Etiquette Around Other People’s Dogs

Today I’m observing and making a little fun commentary on the etiquette around other people’s dogs. Skip to the bottom for links to loose-leash walking and socializing your puppy.

Dove and Mic!

You may have heard it already. Don’t pet other people’s dogs and especially without asking first. Do you remember Peter Caine the dog trainer from Brooklyn Dog Training who had the angry rants against strangers petting his dogs.

He had a good point that it was not fair to whistle at or pet someone’s dog. A dog in training, like Mic above, can get confused when a stranger coaxes or approaches. The dog may jump up on you and that is not what the owner wants!

I found and still find Peter Caine pretty hard to listen to. I won’t provide any links to his youtube videos. The titles include insults and swear words. If you haven’t seen it already than you can miss it. If you have already seen his postings than you know the point already.

The Yellow Dog Project is a program to help dog owners with reactive dogs. The yellow ribbon identifies a dog that needs extra room.

If you see a dog with a yellow ribbon tied to his leash this means PLEASE STAY CLEAR, the dog is reactive or has similar issues. The dog and owner are working very hard together. You can harm their good work by approaching.

DTO is very supportive of projects like this for good pet training. 

I was given a reminder of savvy behaviour & etiquette this week when walking an off leash trail in my neighbourhood. I was coming up to a person and her two dogs. I crouched down and waited for her small black shitzu to come up to me.

Yes, I know this is technically the same… Before I could reach out I saw POOP on the dog’s head.

Youch. You never know where another’s persons’ dog has been. Believe me I won’t be petting strange dogs.

Dove Cresswell is a hero for her subtle, yet powerful, positive message for training her dogs and thousands of dogs around the world and here in Vancouver, BC. There are lots of training methods. We believe in Dove’s game method and we think you will too.

Yelling and Brooklyn straight talk like Peter Caine’s while they might be effective is not the DTO approach to training.

Training daily is great for your dog.

Happy Trails and Happy Training