Most weeks I walk somewhere around 40 dogs. Let me tell you, I have seen a lot of strange things! The one that always baffles me the most is when I am walking a client & I see another leashed dog coming towards us. When I was new to dog walking, my instincts always told me that I should probably cross the street as not to risk anything happening to my client on my watch. Then as I became more serious about dog walking I went through getting pet CPR & first aid certified. In these classes, my instincts were reinforced that it is best to ‘zig-zag’ while dog walking to avoid any tragedies from occurring. Yay, go me! Sometimes I forget that it was an experience of self-discovery & obtaining additional education for me to incorporate this practice into every single walk. Yet I am still surprised when zig-zagging is interpreted as an offensive practice! If I got a dollar every time someone spotted me getting ready to cross the street to get away from their dog, only for them to yell "But he's friendly!" ... I'd be able to pay off my student loan debt in no time!
I’ve tried many different things; trying to politely explain why I am crossing the street (this is surprisingly met with hostility as if I have offended their very existence), placing an ‘In Training’ marker on the leash or harness (shocker, no one notices), I’ve even fantasized about putting my previous French language classes to use (cause what else am I going to use it for, why didn’t I take Spanish) to pretend like I don’t understand what is going on… but after much trial & error, it turns out completely ignoring the other owner is the winner. So while this gets me through the day to day while keeping my clients safe, I still wanted to briefly explain why exactly so many pet care professionals do not suggest socializing Doggos while out for a walk!
Socializing while on a leash, in my opinion, is risky for many reasons.
Socializing while on a leash goes against nature.
Take a second & picture what it’s like when two dogs meet off-leash. They essentially participate in a dance – moving forward, then back, going around each other, sniffing each other’s… parts, all while presenting body language cues, which help to keep the interaction civil. If one of the dogs becomes fearful, he can retreat to keep himself safe. Which is yet another body language cue.
Now picture two dogs meeting on a leash. The dance is stiff due the restraint of the leash. As one dog tries to circle the other, they are suddenly tangled. The fearful dog would like to retreat to safety, but he knows that the leash is restricting his movement. Feeling trapped, he decides to get space the only way possible by growling or snapping at the other dog to get it to move away. Perhaps he hasn’t noticed that the leash is also tangled around the other dog’s hind leg, so now he too is fearful as he is unable to get away from a growling dog who’s all up in his grill! Now we have a dog fight on our hands, & potentially only one person who knows how to break up a dog fight, which depending on the size of the dogs, may actually require two knowledgeable humans. And worst yet, let’s say a tragedy occurs & one of the dogs is severely injured. The other dog is at risk for being put down by animal control. Not. On. My. Watch.
After spending thousands of hours observing doggo body language, I just know things.
Believe it or not, with all of the time I spend around dogs, I can tell from a ways down the road that the impending social interaction will not be a pleasant one. Observing body posturing, ear & tail positioning, pace, & more all give me clues on what kind of emotional baggage a dog is living with. While most people think all dogs should like all other dogs seeing as they are pack animals, that is just not the case. And that's ok! Boundaries are healthy, right? We just have to observe & honor our furry friends wants & needs.
Previous experiences.
Previous experiences with dog fights breaking out makes me remember that dogs are primal animals driven by instinct. When I witness a seemingly out of the blue fight break out, I always say perhaps there was an odd smell in the wind, or a certain phase of the moon which provoked otherwise non-aggressive dogs into a dangerous situation.
Leash Reactive Dogs.
I am truly happy to hear that your dog is friendly. That is so great! But, did you know that just like humans, not all dogs want to essentially shake hands with every dog they encounter? Perhaps you are not familiar with the term ‘Leash Reactivity.’ According to Melanie Benware, who is a training coordinator for Holiday Barn,
“Leash reactivity, as I define it, is a dog that when put on the leash feels threatened or defensive when it sees other dogs and acts out. The severity of the reaction depends on each dog and the level to which it feels insecure. Some dogs simply growl and their hackles raise. Others will bark and lunge towards the other dog. To be clear, there is a difference between leash reactivity and dog aggression. Leash reactive dogs, when done properly, can interact well with other dogs. Many dogs that are leash reactive do wonderful in off leash environments with other dogs. Truly dog aggressive dogs will not. I am not saying that dog aggression cannot be improved but it is my opinion that aggression is managed, not cured. However, reactivity can be “fixed”. It just takes time, training and understanding why your dog is reacting the way he is.”
I work with many leash reactive clients. Because I care about them so much, it is my duty to give them the space to go to the bathroom & sniff around their neighborhood without letting anything bad happen to them.
So, in conclusion, I zig-zag to keep my clients safe. I zig-zag to keep your fur baby safe. I zig-zag to keep me safe. I zig-zag to keep you safe! Please do not be offended!!
BONUS MATERIAL
Better Alternatives for Socialization: fenced in backyards, local doggo meet-ups, pack walks, doggy daycare, & possible even dog parks (but please keep in mind this too does not go without risk. I recommend putting the cell phones down & watching your doggo, along with other dogs’ body language).
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