Dog walkers etiquette

[NotMostPeople]

I have a six month old puppy, he's my first dog so we are going to puppy training and we are both doing very well. However I've had a few things happen when walking him and I'm not too sure on the rights and wrongs of it all.

Scenarios have been - owners discouraging my dog from sniffing their dogs behind commenting 'he's a dog so of no interest to you'. This seems bonkers to me.

My puppy and another pup or adult dog playing happily, chasing, running etc my dog nipping at ears and then other owner shouting at my because my dog has bitten theirs. I really don't know if I'm in the wrong here or not as my dog sometimes sees one of his siblings who has a very experienced owner. Whe. They play together there's lots of nipping, rough and tumble and she always says it's how they play and part of how they learn how hard to bite. So if my pup bites another dog in a play ful way what do I do?

My puppy wants to befriend every dog in the park, but has learnt that they don't always want to be friends with him - fine, but sometimes he goes bounding up to a other dog and the owner is all protective of their dog as if they re in danger - what have I done wrong here? He's a lurcher, not a pit bull btw.

Walking together - sometimes you're walking along and another dog owner stops to pass the time of day I'm never too sure if you should co tinue walking along together or if they'll think you're a mad stalker.

All advice appreciated.

I think a brisk "Good Morning, Lovely/Terrible weather" should suffice, with an occasional comment on how busy or not the walk is. Depending on the time, if we are at the beach there is a dog walker there with a horde of unruly dogs, so most other walkers appreciate a heads up if they have been spotted.

I ALWAYS put my boys on the lead when I spot a strange dog, mainly because they are enormous hooray henrys who think the world adores them. They do have impeccable manners but two 7stone+ GSD's bearing down on you is enough to make anyone pale. AND I know they are fine to meet others on lead so it matters not a jot to me if another dog runs up.

Once they have been introduced or if I know they have met before then I tend to be a little less likely to put them on the lead.

Also have 6 mo old pup, and think its fine if someone walks along with me - if we're still enjoying a conversation. I would probably ask, in a relaxed sort of way, if they mind having company for a while - just in case they're in need of alone-time

No one has ever told me or my pup off for sniffing or biting (assuming their dogs are off-lead: I don't let my pup go bounding up to dogs on-lead, but am lucky in that he is a scaredy-dog and so far has never really tried to anyway).

If both dogs are off-lead, and playing, I think its absolutely fine for play-biting etc to go on, not sure how you could stop that? If someone gets too rough, the other one yelps or runs off, but my own experience is that pups are just having a great time. Mouse (my pup) had a Westie pup's entired head in his mouth the other day, very gently, during play - her owner was completely relaxed (as was the pup).

I always put my dog on lead when other dogs approach unless I know the other dog walker and their dog well and know that their dog and mine get on.

My dog hates other dogs invading his personal space and coming too near and sniffing him. My worst nightmare when walking is another 'friendly' dog bouncing over to say hello.

People generally have their dogs on a lead for a reason. Now it could be (like one of mine) squirrel-induced shitty recall and they're quite happy for your dog to come up and indulge in a spot of mutual arse-sniffing (as dogs do), or it could well be (like my other dog) that they know their dog has a bit of a problem with other dogs of varying types (mine sometimes struggles with smaller dogs) and they want to make sure that any meetings with them are managed and carefully selected.

I'd get pretty pissed off if a pup "bounded up" to that dog of mine - because the bounding up is exactly what DOES start her off onto the behaviour we're working oh so hard to eliminate and everytime she's put in the situation that lets her rehearse the inappropriate behaviour it sets our progress back.

Should add that the above relates to when I'm walking pup near to my home, on an area of Common where people, as well as dogs, tend to be well behaved. If I were in an unknown place, I would probably be more cautious.

Were you talking about your pup bounding up to dogs on-lead, or off, OP?

Ahh I'm so glad I posted, I honestly didn't realise that if a dog is kept on the lead that means you shouldn't let your dog bound up. It's obvious now I think about it.

So if I'm in a park/woods etc and another dog walker has kept their dog on the lead do I put mine on the lead if our paths are going to cross? If the dog on a lead is someway off I need to ensure mine keeps clear?

IMHO, yes you should put your dog back on the lead but it is up to the other dog walker to work out a 'meeting' strategy. I have a grumpy old dog so if I see another walker I tend to step to one side or take a diversion to avoid coming face to face with other dogs on a narrow path.