16/09/2026
Most trainers will tell you never to let your dog interact with other dogs on lead…
And honestly, I don’t particularly like on lead greetings either.
Dogs are trapped in the interaction, you’ve removed the flight option and they’re forced into what can be very uncomfortable situations.
But the unfortunate reality is, the world is going to keep throwing things at you.
People are going to let their dogs approach. Mistakes are going to happen.
I’d rather prepare mine for that reality than have to police everyone else.
That’s why I’m deliberately seeking out carefully selected, social dogs that I can see are under control, so mine can practice these inevitable interactions in a more controlled environment.
I’m marking and rewarding, bringing her engagement back to me and then moving away from the interaction.
This isn’t something I’d recommend that everyone just go and practices.
These interactions need to be carefully managed and the right dogs need to be involved.
But, you can either spend your life micromanaging them or you can prepare them to cope when the world inevitably throws things at you 🤷♀️
