Safety First!

With every animal, you have to build its confidence around people because people do some crazy and stupid things. ~ Dr.Ian Dunbar

Pro-Tip: When In Doubt, Let Them Pass.

Do you ever happen upon tight spaces or crowded places with your dog? We do. A lot. And our rule is to always let the other dog pass first.

Whether you're walking your dog on a city sidewalk or a park trail it's always a good choice to avoid putting your dog (or someone else's dog) in a questionable or possibly threatening or dangerous situation.

Here are just a few reasons why we do this with our dog:

Not all adults are comfortable around dogs.
Not all kids are comfortable around dogs.
Not all dogs are comfortable around dogs.
Not all adults and kids know how to appropriately behave or greet dogs.
Sometimes dogs are not as people / dog friendly as we would like to believe.

If you are not fluent in the subtleties of dog body language you could easily misinterpret an unfriendly dog and place yourself and your dog in a dangerous situation.

If your dog has any current (or history of) fear/frustration/aggression issues on (or off) leash, this could trigger a reactive response from your dog. Any kind of setback is a quantum leap backward in positive behavior modification for these kinds of behaviors.

It's our duty as dog guardians to set ourselves and our canine companions up for success! Being cautious of, and respectful of other people, their dogs, and their kids is one way that we can set everyone up for success when we are out and about enjoying life with our dogs!

It's quite common these days for a canine companion to be a dynamic "D.I.N.O.S."

D.I.N.O.S. is an acronym in the science-based dog training community for "dogs in need of space."

Many canine companions need space for a variety of reasons:

illness
old age
leash reactivity
shyness
while training

These hand-made jackets let others know you'd like them to keep a distance with this easy-to-spot yellow dog jacket.

Learn More

The Pros & Cons of Collars and Harnesses

Conscious Companion recommends dogs on harnesses instead of collars. These are two great products to consider:

The "Positively No Pull Harness"

The Balance Harness

"In dog training, jerk is a noun, not a verb." - Dr. Dennis Fetko

The Bark on Dog Parks

What Dog Parks Teach Our Dogs

Three Dogs Who Shouldn't Be at the Dog Park or Daycare

Are off-leash dog parks and dog runs good for your dog? Learn how to pick a dog park and use it safely.
Dog Park People
Predatory Drift - What you need to know: It can be dangerous for big dogs and little dogs off-leash together. Many dog breeds have been purposefully shaped by humans to do a fragment of the wolf predation sequence in preference to other behaviors.

Some dogs display frank predatory behaviour toward other dogs the same way they might toward squirrels, cats and other critters. Most such dogs direct regular social behaviour toward dogs on other occasions, or confine their predation to small dogs or running dogs only. Each dog will have a profile, broad or narrow, of the targeted dogs and contexts that elicit the behaviour. Often dogs will try to stop an agitated, squirming, squealing, running "thing" from moving; unfortunately, this involves using mouth and teeth. Details here

What's the alternative to dog park mayhem? You have a few:

Find people you trust (that have dogs you trust) and set up playdates. You may even be lucky enough to set these dates up at the dog park at off-peak times.

Find a trustworthy doggie daycare run by skilled people who behavior test all the dogs, separate dogs into appropriate playgroups, and who also allow you to watch your dog interact with the others.
Learn more about how to safely navigate dog parks here!
Check out the Dog Park Safety App!

Behavior Bite: Playtime Truth

In groups of 3 or more (sometimes even with only 2), dogs will often pack up and harass one of the dogs in the group. If your dog is spending all of his/her time running, instead of alternating with play-bowing and chasing the other dogs, s/he is probably not playing.

One way to check whether your dog is playing or being harassed is to call him/her over (or rescue them from the other dog) and wait a few seconds. Let go and see where your dog goes. If s/he heads back to the other dog, and the other dog also heads toward your dog, life is good; they both want to play. Otherwise, one of them was not playing and it’s time to move on. If you’re unsure, move on!

~ Grisha Stewart, Ahimsa Dog Training Manual: Problem Solving and Training

What to Do If Your Dog Growls or Snaps

When a dog growls or snaps at us it's normal for us to feel frightened, and maybe even betrayed. It’s hard to know what to do. This link discusses the canine warnings and how we can respond to them productively. Many people think that we should punish our dog for showing any aggression. Learn why that’s counterproductive, and what to do instead here.