I was out walking with my dogs Moose and Lally the other day. Occasionally, we encounter our neighbors’ dogs — the guys upstairs have a young pitbull mix and my next door neighbors have a Jack Russell terrier mix. I know it’s safe to let my dogs interact with these dogs because they’ve met before. Everyone has been well behaved each time.
On this particular occasion, we were across the street from a lady walking a Saint Bernard. At first, I thought they would pass quietly… no such luck! First Moose, then Lally started barking at the strange dog. Then the Saint Bernard started barking back!
Encountering a strange dog when you’re out walking can be unpredictable. Here are some tips to help make things go smoothly:
- Ask the other owner if their dog or dogs are friendly. If the other dogs are friendly and your dogs are friendly, it’s often okay to let them sniff and say hello.
- If your dogs aren’t friendly to strangers, you should explain this to other dog owners. “Sorry, they’re not good with strangers” is a quick and easy way to explain why you don’t want the strange dog to get too close.
For some dogs, just the sight of another dog is enough to start a frenzy. My mother was out walking one of my brother’s dogs when they spotted a little terrier across the street. Kuma (a boxer/pitbull mix) dragged my mother into the street, barking like crazy at the smaller dog. My mom ended up pulling Kuma behind a parked car so Kuma couldn’t see the other dog — which is a great idea! Breaking the line of sight can help defuse the situation.
I also suggested picking up a set of training disks. When you need to snap your dog out of a barking frenzy, drop the disks on the ground. They’ll make a huge clatter and help you get your dog’s attention. (This is a great time for your dog to know the LEAVE IT command, too.)
If all else fails, just change directions. If you’re walking one way and you see a dog approaching down the street, turn around and go a different way. Avoiding uncomfortable encounters can make the walk more relaxing for you AND the dogs!