It’s a little too frequently that I’m walking my very small, very cute shih tzu-poodle mix — she is very well behaved, by the way — and some neighbor, wielding a much larger, more energetic dog, nearly loses control of her animal as it lunges toward mine. Other than it startling both Molly and me, what makes those occasions so irksome is that I know it’s not the first time this has happened with the owner and yet, she (rarely is it a man) reacts like it was a complete surprise to her that her pet would behave so erratically.
If a person can’t control or hasn’t properly trained their dog so that anyone else who comes close to it can be sure that it’s under control, that person is unfit to have one. And that’s just the beginning of what should be a universal etiquette of dog ownership.
As dog owners, there are some things we should all agree upon.
It doesn’t matter how friendly your dog is. It should be on a leash. It’s maddening that there exists people in this world who assume that because their own dogs are harmless and sociable, everyone else is fine with them allowing their pets to roam free, unrestrained. But believe it or not, not all dogs are friendly and not all people like dogs. Some people are terrified of dogs, perhaps having been traumatized by one. Some dogs are perfectly behaved with interacting with humans but are averse to engagement with other dogs. Personally, I love all dogs, and yet I don’t always want an unfamiliar one approaching me uninvited. While one dog may be friendly off leash, it’s highly dangerous for it to approach another unknown dog that is leashed and may not appreciate the engagement. Unless the situation expressly dictates that dogs are permitted to be off leash, like in a leash-free dog park, they should always be restrained.
Clean up your dog’s excrement. It’s understandable that dogs occasionally have accidents, especially when they’re still training, but outside of a medical emergency, there’s no reason owners should be leaving their pet’s urine or feces in a public or communal space. There are dog owners who, either out of laziness, embarrassment, or tackiness, will allow their pet’s waste to fester on sidewalks, in apartment hallways, and other areas that people have to share. It’s both wildly rude and unsanitary. If you forgot a bag to pick it up, go get one and come back. If it’s embarrassing that your dog urinated in the middle of the hallway, tough. Clean it up.
Don’t own a dog that you’re physically incapable of controlling. This goes back to the lunging thing. When it happens, it’s almost always an encounter with a small framed woman who isn’t able to fully command a large dog with her own strength. It’s irresponsible to have a pet in public that the owner is unable to control. If the dog were to get loose, it could severely hurt itself or someone else. It’s a lawsuit waiting to happen. And so, ladies, I love the animal lovers, but be practical when choosing your dog. Large ones are as perfect as every other sized dog, and they might offer a sense of protection, but if you’re unable to train it quickly, it’s reckless to own one.
The etiquette is simple and should be obvious. When followed, everyone is happier, including the dogs.
