14/11/2025
I see people letting dogs meet on leash and I brace myself 😆
Yes, we realize that on leash greetings can go successfully. Dogs who see each other all the time are often fine. Dog savvy owners who have a low threshold for nonsense successfully manage leashed dog interactions between mannerly, stable dogs all the time. The reality is that’s not what’s happening in “the wild”! Things get intense between dogs in my neighborhood every day and I know the same is true in most other scenarios when dogs are permitted to thoughtlessly approach one another.
Dogs meeting on leash is not socialization. It’s not supportive of most dog owners’ training goals. It does often create or fuel reactive behavior. Dogs typically have personal space bubbles with strangers just like we do.
Most dogs are capable of having some canine companions but there are ways to do introductions that reduce the risk of tension and conflict and maximize the development of positive relationships.
