# Let's talk dog walking etiquette **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 9, 2014, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-dog-walking-etiquette/688044 "2014-05-09T12:54:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-dog-walking-etiquette/688044/81 "2014-05-16T23:46:32Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > . . . SQUIRREL! Dog bolts after a squirrel, yanks my left arm up and back, hyperextending my shoulder (still hurts) and my left index finger got caught in the loop as 70 pounds of dog ran the other way. She broke the everlovin’ shit out of my finger, which is now permanently crooked because it didn’t heal right. > > So yeah. Pay attention when you’re walking a big dog. :o Great post/user-name combination! And…ouch! My sister had a dog that was so rambunctious, at first, she had to take the pup out for “walks” with an anchor! Seriously! She’d tie a chunk of firewood to the doggie’s collar, and the doggie worked off some excess energy dragging the log behind! That dog never learned to go for a “walk.” She always went out for a DRAG! (And the doggie managed to break my sister’s leg anyway!) ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2014, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-dog-walking-etiquette/688044/82 "2014-05-17T00:48:02Z")
> [@JacksMom](#): > > My biggest problem isn’t with dog walkers. It’s with dog owners that don’t walk their dogs. I was thinking of starting a pit thread for suchlike. My next-door neighbor is one of the worst kind of offenders. Her burglar alarm is chained up in her back yard, and it sees her two or three times for a minute or two every day, when she feeds it. Worst thing is, the dog is useless as a burglar alarm, because it barks at everything. I swear, it barks at butterflies. It barks at me if I get within 6’ of the property line, which effectively makes a large part of the yard unusable. Except squirrels, they are everywhere here, so he just ignores them. But if a real burglar/invader tried to break in, she would never know it, because her dog would be barking, as it always does. There is a spot on the lawn where the grass is worn down from the leash. I just think it is crap that the owner has almost nothing to do with the dog. I had an uncle who did that to his dog, it spent its life in a mud pit under the old camper. Dogs are social animals, tying them up in the yard like that is cruelty of the highest order. It you want a dog, you have to want it as a family member, otherwise I will drag you to the BBQ Pit. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-dog-walking-etiquette/688044/83 "2014-05-19T03:18:43Z")
Am I the only person who has never had his dogs defecate on a walk? How long are these walks? And I’ve never heard of needing to walk a dog to get them to go to the bathroom. Then again, I’ve never lived in a real city. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-dog-walking-etiquette/688044/84 "2014-05-19T03:24:46Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Am I the only person who has never had his dogs defecate on a walk? How long are these walks? And I’ve never heard of needing to walk a dog to get them to go to the bathroom. > > Then again, I’ve never lived in a real city. Even in the country, people take their dogs on walks so they (the doggies!) can poop. I know people who have horses and dogs: the horses do their thing in the paddock, but the dogs prefer to be taken around to the back fence to unload. Dogs don’t take well to sandboxes; they really prefer to “mark their territory” farther from home. Letting the doggie poop is really the primary purpose for a walk; the companionship and exercise are secondary benefits. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-dog-walking-etiquette/688044/85 "2014-05-19T07:50:13Z")
> [@AnthonyElite](#): > > As an absolute dog person here: > > 1. Put your dog on a god damned leash. I don’t care what kind. There is nothing wrong with retractable leashes if used correctly. But don’t you pretend to me that your dog can’t get in a situation where it gets killed when off leash. You simply don’t have that level of command over a dog. If a car comes by at 90, and your dog leans close to the road to sniff some garbage…BAM! Don’t you understand? Use a fucking leash! > > 2. I totally agree that if someone moves to another sidewalk to avoid your dog, leave them alone. They are doing YOU a favor by moving over. That being said… > > 3. No dog walker/dog combo should be forced to move to a different walking area because someone has some nonsense phobia. If I am afraid of plastic bags, should you move to another sidewalk to alleviate my nonsense fears? People have been killed by plastic bags before! > > 4. My dog doesn’t want your treat. I have no idea where you got it from, or if it is poisoned. And before you say it, YES it does happen. Google it. > > 5. Step aside for bikers, they need momentum to enjoy a decent ride and you don’t. Just get out of the way. > > 6. If there is no sidewalk, and I have to walk near the road, and your car does not make use of available space to allow me to walk safely, I MAY throw something at your car. Come on out, **I’ve got 200+ lbs of vicious dogs with me and I carry**. Seriously though, give people space if you can afford it.😛 WTF?? OK - you’re joking, but seriously ---- WTF?? This sort of half joking comment is exactly why most of the rest of the world thinks American gun laws are fucked up ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-dog-walking-etiquette/688044/86 "2014-05-19T10:53:31Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Then again, I’ve never lived in a real city. You’re using the “real” qualifier because you’ve played SimCity?