While walking your canine companion, it is not uncommon to cross paths with another dog being walked. If both pet parents agree that it would be mutually beneficial for their canine companions to get close and meet on leash there are a few things that you should think about. The first is, as much as possible, keep that leash loose. If the leash is loose, the canines can interact more naturally. When there is tension on the leash the dogs can not behave as they would normally, which can increase tension. The second piece is to follow the leashes around. We call this “the Doggie Dance”. Dogs like to sniff one another and if we follow the leashes around, they will not get tangled. We want to make sure that if anything goes wrong, you can make a quick and unfettered departure. Lastly, have a verbal cue to let your dog know you are ready to leave. Have a cue for the departure, such as “lets go” or “all done”. This lets your dog know that you are moving on and the meet and greet is over. This has your dog leaving voluntarily rather than you tugging on the leash, which is what we all strive to achieve on a walk - no tension on the leash, ever!
