Dog Walking Etiquette

I’m not sure if there are official dog walking rules, but these are the things I've learned while walking dogs that allow us all the space, respect and community we desire.

#1 - Leash your dog. Yes, dogs love to be free and I’m sure you love to be free of holding

onto a leash, but really it’s part of being a responsible pet owner. Even if your dog is well trained on recall, they are still a dog and very distractible and unaware of the dangers around them. They can run into the street when chasing a ball or a squirrel, they can harm wildlife, invade people's space and property, or run into ponds and if you’re like me and live in an area where there can be alligators in water, this may not end well.

#2 - Share the sidewalk. It is courteous to move to the side off onto the grass if need be in order to give people space to pass by. Even if they don’t have a dog, it is nice to move over as some people don’t want to be touched by your dog (they will often want to sniff them and maybe even lick their hand, it's how they learn about their environment) and sometimes dogs even want to jump up on people. We want to try to avoid that by simply moving over and knowing how your dog reacts in such situations.

#3 - Pick up after your dog. An obvious one but must be included. Always bring a poop bag with you whether you just tie one onto the leash handle or you keep a bag of bags on your leash at all times (a smart idea). Here is a great option if you need one. Always make sure the bag is full before you leave home and keep an extra roll in the car. These are my favorite earth friendly poop bags. Side note: it can be smart to tie two poop bags to your leash as there is a chance that your dog may need to go poop twice during your walk(yes, it actually happens quite often…)

#4 - Meeting other dogs. If you and your dog are in a friendly mood, you can take advantage of getting out on a walk to meet other people and dogs. You always want to read body language and make eye contact with the person to make sure they are inviting you. If they seem approachable, I always like to ask “Are they friendly? Can we say Hi?” If the answer is yes, then you can move towards them, slowly if possible. They will sniff each other and probably start to wrestle around a little bit. This is happy and healthy for dogs as they are social and usually like meeting new friends and can always use a little play sesh. Just watch for any negative behavior such as scruff hair standing up, growling and snarling. This can indicate they are not comfortable with the interaction and it’s best to move along. No hard feelings, I like to say “Ok, that's enough. Nice meeting y’all!” while backing up and walking away.

#5 - Petting Dogs. When meeting new dogs it’s always good to move slowly. Hold the back of your hand up towards their nose and give them time and space to “get to know you”. Let them initiate attention by licking you, moving towards you or sometimes they’ll even rub up against you or give you their neck for petting. Typically, dogs don't prefer their heads to be pet, so it's a good idea to go for under the chin instead or behind the ears. Side note: If you don’t have your dog with you and want to say hi to a dog, always ask first, “Can I say Hi? Or Can I pet your dog?”

#6 - Respect people's property. When walking your dog in residential neighborhoods or near businesses, please respect their property. This includes of course picking up their poop, limit “ground-scratching” after elimination, no digging, walking in planters, eating plants, or peeing on plants, mailboxes, garbage cans or landscaping decor. Also, be aware of "No Dumping" signs in the yard, and please respect it.

Taking a peaceful walk with your dog is so healthy for both of you to be out in nature, being social with others, sniffing and mental stimulation, and getting your steps in. When following these tips, it’s a win-win-win!