😛 > [@Trinopus](#): > > Even in the country, people take their dogs on walks so they (the doggies!) can poop. One of the best “tricks” I taught our dogs was to defecate in a specific area. During housebreaking I’d walk them through the front yard and into a little meadow beyond the yard. Once there, I’d give the “go pee” command. When they eliminated I’d give a treat. It was some extra work and sucked in the rain, but there’s never anything that needs picked up. ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-dog-walking-etiquette/688044/87 "2014-05-19T12:31:43Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Am I the only person who has never had his dogs defecate on a walk? How long are these walks? And I’ve never heard of needing to walk a dog to get them to go to the bathroom. > > Then again, I’ve never lived in a real city. Three 30 minute walks per day, one at 8am, one at 2pm and another at 10pm. She’ll empty bladder and bowel almost without fail, presumably due to the regularity of the walks. These aren’t the only walks we do I hasten to add, these are just the mandatory and minimum “loo breaks”. Now I’m intrigued; how often do you walk your dogs and how far? ---
**Author:** ![AnthonyElite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@AnthonyElite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnthonyElite)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-dog-walking-etiquette/688044/88 "2014-05-19T15:49:51Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > WTF?? > > OK - you’re joking, but seriously ---- WTF?? This sort of half joking comment is exactly why most of the rest of the world thinks American gun laws are fucked up No no, all jokes - I’m venting my frustration with people who have no consideration for people walking. I don’t go around throwing things at vehicles, and my conceal carry is only with me for walk safety. In my opinion guns are not to be mixed with emotions. They are tools for incredibly delicate situations. Can I at least give their car a few “speed holes” though? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lowdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Lowdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lowdown)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-dog-walking-etiquette/688044/89 "2014-05-19T16:54:31Z")
I agree with most of the points. I’m not 100% on _always_ keeping dogs on a leash (mine or yours), and I’m not against retractable leashes, but I also live in kind of a suburban area with a ton of parks (most of which are almost always empty). I see people with their dogs off leads all the time, doesn’t bother me at all. When I’m out walking my dog past or through a park at six in the morning, and there isn’t another soul outside, sometimes I’ll let him off so he can go sniff stuff. He sticks close by me anyway. As soon as we approach houses or I see someone (a quarter mile away), I hook him back up. Not to sound defensive, but I’ve encountered a hell of a lot more people who can’t control their dogs ON leashes than I have people who can’t control their dogs and have them off lead. I see both every week. I usually keep an arsenal of poop-bags on me, because it’s almost assured that if I only bring one he’s going to poop two or three times! I’m always finding poop bags in the pockets of jeans, or in coats I haven’t worn for months. The only other thing I disagree with in this thread, is if I’m out walking my dog, and your dog is in your house or yard losing its shit because I’m walking by, that’s really not my problem, and also I hate your dog. The only rule I’d add is, if you as a person are going to approach a strange dog, do so from the side, not the front. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-dog-walking-etiquette/688044/90 "2014-05-19T16:59:46Z")
> [@Lowdown](#): > > -Snip- > > The only other thing I disagree with in this thread, is if I’m out walking my dog, and your dog is in your house or yard losing its shit because I’m walking by, that’s really not my problem, and also I hate your dog. > > -Snip- You can walk by all you want. Just keep walking. Don’t stop and stand in front of my house taunting my dog - because that’s when it BECOMES your problem. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-dog-walking-etiquette/688044/91 "2014-05-19T19:49:19Z")
> [@Lowdown](#): > > . . . The only rule I’d add is, if you as a person are going to approach a strange dog, do so from the side, not the front. While this makes good sense, don’t dogs tend to rotate? Whichever way you’re approaching from, they’ll turn to face you? My variant on this is, if approaching a strange dog, sit still, and let the dog do the approaching. It’s usually pretty obvious if they’re friendly and interested and want to lick your hand…or alert, aware, cautious, reserved, and suspicious. In both cases, sitting still seems to be the best “approach.” ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2014, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-dog-walking-etiquette/688044/92 "2014-05-19T21:35:57Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Am I the only person who has never had his dogs defecate on a walk? How long are these walks? And I’ve never heard of needing to walk a dog to get them to go to the bathroom. > > Then again, I’ve never lived in a real city. Mine seldom does. He has his spots in the yard - around back unless the snow makes it difficult to get back there. Once in a great while … but its really rare. My mother’s dog will only go on a leash and on a walk. He was trained that way - as a small dog he belonged to my sister, who took him with her traveling and spent a lot of time in hotels without a dog run. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-dog-walking-etiquette/688044/93 "2014-05-20T04:23:21Z")
