Greetings On Walks

My dog does not need to greet every dog she meets on our walks. And some of them we will avoid at all costs.

If your dog gets excited or even leash reactive when you are out walking – he may likely pull on his leash.  He may even be lunging.   There is no need or reason for you to attempt greeting another dog under these circumstances.  No matter how “friendly” the neighbor suggests their dog may be.

Only calm dogs should greet. Dogs that re not jumping, not getting over excited, not whining, barking, or tap dancing. And especially not dogs that are showing signs of stress and avoidance.

Just don’t do it.

Advocate for your dog.  He needs to see you handle the situation and set the tone for what will happen.

Before you go for a walk, be sure to get some basic skill, communication and understanding of your dog’s body language in place. 

Be aware of the distance (threshold of tolerance) your dog can keep it together before he escalates.  Work below that threshold, ideally with a controlled dog and friend cooperating with you.

Reward good decisions from your dog.  Reward them big!!   And as you gain success and confidence, incrementally lower the threshold.

Don’t rush this experience.  Again – it is far better to not even take the walk than it is to have unsuccessful experiences.    Your dog will get better “exercise” and mental stimulation working on new skills than on the actual walk if he’s having to focus and learn vs just going through over-aroused motions.