3 Rules of Dog Walking Etiquette

When you're walking a dog, it's inevitable that you're going to encounter some familiar and some not-so-familiar faces along the way. While you might be a dog lover, it's important to remember that not everyone else is a dog lover; and even the other dog owners should have their own personal space to be respected. If you're going to walk your dog effectively, it will help to know some simple rules of dog walking etiquette.

1. Don't let your dog control you.

If you're going to enforce any rules of etiquette with your dog, you have to get used to managing your dog's boundaries; not the other way around. This means that you should be used to correcting a dog if it makes a mistake like veering off into a neighbor's yard and going to the bathroom. Be quick to gently poke or prod your dog into walking in line with you; this will have enormous benefits when you try any of the other rules of dog etiquette. It will also help your dog to socialize with people and other dogs without getting aggressive, as you'll want to reinforce a happy, relaxed mood in your dog.

2. Clean up after your dog.

This isn't the prettiest rule of thumb, but it's something you should do out of respect for your neighbors. Follow the golden rule here: if someone let their dog excrete waste in your yard, you'd want them to pick it up. Do the same for your neighbors - they'll be less likely to complain about your dog and will feel that you've got things under control.

Also, you can help avoid this problem by housebreaking your dog and training it so that it knows to only go in your yard. Make sure that you watch your dog use the bathroom in your yard and reinforce this behavior through a positive reward like a treat or some affection.

3. Help your dog socialize and immediately correct aggressive behavior.

The reason it's so crucial to have good control of your dog is that an encounter between two dogs can turn bad quickly - even if your dog is well-trained. You'll want to make sure you've trained your dog to respond to social situations by being relaxed and deferring to you. If your dog starts to growl, don't just admonish it; get its attention through a quick tug on the leash and let it know that you won't put up with that mood. If your dog is having too much trouble, remove it from the situation as quickly as possible. Remember, you set the rules.

Photo Credits: danagraves

This post involves:

affection, aggressive behavior, boundaries, dog lover, dog owners, enormous benefits, familiar faces, going to the bathroom, golden rule, housebreaking your dog, mistake, neighbor, neighbors, personal space, rule of thumb, s yard, two dogs, walking in line

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Doggie Exercises, Tips for Dog Owners

Posted by Dog Training Pet on January 12, 2010 in Doggie Exercises, Tips for Dog Owners. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.