Etiquette for dog owners and walking your pup

There are some etiquette rules that should go without saying. But sadly, it seems that sometimes dog owners need a refresher course.

When it comes to being dog owners, we often think that the most important thing is to train our dogs to behave properly. This idea of doggy etiquette is often seen as a one way street, where it is important to make sure our dogs have learned all the proper rules. But what about us as owners?

I don’t know about you, but I often see people walking their dogs who do not pick up the poop their pups leave behind. And that’s not all. There are plenty of times when owners let their dogs jump on other dogs or people. Plus, some owners will even let their dogs out without having a leash on.

The problem with all of this is the fact that it is actually quite rude, and in some cases can be dangerous, not only for your dog, but also for other people out there and their dogs.

While there is nothing wrong with needing a reminder about proper dog walking etiquette, some rules should not need to be said. But considering how many piles of dog poop I see when I take my own dog for a walk, there is nothing wrong with a few little reminders, after all no matter which end of the leash we are talking about, you and your pup are team.

Etiquette for dog walking

• Clean up after your dog – One of the most important rules of walking your dog might seem to be obvious, but you should always clean up after your pup. Carry a plastic bag or two with you so you can scoop up the poop. You wouldn’t want to step in a pile of poop, so why would anyone else? And in many cases, there are actually laws about picking up dog poop. So don’t be that person.
• Use a leash – There are leash laws for a reason. You do not know who or what is out there and if your dog is not on a leash when you go for a walk, then you have no control over them. It does not matter how well-trained your dog is, if they are off leash and runaway from you, then what? Dogs can get spooked, no matter how they usually are. Don’t chance something happening just because.
• Don’t allow your dog to jump – As far as etiquette goes, you really shouldn’t allow your dog to jump up on other dogs or people. While your pup might be super friendly and sweet, that doesn’t mean that everyone is comfortable with them. And there are people out there who are afraid of dogs and it’s not fair to them that you are letting your pup jump on them. Plus, you don’t know how friendly or not friendly another dog is either.
• Put your cellphone away – If you are walking down the street with your phone in your hand, not paying attention to your dog and what is going on around you, bad things can happen. You don’t have full control over your dog and you can’t see anything coming your way. When you are walking your dog, you should be keeping him safe, and also other people safe from him. Step away from the phone for a few minutes, and give your attention your pup, even if all he wants to do is sniff the world.

While these four etiquette rules are as much guides as they are a way to safely and respectfully walk your dog, everyone should be paying attention to them. Not only is this about safety, it is also about being fair to other people and pets. And if you already do these things, thank you for being considerate of others. After all, we all want to enjoy taking our dogs out for a walk.