As more dogs getting walked, Modesto pet trainer says social distance them, too

We are living in interesting times. Despite the chaos and lifestyle changes COVD-19 has placed upon us, there may be at least one positive to come from this – just ask the family dog, who is probably getting more attention and frequent walks than ever.

Walking out in public with our dogs would go much more smoothly if we all stuck to the social distancing concept. Contrary to popular belief, it is not necessary for your friendly dog to meet and interact with every other dog he encounters, it also is better if he doesn’t. When dogs are accustomed to having contact with every other dog – or person – they see, it often results in a high level of excitement and a wide range of not-so-desirable behavior on leash.

Barking, jumping, lunging and pulling, for starters. And let’s not forget that not every dog, dare I say most dogs, really don’t enjoy having an excited, bouncy, unknown dog come bounding up into their space. It’s rude. But somehow, we’ve got it backward. Dog owners seem to be under the impression that if their dog isn’t wildly friendly and excited to interact with other dogs or people, that there’s something wrong with that dog. Huh?

What makes more sense and truly better suits the needs of most dogs is to be left alone to walk with their person, and to engage in a sniff-a-thon along the way. If encountering another person or dog/person team on the same side of the street as yourself, cross the street to avoid close contact, or at least move around them in a wide arc.

If your dog loses control, whether in an excited or aggressive manner when seeing another dog, get behind a barrier – like a car or garbage can. By not being able to see the source of your dog’s arousal, he will be less explosive and easier to manage. You can then resume your walk once the other dog is at a distance.

And believe me, no one cares if your off-leash dog is friendly or not – it is rude and often dangerous to have your out-of-control dog off leash. You have a social and legal responsibility to maintain control of your dog, regardless of his behavior.

If you have a dog that is highly social and thoroughly enjoys being in the company of other friendly dogs, then give him the opportunity to socialize, without jeopardizing the safety and comfort of others. Off-leash encounters are best when giving dogs the ability to socialize, so dog parks, scheduled gatherings with friends and their social dogs in somebody’s yard, or even dog daycare services provide the right environment for dogs to positively interact with their buddies.

So even when this COVD-19 nightmare is over, we would be wise to continue with our social distancing practices when out with our dogs. You’d be amazed at how a little respect of another’s space can positively affect a dog’s behavior, resulting in more enjoyment for all.

Lisa Moore’s pet-behavior column appears once a month on the Pet Page. Write to her in care of LifeStyles, The Modesto Bee, P.O. Box 5256, Modesto 95352.

This story was originally published April 1, 2020 at 10:48 AM.