Last updated July 17th, 2017.
I am frequently asked by clients if when approached by a lovely Manatee County neighbor, or stranger while they are out for a daily walk around their Parrish neighborhood with their dog if it is ok to let the dogs interact. I have many answers for this situation, and it all depends on the dog. Do you have a nervous, timid fearful dog? Do you have a dog who is reactive to dogs or people while on leash? Do you know this person and their dog? Is their dog calm or going crazy at the end of the leash? The situations are endless. The easiest answer and usually the most common one is, NO. In most cases the scenario plays out like this…my dog is nervous and reactive on leash, the dog approaching us is losing their mind, barking pulling and acting completely nutty, and you have very limited experience with this dog. The answer is NO thank you, my dog does not want to interact with your nutter butter of a dog! While your neighbor (or stranger) and their lose cannon may mean well you do not need to feel obligated to allow your dog to interact with theirs.
Remember, it should be QUALITY interactions over quantity. If your dog has a bad experience, or worse gets in a fight then you are dealing with the psychological and physical aftermath. Why risk it just to appease this person.
Leashes, in most instances create tension between dogs. Dogs have two choices when it comes to conflict, fight or flight. Leashes take away the ability to flee leaving only one option. Imagine two dogs pulling their owners to one another and then start “playing” and mixing it up.
All of a sudden one dog gets nervous and they no longer have the ability to flee the situation. There you are trying to break up a tangled mess of dog and leash. Its not fun!
It is your job to be your dog’s leader through life. Helping them and keeping them safe should be priority #1. More clients that I speak with have the overwhelming urge to give into the stranger wanting their dog to meet theirs, and here we are picking up the pieces. It is ok to say no, its ok if they don’t get it or are upset. At the end of the day, you live with your dog and you live with whatever emotional baggage they may have. Don’t feel bad!
Many times a response of “We’re in training, not today” is more than enough. There are many tactful ways to put it, but don’t ever feel bad saying no…it’s your dog, stop worrying about what other people want and think about what your dog wants! What if some one approached you and started touching you and punching you in the shoulder while they spoke to you. I’m pretty sure we would be leaving that situation…quickly!
Of course, if your dog is well behaved on leash and so is theirs, both dogs can adequately control themselves and listen to commands well, you know the dog and they get along well…then go ahead and have some FUN!!