> [@AnthonyElite](#): > > As an absolute dog person here: > > 1. No dog walker/dog combo should be forced to move to a different walking area because someone has some nonsense phobia. If I am afraid of plastic bags, should you move to another sidewalk to alleviate my nonsense fears? People have been killed by plastic bags before! > > 2. My dog doesn’t want your treat. I have no idea where you got it from, or if it is poisoned. And before you say it, YES it does happen. Google it. > > 3. Step aside for bikers, they need momentum to enjoy a decent ride and you don’t. Just get out of the way. BG: We have a rescue grayhound. She came to us so well trained that when we are on leash, she waits for permission to pee. I do carry poop bags because usually we are walking to the off leash park and when she’s off leash she is allowed to poop where she wants. \ 1. I have no problem crossing the street to avoid frightening a child. Adults need to be adults and learn that they will meet dogs when they are on public sidewalks. 2. I’ve never had people I don’t know offer my dog treats, except at a couple of drive-through coffee places. I didn’t know that people would really offer poison treats to random, unknown dogs. Ignorance fought. 3. Unless its a mixed use area, bicyclists shouldn’t be on the sidewalk. ---
**Author:** ![AnthonyElite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@AnthonyElite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnthonyElite)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-dog-walking-etiquette/688044/94 "2014-05-20T12:39:00Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > BG: We have a rescue grayhound. She came to us so well trained that when we are on leash, she waits for permission to pee. I do carry poop bags because usually we are walking to the off leash park and when she’s off leash she is allowed to poop where she wants. > > \ > > 1. I have no problem crossing the street to avoid frightening a child. Adults need to be adults and learn that they will meet dogs when they are on public sidewalks. > > 2. I’ve never had people I don’t know offer my dog treats, except at a couple of drive-through coffee places. I didn’t know that people would really offer poison treats to random, unknown dogs. Ignorance fought. > > 3. Unless its a mixed use area, bicyclists shouldn’t be on the sidewalk. I accept your amendment on 3 - children get a pass, of course! On number 4 - yeah, we had a problem with it here as we have a heavy mix of college students and townies, of which I have a problem with neither, but they SURE have a problem with each-other. Apparently a maintenance worker got sick of dealing with an irresponsible dog owner and instead of poisoning that dog (still unacceptable) they poisoned several dogs (to make a point?). It was NOT a pretty way to go either. The owner of one of the victims was cradling his dog in his arms, watching his dog violently die and knowing it was too late. 7th circle of hell right there. 1. I agree, but as careless as some drivers are, I give them a pass. ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-dog-walking-etiquette/688044/95 "2014-05-20T17:02:01Z")
> [@AnthonyElite](#): > > No no, all jokes - I’m venting my frustration with people who have no consideration for people walking. I don’t go around throwing things at vehicles, and my conceal carry is only with me for walk safety. In my opinion guns are not to be mixed with emotions. They are tools for incredibly delicate situations. > > Can I at least give their car a few “speed holes” though? 😃 now see, I thought you meant you were carrying bags of poo and would trow those at the car driving too close. ---
**Author:** ![MareIt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@MareIt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MareIt)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2014, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-dog-walking-etiquette/688044/96 "2014-05-20T22:22:09Z")
My dogs are frequently off leash here in the 'burbs. They are on leash near roads or in popular common areas. However, we have 20+ miles of trails that are typically empty. I can, and have many times, walked my dogs for 90 minutes and never run into another soul once I leave the popular areas. If I see you coming, I call my dogs back and put them on leash. I have a remote collar that vibrates has reinforcement if they are ignoring my voice. I confess to having been caught distracted by talking to friends or on the phone so my dogs have approached others, but the only times there have been problems have been when the other owners create one with their body language. I also confess to a certain amount of entitlement. If I walk my dogs in 10" of snow and in the wind or on the ice for 45-60 minutes every.damn.day, and you only come out on the perfect weather days, I do think I should get priority for enjoying my dog walks 😉 Oh, and the fact that your dog weighs less than the average Thanksgiving turkey does NOT exempt you from training it. EVER. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-dog-walking-etiquette/688044.md?page=4)