We live in the city in a large house on a small lot. This means we have pretty much no backyard, a small front and side yard and we’re on a corner lot. We have a little dog run but the dogs don’t/won’t do their business out there usually because there’s enough traffic to distract them. So, we walk the dogs so they’ll do their business. That said, we’ve seen some atrocious behaviors from other dog owners and feel it’s time we set up some ground rules.
Always keep your dog on a leash. I don’t care how well trained you think he is and the fact that he might not like a leash or you don’t care about the law. It’s safety. For the dog, for other dogs, for other pedestrians, drivers, etc.
Always carry enough baggies for poop. If I’m not carrying a full roll, I at least have 2x the # of dogs of baggies.
If pedestrians are passing either towards you or from behind, step aside with your dog on a tight leash. Some people don’t like or are afraid of dogs.
If you see another person walking their dog, unless you ask from a distance first (or know them), don’t walk your dog towards their dog. Some aren’t social, sometimes it’s bad timing (like if they’ve been circling to poop for two minutes) and sometimes a person just doesn’t want to play “tie the leashes” while the dogs go nuts.
Keep the barking to a minimum. Others want to enjoy the outdoors too.
Keep the dogs off of private property as much as possible.
If you use a retractable leash, keep the length short whenever people, bicyclists, etc are around.
What else am I missing (or what do you disagree with)?
If you are walking your dog past a house and the dog that lives in that house starts barking his head off as you and your dog walk by, it is not cute nor is it funny to stand there and wind up the dog in the house by then standing still and letting your dog cavort around in front of said house. KEEP MOVING.
The stories I could tell you about the people and their dog walking around my neighborhood - jeez. :rolleyes:
I don’t have any other suggestions but to add to the “keep your dog on a leash, no matter how well trained he is” – that doesn’t mean he is allowed to walk up onto anyone’s property and do his business while you continue walking by.
Point 7. First amendment) If you’re walking your dog next to busy roads, don’t use a retractable leash at all. The locking mechanism can fail and if it does this at the wrong time then your dog might as well not be on a leash at all
I do a fair bit of Alpine walking with my dog, sometimes over rough terrain where I need to pick out one path and doggo needs to pick out another several metres away. A retractable allows me to keep her under control and not leap over an edge after a marmot or something, and it doesn’t snag on rocks so easily as a normal long leash.
Yes, yes and yes again. Turn in your retractable leash for a real leash. It doesn’t help me if your dog is technically on a leash but can wonder anywhere it wants.
Worse is people with retractable leashes on bike trails. Yes, you are out of the way when you stand in the grass, and your dog is out of the way when he stands in the grass. But if you aren’t on the same side of the trail …
I use a retractable leash but it’s for a slow walk in a small neighborhood with an old dog that is very, very leash trained. She hasn’t pulled forward on it in years. Well no, sometimes she does when we’re walking with my brother’s dog and she has to be first in line.
When we’re out anywhere else she’s on a looped leash.
Anyway, my rule is to not talk on your cell phone while you’re walking the dog. Almost every day I am driving behind this lady walking her little dog while she talks on the phone, and she doesn’t hear me driving behind her, and the dog is just weaving around next to and in front of her, right in the path of traffic (me). And you should see her try to pick up poop while holding a phone in one hand and a leash in the other.
I often walk two bigish dogs (the first two in this pic) connected to each other. A retractable connected to their dog-to-dog leash works nicely. And they are angels!
No, my dog has itty bitty little legs and the retractable leash means we can both walk at a more comfortable pace. That said, I do ride the lock button on it. I do all the other things in the list as well.
I am never going back to a regular leash. A retractable one means that we don’t have to go at the exact same pace and when we are in a safe area my dog can have a little more freedom to explore a bit. Just no way.
I have to carry at least 3 poop bags on walks. The goof always seems to split the business into 2 events minimum, often 3.
Ugh. YES. There is a woman who walks her dog past my house at least once a day who will stand there and let her dog sniff and pee on my fence at his leisure while one of my dogs LOSES HER SHIT on the other side. I can call her in and she comes, but it makes me nuts that this woman doesn’t move on.
The neighbor regularly lets her dog stick her nose through the fence while my same nutty dog is running whacked out circles and barking her face off. Most annoyingly, she will coo “oh there’s your friend! Say hi to your friend!”. Lady, your dog’s “friend” is gonna bite her on the nose one of these days and it’s going to be your fault.
I can get behind your entire list and Missy’s addition.
I do use a retractable leash though it’s kept locked at a reasonable length while we’re on the sidewalk, once we get to the park it allows them to roam and sniff a little on the sides of the path while I amble. Per the rules when someone approaches I shorten the leash until we all see how the situation is going to go.
Luckily the park is almost empty at our walking times so they get a lot of running in. The new house is only a couple miles from their old off leash park though so we’re looking forward to some good ball chasing fun in the fields.
I mostly agree with your list, but I’ll quibble on this point:
Replace “tight” with “short” here. If you tense up and hold your leash tight when approached, the tension can transfer to your dog, who may become anxious and/or protective of you. If the leash is short, and your body language is relaxed, your dog won’t feel threatened, and stay calm.
And, an addendum for 4), for walkers of small dogs - don’t pick your dog up to avoid interactions with other dogs. To the approaching dog, your dog just ran away, upwards, which stimulates their instinct to chase, and you’ve endangered yourself as well as your dog. Socialize your dog, and watch approaching dogs’ body language closely.
And I have one to add:
Socialize your dogs. Train them on how you want them to behave. Don’t know how? Take a class. You’re responsible. If your dog barks and growls at other dogs, you’re responsible, and yes, you can change that behaviour. If your dog pulls on the leash, you’re responsible - you’re the one pulling back! If your dog jumps up to greet people, you’re responsible!
The only problem with retractable leashes is when people think that using one means they don’t have to pay attention. Personally, I even pay attention to my dog when we are at an off leash park. Imagine that.
