10/08/2026
A little reminder about dog walking etiquette 🐾
Something happened on our walk this morning that really highlighted to me again why dog walking etiquette, i.e. recall, awareness and respecting other dogs’ space, are so important.
Bobby was off lead when I saw a large, excitable dog bounding towards us, so I immediately called him back and kept him with me. The owner was already calling his dog back before I even shouted to him, but it was clear he had no reliable recall. I then shouted to the owner and asked him to run and get his dog because Bobby was uncomfortable — he had tensed up and was giving a continuous, unsure growl as the dog approached.
The big dog was completely friendly from what I witnessed and just wanted to play, but he continued trying to get into Bobby’s space. I had to stand between them, using one hand to push the big dog away while physically managing Bobby with the other to prevent any contact until the owner eventually arrived to collect his dog.
Bobby continued to growl because he was clearly uncomfortable and wanted the dog to give him space. This wasn’t aggression; he was communicating very clearly that he didn’t want this interaction.
And this is the point:
“Don’t worry, he’s friendly” doesn’t mean every dog will be comfortable with him.
Bobby is a friendly dog, and I regularly walk him alongside other dogs. But that doesn’t mean he will automatically want every dog in his space. He can be wary when larger dogs approach him abruptly, which is why I prefer dogs to be introduced slowly, calmly and safely.
I also understand that not every friendly dog will get along with every other dog. That’s exactly why proper introductions and respecting each dog’s individual boundaries are so important. I would never assume my own dog — or any dog — automatically gets on with every dog just because they are described as “friendly.”
A large dog charging over to play can be completely harmless in that dog’s mind, but to a smaller dog it can be genuinely frightening.
Friendly doesn’t mean compatible, and friendly doesn’t mean welcome.
Unfortunately, this has happened to Bobby numerous times, and as a result he is now more wary of large dogs approaching him quickly. That’s why today’s experience was particularly upsetting. The big dog continued trying to get into Bobby’s space for quite some time while the owner was trying to get him back, creating a prolonged negative experience for him that simply could have been avoided.
As a professional dog walker, I take the responsibility of having other people’s dogs in my care incredibly seriously. You can’t switch off. You’re constantly watching, reading body language and making quick decisions to keep everyone safe.
Today was particularly stressful because I was also responsible for another dog who was off lead. Thankfully, he was brilliant throughout — he stayed beside me and completely out of the way while I dealt with the situation.
I love what I do, but honestly, the amount of irresponsible behaviour I see while out walking is really concerning, whether it’s something like this or other things I unfortunately encounter.
It’s not about one mistake — mistakes happen and none of us are perfect, myself included. It’s the fact that situations like this happen so often.
If your dog doesn’t have reliable recall, please think carefully before letting them off lead. If you’re practising recall, use a long line or a secure paddock where you can safely work on it.
Bobby was off lead too. The difference is that I could recall him when I saw another dog approaching.
ALWAYS REMEMBER: Off-lead freedom comes with responsibility.
Please respect other dogs’ space, respect other owners’ decisions, and don’t assume that because your dog is friendly, every dog wants to meet them.
We can’t control every situation, but we can control how responsibly we set those situations up. 🐾❤️
