You’re walking your own dog and you’re approached by another dog, followed by that dog’s owner who’s calling out, “He’s friendly!” as his uncontrolled animal runs toward you, off leash. You don’t know the dog and you don’t know the owner. They certainly don’t know you or your dog either.
You don’t want your dog to meet this unknown quantity. You have good reasons.
You want the approaching dog’s owner to leash up his animal and head the other way.
What do you say and how do you say it? How do you convince the other owner to act responsibly?
I asked dog owners and dog professionals how they deal with unwanted approaches from unknown dogs and owners when they’re out walking their own dogs, or dogs that belong to their clients.
Barbara De Groodt I usually want to say (but don’t), “Mine eat friendly dogs.” That would for sure work with two Rottweilers in tow, but [I] don’t want them to have that reputation, so I usually say something to the effect of, “We’re training right now and I’d like mine to learn how to greet properly.” That defuses the situation very quickly, and often leads to [the question], “How do you do that?” I hand them a card and continue with our walk.
Cissy Stamm “I’m training. Please don’t let your dog interact with mine.” Or a loud “leave it” or “not now” to my dog, who responds by ignoring the other dog. It’s loud enough for the other person to hear. Or I put my palm up and say, “My dog isn’t always friendly.”
Chelsea Edwards I begin with “Please call your dog,” then, “Please call and leash your dog,” then “This is not an off-leash area. You are violating the law and I am calling XXXXX now!” My standards for what I assume are reasonable people. If those don’t work . . .
Adrienne Farricelli Cpdtka “I am working on rehabilitating a dog who was attacked by an off-leash ‘friendly’ dog,” as I make an about-turn and walk the opposite way!
Lori Katz “We’re in training—call your dog!”
Dia Barney Nonaka If [I’m] walking my dog, I say, “She’s not.” If I’m dog-free, a simple “I’m not,” said with lingering direct eye contact does the trick.
Linda Beal I pick up my dog, then say, “My dog can’t see and is easily frightened.” All true—she is a beautiful one-eyed senior. But I have used that answer since she was a pup. It is a good response for uncontrolled dogs and kids.
Photo by Tami Rotchford
Jerry Thornton “I’m not.”
Val Hughes Does that work?
Jerry Thornton Often.
Jeanne Brennan I see you’ve asked Jerry if it works. It usually comes after yelling, “Call your dog!” Other responses: “I don’t care. Mine isn’t. Call your dog before mine picks it up and shakes it.” You should see how that makes the owner hustle. I have also tossed a handful of treats at dogs and off our path for the oncoming dog.
Liz Jacques Sometimes saying “Mine’s not!” isn’t enough around here. I’ve actually had people say, “That’s okay!” and keep approaching. At which point I say, “He will bite your dog. Please leash up your dog.” Which is not true, but sometimes that’s what it takes to stop them.
Marni Fowler I’ve had to say that, too, after multiple encounters with a not-so-nice doodle whose owner insists [it] is friendly so [it] is always off-leash when I walk my dog. Finally, after saying, “Please call your dog. My dog is not good with other dogs,” and her taking her sweet time complying, I said, very calmly but firmly, “My dog will HURT your dog. Please get him NOW.” That lit a fire under her.
Linda Watkins [My dog] is usually lunging and snarling right about then, so when I say “GET YOUR DOG,” they kind of get the picture. If they continue to ignore this, I just let go of the leash. I refuse to get caught in the middle of a dog fight and if they will not call their dog back or make any effort to do so, I will not take a chance on getting tangled up and end up with broken bones. My dog is not going to draw blood, but he is large and he’ll pretty well “slime” the other dog. As he’s usually lunging and barking, it can appear that he pulled the leash from my hand.
We generally walk in the same place. It is not an off-leash park; however, the city tolerates off-leash dogs there, so folks tend to be a lot more careful. I actually am very careful to walk in places where we know all of the other dogs, and the owners know that I am doing all I can to keep away from them and keep everyone safe, But every once in a while, there’s a newbie who won’t listen.
Erin E James I always say, in my best bitchy voice, “Well, my boy is not.” Which isn’t quite true but still . . .
Donna Hitchcock Roecks “That’s good to know, but my dog’s NOT. That’s why I have them on a leash. You might want to get your dog!”
Kathy Smith “Mine is not. He’s reactive and yours is in danger. Get your dog!”
Lynn Cashion Kosmakos “If you love your dog, get him NOW!”
Amy Suggars “This dog hates other dogs. He’s not my dog so I have little control over him.”
Leanne Hugg I simply say, “Please call your dog and leash them,” as we pass. “If your dog approaches me or my dog without consent, I will mace your dog.”
Tiffany Niederle “I will mace your dog.”
Val Hughes What kind of reaction do you get?
Tiffany Niederle Dirty looks, sometimes not-nice words. If I need to warn them away, I have a dog that other dogs really need not to interact with, and that’s more important than anyone’s opinion of me. Also, I don’t even carry mace.
Ann Braue I just lie and say, “My dogs are not friendly.” Anyone who knows my dogs knows this is a really, really big lie but, hey, it works!
Lauren Fetterman “That’s great. He can be friendly over there.”
Joan Barber “My dog isn’t!” My dog is a snob and I never know how she will interact with other dogs.
Liz Catalano “Really? He doesn’t look it!”
Harald Groenen “If they’re so friendly, why can’t you get a leash on them?”
Marianne Mongeon Wilder Being the owner of pugs, I have heard this from large-dog owners at the dog park many times. My retort is always, “I sure hope so!”
Jill Gibbs Typically, I tell them that my dog is not friendly (as Henry wags his tail). If I am in a bad mood, I tell them that my dog will hump their dog. I chuckle as I pass because of the look on their faces. Who they really need to worry about is me, because I need a people-free walk and stupid people put me over the edge.
Donna Weidert My reply is always, “They all are—until they aren’t.”
Meira Frankl I’ve always called out, “Call your dog!” Most people can’t, though, or they try and their dog is oblivious. I’ve told people that my dog is dog-aggressive, but that hasn’t been enough. I’ve said that I’ll do whatever it takes to keep their dog away. Hasn’t worked.
What has worked is when I tell them in a panic that my dog has a contagious disease. People react a lot faster. Not that they always prevent their dog from approaching, but it does scare them into action.
My favorite response, for those who’ve got the nerve to say it:
Mike Godwin “I’m friendly, too, but you still want me to keep my pants on, right?”
