It’s OK, they’re friendly!
Shire Walk
I love starting the day with a walk around the pond with my pup. One particular morning, as I strolled the trail, I spotted a strange individual loudly greeting others—running up to them, offering rowdy hugs and big kisses. They were too friendly. I silently hoped they wouldn’t see me.
My heart rate climbed as the stranger grabbed me and kissed my cheek with a loud “Good morning!” I smiled awkwardly and tried to move on, but they followed me, talking loudly until they spotted someone else to ambush.
Just as I started to recover, another person approached. This one had a totally different vibe: tense, intense, and seemingly looking for a fight. Their shoulders were square, their scowl fixed. I offered a friendly nod, but was met with a cold, hard stare. They followed for a few steps, then drifted away.
Talk about a stressful walk.
The Real Walkers
Fortunately, those encounters were fictional. Unfortunately, many dogs experience this kind of stress every day.
If you’re like me, you’ve been out walking your dog when another one comes charging up off-leash, and the person yells, “It’s okay, they’re friendly!”
That may be true—but is it really okay?
Friendliness Isn’t the Point
It’s not about whether your dog is friendly, or how much you value off-leash freedom. It’s about respect.
Letting your dog crash into other people and dogs, greeting everything and everyone indiscriminately, is not safe or healthy socialization. Proper social skills mean helping your dog stay calm around new people, dogs, and experiences—and learning that not everything requires a reaction.
When someone’s walking their dog on a leash, they’ve made a choice. That dog might be recovering from surgery, in training, nervous, or reactive. The reason doesn’t matter. What matters is sharing space respectfully.
Truckee’s Leash Law
You may have heard, “Truckee has no leash law.” Actually, it does. The regulation states that your dog must be:
In close proximity, and
Under verbal control.
That means your dog should be within eyesight and respond immediately to a single command. If you find yourself apologizing or chasing your dog down, it’s time to leash up.
Better Behavior Starts with You
Socializing and meeting neighbors is great—but even friendly greetings can be overwhelming if they’re too forward. Dogs and people alike benefit from respectful interactions.
Here are three key skills every pup can learn:
Disengagement – The ability to move away from distractions both physically and mentally.
Proximity – Building value in staying near you, not drifting off into the environment.
Optimism – Learning to see new experiences as no big deal.
Respect Makes the Walk Better for Everyone
Being present, keeping your head up, and staying engaged with your dog can make your walks more enjoyable and peaceful—for everyone.
With a little empathy, awareness, and good manners, we can help create a safer, more relaxed community space for all of our neighbors—two-legged and four-legged alike.
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