It is no surprise here that Brutus and I love to go hiking.  What we don’t love is the lack of knowledge people have about simple hiking etiquette or maybe it’s more like the lack of respect for those rules that make it even more annoying.

I find myself either providing a little education or making a snide comment in their direction. Most of the time it is pretty easy to tell those with a lack of knowledge by the way they interact with their dog while walking.  Those getting walked by their dog or those with the deer in the headlights look on their faces the whole time.  I don’t mind offering a bit of guidance to help the cause because helping them helps me, but sometimes I just want to scream at them to go home and never come back.  This seems to be my reaction to those who just don’t seem to care about how their actions while walking effect those around them.  This isn’t just the dog walkers either, it is for those without dogs as well. Even they don’t have a clue about how to walk by others and especially those with dogs.

So, I figured I would write a bit about walking with and without your dog in a  responsible and respectful way for the betterment of all.

• Always, and I mean always, walk your dog on a leash according to the rules of the park or hiking location.  This is not just important for the continued access for all dog walkers to that location, but also important to your dog’s safety and the wellbeing of others you meet on the trail.  Remember that not all hikers want a dog running up to them (many people and children are afraid of them) and many dogs don’t like other loose dogs invading their space.  Your first responsibility is to ensure your dog’s safety and an off leash dog’s safety is always in question no matter how well trained and let’s face it many of you who try off leash do not have the kind of trained dog who should be off leash in the first place.  Many people simply give up trying to leash walk their dog because they constantly pull on the leash rather than trying to train them in the art of loose leash walking.  If you really want off leash, then go to an off leash park or location that allows it.  Then everyone who goes there knows what to expect and should be prepared for that situation.

• Off leash is not the end of your dogs fun, Do not require your dog to heel the whole time.  Let him sniff and walk back and forth and investigate.  If you do that, he/she won’t care about the leash.  Make it fun.

• A reminder that retractable leads are not a good idea, They are not as strong as they appear to be, are easy to loose your grip on and can cause injury to your dog if they get distracted and run out to the end of it.  There are 15 and 30-foot leashes made out of cotton that you can use to give your dog more freedom, but please check your location rules regarding leash length before using it.  I often take my 30-foot leash in areas where they have no leash length rules so he can get a little more adventurous but I can still recall him without hesitation when other hikers are near.  Let’s face it, the world is full of distractions for your dog, so a guaranteed recall off leash is not possible unless you have the most highly trained dog which most people simply don’t have.

• Give passing dogs space when you pass them by.  This is something I find particularly important and often annoys me more than an off leash dog.  Don’t walk directly toward an oncoming dog and refuse to move over to give him space.  Even the friendliest dogs don’t like to be crowded especially by strangers, so please give them a bit of room.  I can’t tell you how many times people brush up against Brutus and I am pretty sure someday they will do that to the wrong dog.  Who will be to blame when something bad happens? The dog will. So please give dogs space.

• If you are walking in a group or with your dog, please stay over to your side of the trail. Why should Brutus and I have to move over into the tall grass or woods just because you want to hog the trail?  If the trail is narrow then both parties should move slightly off the trail to give each other and the passing dog space.

• Please don’t let your children swing sticks and branches around when dogs are passing. This is a recipe for disaster.

• Same rules apply to your children when walking as it does for everyone else.  Keep your children close to you at all times.

• Don’t ask me if my dog is friendly.  Ask me if it is okay for the dogs to greet each other or if you can pet him.  Just because you say your dog is friendly means nothing to me. You could be completely oblivious to your dog’s signals when he greets strangers and strange dogs.  What do you consider the behavior of a friendly dog anyway? Does he say hello calmly or does he behave rudely by jumping up and getting over excited?Everyone’s definition of friendly is slightly different so it is not the right question to ask.  Most people do not know how to properly greet a dog without the dog thinking they are being rude anyway, so it’s best to avoid it all together.To avoid any potential issues, I refrain from any interaction with strangers and strange dogs regardless of how “friendly” Brutus is.

• Don’t set your dog or the other dog up for potential failure because they behave rudely to each other and don’t read each others signals. If you want your dog to have play dates, join a play group.  Let the dogs get to know each other and then form a hiking group together.

• If you are having trouble walking your dog past people or other dogs without him barking and carrying on, try to distract your dog when walking past with a special dog treat or special toy used just for out hiking.  It has to be something your dog is obsessed with. Keep it in your pocket and pull it out when you need a distraction.  After you have passed the source of his bad behavior, let your dog play for a few minutes with his special toy while praising him and then switch the toy out for a treat and put it back in your pocket until you need it again.  I tell most people to avoid stopping and waiting for others to pass.  This just makes your dog frustrated and can make future reactions worse.  It is best to keep moving past as quickly as you can using something to distract your dog. If you have a really reactive dog, avoid hiking in busy areas during peak times until you can work more on your dog’s reaction to others and perhaps seek professional help,  Your dog will thank you for working to make hiking a more enjoyable experience.  There are some great books out there for reactive dogs  and ways to work with them such as Behavior Adjustment Training: BAT for fear, frustration and aggression in dogs by Grisha Stewart.

Hiking with or without your dog is supposed to be a fun and relaxing experience.  You don’t want other people ruining your time, so don’t ruin theirs either. The outdoors is for everyone to enjoy.

Til next time! Happy Hiking!

Brutus and L