Greeting Other Dogs On Leash

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I'd love to get everyone's thoughts on this question. At our training this week, Murphy again did a great job of walking by other dogs without reacting....so it's been about three weeks now with no incidents.  I said to the trainer....I guess pretty soon we'll be able to work on having Murph greet other dogs on leash.  His response surprised me, and I'm not sure I'm totally buying it.  He said that would NEVER be a good idea for Murphy.  He said we can train him to sit calmly by my side while I talk to the person with the other dog, but he should not be allowed to go up to the other dog to play or interact.  His thought is that because that will create excitement for Murph, he could easily revert back to the state of mind that we're trying to control.  He said it's particularly important for Murphy because of his issues, but he doesn't think it's a good idea for any dogs to be allowed to "play" on-leash.  He thinks dogs need to know that there are certain behavioral expectations of them when they're being walked on leash, and  allowing "play time" with other dogs during walks creates confusion for them.  I just don't know....what are your thoughts?

[BG and Gavin]

Wow, super interesting question and view point of your trainer.  I will certainly be following as this info is very important to me too!  I think I will present this question to my trainer for her opinion on Tuesday.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

That would be great BG...I'd love another trainer's point of view on this.

[BG and Gavin]

As promised I asked my trainer her view on this - she said the leash can mean work, but it also should mean fun - which means time for sniffing, greeting and playing as well as attending to you, walking nicely and sitting when you ask. 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

BG -- But by "play" does she mean play with other dogs or just allowed some freedom to chase a leaf or snif some pee mail or something like that?

[BG and Gavin]

Both really -she wants you to give them enough leash that they can sniff and enjoy the walk as long as the leash is not pulled tight.  With other dogs, if they don't pull to get to them and greet nicely (and both owners are ok with it and in the mood for it) she says give them full leash.  She cautioned you don't want to meet on strained leashes as this sends a negative message.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

BINGO! DH needs to read this! Chloe has been reacting to other dogs (something new) and he ALWAYS has her leash tight! I try to find "nice" ways to change it but he gets defensive and does what he does. I told hime the one thing we should have gotten out of 3 training classes is consistency. Our one trainer was like the first mentioned here and the other said that if they ask and the other dog is willing that it's ok, but it's not if the leash is not loose right??

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jane, I think what your trainer said is true. Our Fudge is like your Murphy and just based on the nervousness and tension I feel when a dog approaches, I would never let her greet a dog on leash. She reacts, too, sometimes when I am not expecting it, so my approach is not to allow her to get in that situation. The last training class I went to, the trainer started each class with us walking around the circle and stopping at each dog, sitting our dog, greeting the person, and move on. The dogs did not interact, but had to sit quietly by your side. Fudge did fine with this exercise, but had I allowed her to sniff, I just don't know. Vern, on the other hand, would be fine either way. I think your trainer is excellent and really knows your Murphy and I think he is right. Just my opinion. Please send Ben to PA when you are done with him :)

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Oh Laurie, I'm going to be losing Ben.  He's moving up to the Cape....but not until late Summer.  Hopefully by then we'll be done.  Thanks for your input.  It does feel right for dogs like Murph and Fudge, but I'm not sure it's the same for other dogs.

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Hi again, Laurie.  You mentioned above that your trainer is moving to the Cape.  Do you mean Cape Cod?  I'm asking because we are getting a second dog in August, and I will be looking for a good trainer who's near Orleans.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Laurie, Jane is the one with the great trainer. I wish he would move to PA :) Jane should answer you. Good luck!!

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Hi again, Laurie.  You mentioned above that your trainer is moving to the Cape.  Do you mean Cape Cod?  I'm asking because we are getting a second dog in August, and I will be looking for a good trainer who's near Orleans.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree with Ben. I just don't "get" playing on leash, or play time during walks. I just see such an extreme difference in many dogs' behaviors when meeting other dogs on leash VS not on leash that it's clear to me there is something about the former that should really be avoided, even if a particular dog is okay with it. You and I have talked about this before; Jackdoodle is an entirely different dog when he meets other dogs on-leash than he is when he's off-leash. I mean, 180 degrees different. And he is far from the only one. That tells me something. It tells me there is something inherently threatening, unnatural, disturbing, uncomfortable, or whatever you want to call it about this kind of interaction, at least for some dogs.

They must learn to handle being around other dogs when they are leashed, having to remain calm, sit at your side, etc. I am not saying it's ever okay for them to act any way they please because they fell threatened, etc. But they don't have to play with another dog under those circumstances. They really can't "play" while on a leash anyway. And they really don't have to go up to another dog on leash to "greet" him, either. You can also never know what the other dog's response to an on-leash interaction will be, either. Your dog may be rock-solid, but what happens when the other dog isn't? I really think it's asking for trouble.

I also do think there should be expectations when they're being walked on leash and that it does create confusion when there are random playtimes happening in the middle of that.