The One Rule Everyone Should Follow When Walking Their Dog

“It’s okay, he’s/she’s friendly.”

If you walk your dog, which I am sure that most of you do, then you’ve likely heard someone say the above before. You might have even said it yourself.

As dog owners, it is natural to want your dog to be comfortable around other dogs and make friends if they wish, however allowing your (usually off-lead) dog to approach any dog they come across on a walk is a big no, no in the dog world and can cause more harm than good, regardless of how friendly your dog may be. Here’s why you should never allow your dog to approach unknown dogs on walks without asking the owner first.

Not all dogs are comfortable around other dogs

Did you know that the unwritten rule of dog ownership is to never allow your on or off lead dog to approach another dog who is on lead without checking whether it is okay with the owner first? It’s not only considered rude but is also fairly anti-social. Can you imagine minding your own business and suddenly someone appears right in your face? Most people wouldn’t want to experience that and most dogs are exactly the same. The rule generally goes that if the other dog is on lead, pop yours on lead too. There’s no harm in doing this and it takes seconds before your dog can go off lead again.

Some dogs experience anxiety outdoors and the #myanxiousdog campaign encourages owners of anxious dogs to wear yellow themselves, dress their dog in yellow or to use a yellow lead/lead slip or collar in order for other people to recognise that their dog needs space. This is a sign that the dog is anxious and likely to be nervous around other dogs.

Whether they are wearing yellow or not however, and even though your dog might be friendly, it doesn’t mean that every other dog is too. Some dogs may be nervous, reactive or in training and an unexpected approach could cause stress or even aggressive reactions which then puts both dogs’ in danger. Respecting other dogs’ boundaries and ensuring that your dog does too is key to preventing negative encounters.

You can’t predict every dog’s reaction

Even the friendliest dog can behave unpredictably in certain situations. A seemingly calm dog may feel threatened if approached too quickly or unexpectedly, leading to fights or injuries. Dogs who are in pain can be particularly sensitive to interactions with other dogs which can result in them feeling a need to protect themselves. We can't assume how the other dog is feeling or will react, so it’s better to avoid the risk altogether rather than allowing unsolicited greetings between your dog and others.

Respect other dogs’ boundaries

Not all dogs want to interact with other dogs. Just like us humans! My dog is a highly sociable dog, but she doesn’t want to mix with all dogs all of the time, especially if their ‘friendliness’ and play style is a little too rough or boisterous for her. Not all dogs interact the same way with each other so what works for one, doesn’t work for another.

At the same time, some dogs may be in the middle of focused training or recovering from trauma or injury. When you allow your dog to approach without permission, it can disrupt their progress and/or set them back in their recovery.

Imagine you had spent a year training your reactive dog to feel comfortable in the presence of dogs at a distance to them. You manage them well by keeping them on a lead and you gradually expose them to dogs at a distance in order to help them learn that they are safe. Then, one day, another dog approaches your dog and doesn’t leave them alone. The owner makes no attempt to call their dog back and simply states “it’s Okay, he’s friendly.” The whole situation makes your dog panic and they react with aggression as a result; setting your training back by months. How would that make you feel?

Always ask the other dog’s owner first before allowing any interactions.

Better control equals safer walks

Keeping your dog close and under control on walks builds good habits and promotes safety. If your dog is used to rushing towards other dogs, it can become harder to manage them in other situations and leads to them being unsafe off lead, especially if you can’t recall them at these times. In fact, if you hear yourself saying “it’s okay, he’s/she’s friendly” it’s usually a sign to most people that your recall needs training.

It is so important to keep your dog safe on walks and one of the easiest ways to do this is to ensure that they don’t rush over to other dogs. Once you’ve asked the owner whether it is okay, your dog can then interact or move on safely, keeping everyone happy in the process.

If you’re ever tempted to say, “it’s okay, he’s friendly,” please remember that it’s not just about your dog. Hopefully, after reading this, it is clear that it is in fact about the other dogs in the equation. Having a friendly dog is absolutely wonderful and I really hope yours is, but having a dog who is a nuisance to other dogs is considered anti-social. Prioritise everyone’s safety by keeping your dog under control around other dogs, especially if those dogs are on lead. Lots of stressful walks for many dog owners who have reactive/fearful/injured/elderly dogs could be avoided if everyone understood that not all dogs want to mix with all dogs, friendly or not. We all love friendly dogs, but there is a time and a place for that.

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Happy training and thanks for reading x