Here are some things to consider when thinking about being a responsible owner –
I know it’s unbelievable but not everyone likes dogs! So, if you have a dog that likes nothing more than charging up to everyone he sees to greet them with slobbery chops, think about how this may be perceived by someone that may be fearful of dogs. By teaching your dog that he can’t greet everyone he sees and working on an excellent recall you can avoid being labelled as being a nuisance, and potentially causing people distress. If you can’t guarantee that your dog will come back when called when people are around, be responsible and keep him on the lead!
Appropriate socialisation of puppies and older dogs is very important but the key to successful socialisation is that it is APPROPRIATE. Forcing your dog to go and say hello to everyone and every dog they meet is not fair on your dog or the person or other dog he is being forced to greet. Be aware that your dog does not want to say hello to everyone, just as you don’t want to interact with every stranger you see on the street. Forcing dogs into situations they are uncomfortable with will without doubt result in behaviour problems in the future. It is just as important to teach your dog that they don’t get to greet every person or dog they see. If you see that your dog is looking nervous in any situation, it is your responsibility to remove him from it.
During my work as a behaviourist, I see with many people who are trying to help their dogs become less reactive to others. In the vast majority of these cases, the dogs are reactive because they are fearful. Changing fearful behaviour requires careful exposure to other dogs from a distance, and one of the reasons this is difficult is because other dog owners allow their dog to run up to the fearful dog that is on a lead and being trained. This results in the fearful dog reacting, and the training taking a massive step backwards. When you are out with your dog always keep them on a lead unless you can GUARANTEE they will return to you when called if there are other dogs around. If you see someone walking with their dog on a lead, please think about what might be going on with that dog. It may be fearful and reactive, and the owner may be working hard to change that; don’t let your “friendly” dog ruin their hard work. Another consideration when allowing your “friendly” dog to charge up to on-lead dogs, is that this is very likely to result in your dog being bitten by a reactive dog. After a few incidents like this, it is common for previously “friendly” dogs to themselves become reactive as they then begin to feel fearful after having bad experiences. So, it is in everyone’s interest to only let your dog greet others after checking with the other dog owner first.
We love our dogs and so we must also be ambassadors for them. Most of us try to be the best pet owners we can, but there is always room for improvement and the more responsible we are, the more fulfilling dog ownership will be.