Dog walk etiquette

[France79]

I have an 11 month old whippet. She is very playful and loves chasing and playing with other dogs. This is my first dog. I’m not sure what the etiquette is when on the beach or field and whether other owners are nervous about my dog. Also, how do you tell when playing becomes fighting?

If the other dog is on a lead don’t allow your dog to approach. If both are off lead I would check with the owner first. Be careful because some dogs don’t like puppies.

Steer clear of dogs on leads.

You can tell when play turns into fighting - their whole body language changes, from loose and relaxed to stiff and focussed on the other dog with hackles up (rather than stiff and focussed on the other dog's ball, for example), and the noises turn nasty.

Watch a few YouTube videos of dogs playing and dogs fighting and you'll see the difference.

One of mine hates bouncy dogs after being attacked, she will be recalled and put on lead/ grabbed if I see one. Drives me mad the number of times owners allow their dogs to approach even with plenty of notice. Saying its friendly does nothing to help me when my terrified dog is warning yours off.

My thoughts are that your dog should not be off lead unless you are confident they will recall away from another dog (unfortunately my dog's recall is not that good so he stays on a long lead!). In an ideal world if you see a dog on a lead you should put your dog on a lead. Must dogs interact best when both are off lead. It is worth teaching your job to 'check in' before playing with another dog and it is worth asking the other owner if it is Ok.

Play is when it is equal - both take turns to be 'on top', do the chasing - or come back for more, tails are up, it can be noisy but the 'fighting' is 'relaxed' with open 'soft' mouths.

Your post makes me a bit nervous tbh.
Whippets can have a very rough play style; chasing, nipping, body slamming etc that can really terrify other dogs.

I agree with others that your whippet should only be off lead if she’ll cone running back to you when you call, I agree dontappriach leashed dogs.

I think you need to read lots of books, websites, YouTube videos etc about body language so you feel more comfortable assessing other dogs and your own dog’s behaviour

If the other dog is on a lead don’t allow your dog to approach, you’ll get to know the dog friendly parks and gatherings where people are happy to let their dogs play and others (hopefully) tend to avoid.

Unless the other dog also approached wanting to play you should not allow your dog to chase. Get your dog into balls!

If another dog is on the lead, I wouldn't let your dog approach them (unless the owner says it's ok ).

In terms of playing, providing your pup is well socialised and knows how to greet another dog appropriately they should be fine. I forget the exact statistics but very rare for play fights to turn into real fights. Dogs are generally good at regulating play.

That being said, at 11 months old you will still need to watch carefully to ensure your dog doesn't overstep his boundaries. I found youtube videos really useful in learning to recognise dog body language 😁

What's her recall like? I wouldn't let her off the lead at all if she doesn't have a reliable recall.

If you call her away from another dog, will she come back?

One of my dogs is playful but also jumps up at people. His recall isn't brilliant either. He stays on a long lead unless we are alone or I have checked with whomever is around.
My other dog has excellent recall and does not approach people but will play a bit - if another dog seems receptive, fine, otherwise I call her back and she always comes.
Until you are confident with recall be cautious. Saying your dog 'just wants to play' or 'he's harmless' does not help.

I would not let your dog off leash until it has a good recall. Also many public parks don't allow of leash dogs so check. If you see another dog on a leash put yours on a leash. Whippets are very bouncy im sure you would recognise the difference between rough play and fighting. I have malamutes now they play rough. A good way to gauge dog play is if they are on their back legs they are playing too rough.

Thanks this is very helpful. Her recall is really good, just wanted some frank advice. Thanks

Agree with others about recall.

My dog LOVES to play and is in her element when we find another dog who likes to play. But I always ask before she approaches another off lead dog.

I love seeing dogs play as it's so joyful and they have a great time. But not all dogs like to play so it's just good manners to always check with the owner.

The whippets we come across are great fun and usually play with my dog. They mainly love a good chase and I think it's a great way to tire them out, I adore whippets 😀