21/05/2022
Dog Common Courtesies
Recently many Benicia locals have been complaining about dogs being off leash, people approaching their dog without asking, people not cleaning up after their dogs, and more. We believe it’s important to follow certain common courtesies in public for your and your dog’s safety and to maintain a pleasant environment. Below are some common courtesies we follow and invite you to share.
KEEP YOUR DOG ON A LEASH
When in a public area, we keep our dogs on leash (usually a 6ft or shorter leash to keep them close by). Even if a dog is friendly and trained to come on command, they may chase other creatures and get lost, stolen, or attacked by a coyote or a less friendly dog they approach. The one exception to this is at the dog park (it’s a fenced in area and welcomes dogs that are friendly to other dogs and humans).
DO NOT LEAVE YOUR DOG UNATTENDED IN PUBLIC
For many of the same reasons why we keep dogs on leash, we don’t leave dogs unattended in public settings. Some dogs get distressed when alone and try to run away or strangers approach and get bit. Dogs can also overheat if left in a car for too long without air conditioning. We would love to take our dogs with us everywhere but sometimes it’s better to leave them at home when running errands that require leaving them unattended.
ALWAYS ASK THE DOG OWNER BEFORE APPROACHING THEIR DOG
This courtesy applies to both dog parents and the general public. Some dogs provide services to their owners or are less friendly and will growl and bite if approached. There’s often a misconception by parents of friendly dogs that it’s ok for their dog to approach another dog because their own dog is friendly. It’s important to ask before allowing your friendly dog to approach because the other dog may not be friendly, the owner could be training it, and/or the dog is generally friendly but will snap if approached a certain way (e.g., from behind, when jumped on, etc.).
ALWAY CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR DOG
We always clean up after our dogs go potty as a courtesy to others and to keep the environment pleasant. It’s also important to be aware of where your dog goes potty as many neighbors prefer dogs stay off their front yards and clean up is required at the dog park too. Many local parks and neighborhoods have dog p**p bag dispensers available for your use.
KNOW WHAT ENVIRONMENTS ARE SAFE FOR YOUR DOG
Some dogs are very social and love to be around humans and other dogs. Other dogs don’t share the same sentiment and their “fight, freeze, or flight” response will kick in when humans and/or other dogs are present. For the safety of your dog, yourself, and others, it’s important to bring your dog to environments that promote their wellbeing and reduce trauma. While each dog is unique, generally dogs do not like crowded areas or high traffic and loud streets. The best places for dogs (in our opinion) are parks with open spaces and less busy trails to maintain distance from others. In Benicia, the Community Park is one of the best and also has the dog park for dogs that love social interaction.
Are there any other courtesies you would add to this list? Please comment below and share. Our goal is to educate the public about dogs to help our community and let our furry companions continue to enjoy our wonderful parks😊
