IT'S OKAY TO SAY NO

When you're out in public with your dogs do you sometimes feel there is an unwritten law or regulation insisting that if your dog sees another dog, they must greet each other?

It seems to have become common practise.

Do you struggle with the conflict of knowing your dog won't cope well (due to becoming over excited or snappy) if they meet another dog, yet you don't want to seem rude to the ‘friendly’ dog and their owner bearing down on you?

Well it's absolutely your right, and best advocacy for your dog, to call out to approaching owners and say NO!

My go to line is 'Sorry guys, he's in training' (which is true) and the majority of the time they happily go on their way.

Do you bear hug every single person that you come across in public? I hope not, because that would be weird, creepy, threatening or just too much. Dogs can feel like this too, so why do we subject them to do it?

When you're out in public next, remember, it's your right to say no to greetings. Advocate for your dog!

For those who like their dogs to meet other dogs on walks, I recommend you consider this:

• Call out to the owner from a distance to ask if it's okay to say hello.

• Only approach if your dog is walking on a loose leash. If they pull, reset. If they don't stop trying to pull, it's a sign they are too excited and in which case it's better to not meet and keep walking.

• Keep the greeting brief and don't linger. Lengthy greetings can lead to discomfort, overexcitement and ultimately tangled leads.

When you're next out on a walk, be conscious of the people and dogs around you. If you want your dog to meet an approaching dog, be sure to call out and ask if it's okay from a distance first, so they have the space and opportunity to say yes or no.

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Aleisha Martin, Trainer

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