Dog Etiquette (part 2)

(kindly condensed to a manageable read by Ralph Smith)

Four No-No’s

Ignoring “no pets allowed” signs

If we could, we’d take our pooches everywhere. But there are some public spaces—like restaurants and stores—where dogs aren’t welcome or are explicitly banned. Yet many dog owners think those signs apply to all pets except theirs, so they either sneak in or brazenly bring in their animals, says Ruth MacPete, DVM, a veterinarian and author of Lisette the Vet.

Doing so is disrespectful to the place you’re in and to those around you. It’s a serious breach of dog etiquette—you don’t know who there might have an allergy to or a serious fear of dogs, she says. If you want to be a good dog owner, follow the rules. And if you can’t leave your dog at home or outside with somebody else while you run a quick errand at the store, some obedience training might come in handy for your pet.

Calling your dog a “support” or “service” animal when it’s not.

A service dog has a specific definition—a “dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability,” according to the Americans with Disabilities Act— it must be specially trained, tested & certified. Some people choose to say their dog is a “support” animal or even lie about it being a trained service dog in order to take it places it doesn’t belong.

Dr. MacPete says this isn’t just rude. It’s dangerous. “People who flout these rules make it harder for those dog owners who truly depend on their certified service animals,” she says.

Allowing your dog to pee on other people’s property

Letting your dog pee on fence posts, mailboxes, shrubs, trees, trash cans or car tires that are on someone else’s property is a definite sign of a bad dog owner, says Neil Cohen, owner & head trainer at Sit Means Sit. Some people go to great lengths to keep dogs out of their yard, so be respectful about where you allow your dogs to go.

“While it is in male dogs’ nature to ‘mark,’ there is nothing that says he needs to do it anywhere he chooses,” Cohen explains. “It shows poor manners for the human and the dog. Additionally, it teaches the dog that there are no boundaries. Dogs, like children, need to know their boundaries.”

Dropping the leash to let your dog “make a friend”

Your dog gets excited when she sees a new dog but allowing her to just walk up to another dog & owner is begging for trouble, Rieckmann says. While many dogs like to make furry friends, others don’t do well with other dogs, especially if they are leashed & the approaching dog isn’t. Even if you have an affectionate dog breed, you never know if the other dog they are approaching is friendly or not.

“Dogs are just like us—many enjoy their personal space & want to warm up slowly when meeting a new friend,” she says.