Dog Etiquette When You’re Out Walking

Not all people are dog people, and not all dogs are people dogs. I’ve had many different types of dog personalities in my life over the years, and as a person responsible for a dog, I’ve found that it is incredibly important to take the lead and be consistent and clear with others when I’m out and about. As warmer weather entices us to take longer and more frequent dog walks, the anonymous question below seems especially timely.

I’ve just adopted a dog who is a bit aggressive, and he’s not great with greetings. How do I politely tell someone not to approach my dog, and what’s the proper etiquette when I meet someone else’s dog?

One of the first things you need to make sure of is that you have the right kind of leash setup for your dog. You want to be able to easily and respectfully guide your dog so that if people are misbehaving (i.e., approaching too quickly), you can direct your dog and know he/she will follow. Use a harness that allows for the leash to be clipped to the chest portion of the harness, not the back.

Dogs can be incredibly strong, especially in the chest, and when the leash is hooked to the back of the harness, the pressure from you is distributed across their entire (powerful) chest, making it harder to direct your dog. By attaching the leash to the front of the harness, you can guide your dog more easily to the right or left, allowing you to quickly direct your dog away from the “Ooooo puppy!!!” person who is approaching. 

Modern Manners

Navigate today’s often complex social situations with expert tips from Lizzie Post, the great-great-granddaughter of etiquette legend Emily Post. Lizzie will help you find the suitable words to say and proper things to do when dealing with family, friends, and your in-person and online communities.

Email your etiquette questions to modernmanners@aarp.org

Most places have leash laws, and while it might feel cool and like you’re super bonded with your pet to go leash-free, using a leash in public is a crucial part of pet care. Unless you’d make a $1,000 bet that your dog won’t get curious, misbehave or chase something, don’t go out without a leash — especially if the area you’re walking in is frequented by other dog walkers. 

I can imagine some reading this might be saying, “Lizzie, this is an etiquette column — what’s with all the leash advice?” Well, in public, your leash is the best protection for you and your dog. In most cases, and with the proper setup, it gives you control over your dog so that you can guide and protect him or her (or others, if you have a reactive dog).