No, your dog cannot always say ‘hi’
Learning basic manners for socializing your dogs with strangers
I’d been given instructions for this Labrador Retriever mix, who could barely climb down steps without pausing a few beats: Please avoid letting him interact with other dogs. I thought, “No problem!” I know puppies can be a wee bit too playful and sometimes not know how to react to much larger dogs. And this dog was just a smidgen past the stage when you do more carrying than walking.
Since March of last year, I’ve quickly realized how much more ballsy people are around small dogs (give or take a few people who fear all dogs).
I’d been the owner of a Lab myself already, who grew to be around 60 pounds. And then came a German Shepherd who grew to be about the same weight but taller. When you saw me walking either of these two down the street, the last thing you wanted to do was give them a Michael Bloomberg Dog Greeting or run up with your dog to say “hi.”
I spent more time watching people beeline away from the sidewalk, walking in grass, dirt and sometimes crossing the street altogether. My dogs were not the type of dogs you would run up on. And that has been my biggest challenge as a dog walker. Since March of last year, I’ve quickly realized how much more ballsy people are around small dogs (give or take a few people who fear all dogs).
Socialization is key to make any dog into a reasonably friendly animal. It makes sense. But there are some common sense no-nos that some dog owners (or passersby) still have a tough time figuring out. If you fit the description, please read on.
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You walk right up to other dog owners with your dog, blocking the sidewalk and/or pathway they’re on.
While you know your dog well, keep in mind that the dog walker (or owner) as well as the dog don’t know either you or your dog. Just as you wouldn’t block a human being’s pathway if you want to talk to this person on the street, treat dogs with the same courtesy. Yesterday, I was walking the Lab puppy (mentioned above) and stepped to the side when a dog who looked like a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy (at least a good 30 pounds already) walked by. Even though I stepped off the walkway, the dog walker/owner stopped perpendicular to the walkway. I paused and said, “Are you going to keep walking or …?” He said nothing at all, just stood still. I moved past the two, onto the grass, with the Lab puppy. He muttered, “My dog wants to say ‘hi’!” I responded, “Then you need to ask first. IT’S POLITE!”