04/27/2025
It’s the weekend! You’ve got your hiking shoes on, coffee in hand, leash in the other, and your dog is READY. You're strolling through the neighborhood or hitting your favorite trail, soaking up the sunshine, when you spot another dog-human duo coming your way.
Do you let your dog say hello?
Here’s the thing: we know it feels friendly. We know your dog might want to meet that dog. But on-leash greetings? They’re often a messy mix of tension, miscommunication, and tangled-up leashes. And that’s before we even get to the butt-sniffing.
Let’s break it down:
🚫 Not All Dogs Want New Friends
Some dogs aren’t interested. Some are tired. Some are afraid. Others feel totally fine about dogs in the distance, but not-so-great when a stranger's nose is suddenly in their business. And guess what? That’s okay.
You don’t have to be everyone’s best friend at the farmer’s market either.
🎯 Leashes Limit Communication
Dogs use movement and body language to communicate (that’s the whole “banana curve” approach you’ve maybe seen). But leashes? They’re like putting everyone in a group chat where nobody can mute. Misunderstandings happen fast, and dogs may choose to escalate without the option to walk away; dogs may choose to escalate instead.
🔄 Rewarding the Wrong Behavior
If your dog pulls on leash and gets to greet the other dog, they’re learning: pulling = payoff. That’s a leash skill setback right there.
The real flex? Calmly passing another dog with polite curiosity and zero chaos.
✅ Better Weekend Plans
If your dog does like other dogs and you want to give them some friend time, try one of these instead:
Parallel Walks – Side-by-side strolls with another dog can offer safe, enriching social time without the pressure of a greeting.
Secure Yard Playdates – Let them romp with a known friend off-leash where greetings can happen naturally.
Scenic Solo Trail Walks – A change of scenery and ALL the sniffs? Yes, please.
And no, we didn’t forget about dog parks. That’s a spicy topic for another day. (Spoiler: we have thoughts.)
🧠 Training Tip of the Day
If you must allow an on-leash greeting:
Keep leashes loose
Watch for tension in body language
Keep it short (like 5–8 seconds MAX)
Walk away calmly (don’t drag your dog away, invite them instead)
💬 TL;DR: You’re Not Rude, You’re Responsible
Say it with us: “We don’t do on-leash greetings, but thanks!” You’re advocating for your dog’s safety and emotional well-being, and that’s the good human move (see what we did there).
Need help practicing polite leash manners? Want to set up some safe, structured playdates with social-savvy dogs?
We’ve got your back.
👉 Schedule a session and let’s help your dog be their best self on and off the leash.
Happy walking, Winston-Salem. And don’t forget your treats. 🐶
PS Take what you learned and head down to Art Cursh this weekend!
