09/10/2025
I feel like it's a feather ruffling morning 😜
DOG ETIQUETTE
It’s a thing. Or at least I believe it should be again. It was once upon a time. Let’s discuss a little, shall we?
I am a strong believer in dog etiquette, especially out in the wilds of suburbia. Far too often over the last few years I’ve seen dog etiquette go down the tubes. Here are a few things that I have noticed that I would love for people to be aware of and really think about while they are out in the jungles of the metropolis with their dogs.
1. Not everyone wants to meet your dog, touch your dog, make love to your dog or have your dog invade their space. Be polite, move over, shorten the leash if you have to, work some engagement, ask for a sit stay, don’t be a dick and let dogs invade spaces, especially of kids, other dogs or the elderly.
2. It’s not ok to let your dog on a flexi walk 75 feet ahead of you if you cannot control it with your voice. It’s not ok for that dog who is 75 feet ahead of you to round a blind corner or cross the road without you. It’s not ok for that dog to get to other dogs or people while you are 75 feet behind them. It’s definitely not ok to allow your dog to walk into buildings where you have no idea what’s going on in them and you are 75 feet behind. I am not completely anti-flexi if you are one of those people who are polite and responsible with them. If you aren’t one of those people, get a new leash.
3. Don’t let your dog go to the bathroom on people flowers, porches and gardens, it’s disgusting. I’m not talking the boulevard here, I’m talking about those who just let their dogs meander all over others properties, dropping the kids off at the pool by the porch and yellow watering their private gardens without a care in the world. Stop, just stop for the love of God.
4. Letting your dog p*e in a store and then not cleaning it up or not letting someone know so staff can clean it up. Good gawd people, what happened to just some common decency? I have a dog who marks, he’s an as**at about it – it’s his joy in life, and I make damn sure that I do my absolute best not to allow it to happen. And if it does on purpose-accidently happen, apologies profusely on me, and please hand me the paper towels, I’ll clean it up.
5. Off leash dogs. Sigh. I’m ok if you’ve got control. Like really have control, not pretending you do while you call your dog 25 times and on the 26th they decide to amble back over to you in a haphazard fashion. I off leash mine, selectively and in locations that are appropriate, but here’s the catch. If you are getting close, that leash needs to go back on, or you better be 1000% damn sure you have a solid recall or stay. I don’t give a flying f$%k if you’ve got an ecollar or not, if others are getting close, leash the damn dog. I’ve seen ecollars fail and dogs blow through them. I don’t trust your off leash dog when it’s getting close, and nor do many others out there.
6. Thinking all dogs are inherently friendly. Naïve at best. Absolutely dangerous or deadly at worst. This is to those of you who continue to advance on people with dogs whose owners are showing you all signs of trying to avoid you while you call out “he’s friendly, can they say hi?”. No Sabrina, they cannot. Quite clearly you have never owned a terrier, pitbull-type, working breed or molosser. Not all dogs want friends or are comfortable with friends. In fact, some dogs would rather eat friends than play with them. You need to make yourself aware of this. Please, for the sake of your own dog give your head a shake.
7. Not giving people space who are clearly struggling with their dogs. There are people out there trying to work on their dogs behaviour and not all days are good days. Often you’ll see them move their dogs to the side, or go another direction. To the people that notice and give space to those struggling, you are awesome. To the people who have no common decency and trudge right towards them like a big, dumb, oblivious meat head, well, I think I said enough.
These are just a few of the etiquette infractions that I have noticed happening far too often over the past few years. They are unfair to others, can be dangerous to your own dog, annoying and, if I may be blunt, just plain stupid. Let’s be better and treat others, dogs and people, with respect when out and about, and let’s remember that you are not the most important or only person in the world. There are others around you who may be afraid of dogs, not like dogs, be allergic to dogs and there are other dogs out there who may be afraid of dogs, aggressive towards dogs if they get in their space, be sick or elderly. There are people who take pride in their properties and don’t want to stick their hands in dog s**t while they garden. Overall, there are just other people and dogs that you need to respect and be mindful of when you are out and about with your dog.
Let’s bring back dog etiquette for everyone please.
Happy training!
It’s a thing. Or at least I believe it should be again. It was once upon a time. Let’s discuss a little, shall we? I am a strong believer in dog etiquette, especially out in the wilds o…
