Thank you!

Yes! I walk my dogs on the right, too. The left side never made sense to me in an urban setting especially.

Which is fine, but be aware that people who are familiar with dog training convention will expect dogs to heel to the left, so plan accordingly when hiring a dog walker or approaching other people walking their dogs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

4. Do not let my dog approach other dogs while they are eliminating
5. Keep meet and sniff brief when others approach my dog

You should not let your dog approach any other dog without permission of the owner and you should ask if the other dog is friendly before you allow them to approach yours. If you agree that the dogs can approach each other, keep a firm hold on the leash in case something goes wrong and you need to separate the dogs.

Also, never let children (anyone really) touch your dog without permission and provide instruction to children about how to approach your dog.

This!!

[Anonymous]

I recommend you research which dog breeds are more trainable than others.

[Anonymous]

Use a normal leash, not the retractable type. Dogs love walks and the short leash suits them, they know you are close. Honestly, I think they believe they are walking you,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks OP! I'd add keep your dog on your right hand side. That way opposing "traffic" or people passing you don't get close to your dog, and if they do, you're in the middle.

The whole "train your dogs on your left thing" is likely leftover from the British hound training. Doesn't apply to busy pedestrian areas in America.

Makes sense. Thank you!

Yes! I walk my dogs on the right, too. The left side never made sense to me in an urban setting especially.

Which is fine, but be aware that people who are familiar with dog training convention will expect dogs to heel to the left, so plan accordingly when hiring a dog walker or approaching other people walking their dogs

I don't personally think it makes a difference which side. The important thing is they are heeling and attentive to you and not approaching strangers. My dog was trained on the left but will heel on the right depending on which side of the street we are on and what I may want him to approach (ok areas to pee, etc.) When walking on the right means he may pee on a lawn instead of the median, we walk on the left and vice versa.

[Anonymous]

I have questions for PPs:
Why are retractable leashes bad?
Why is it bad to dispose poop bags in a public trash bin at the park?

[Anonymous]

How far do dog owners let their dog poop in other people's yard. If their dog is at the edge of the sidewalk and people's front yard, do they let the dog poop there? How about when their dog walk closer to the house/plant area away. How about when the owner is sitting there, is it rude to have the owner say, 'hey, don't let your dog sh*t in my yard.'

One side of the sidewalk is the green area towards the street. And the other side of the sidewalk is the green area towards the house. Which side is it ok to let your dog poop on?