Respect other visitors to The Dales by keep their dog in sight and under control
Sometimes pathways are narrow, sometimes there are horses and bikes on the routes we use. No-one wants to have their dog run over by a bike or a horse, and the majority of people riding them don’t want to hurt your dog either.
Some people have allergies or are afraid of dogs, so they just want to enjoy their time without contact with dogs.
Some people have dogs that are not good with other dogs and get quite upset with uncontrolled contact with other dogs.
A person might be fearful of dogs because they haven’t had very much positive contact with dogs or have been attacked or bitten by a dog.
Other dogs need space for a variety of reasons including; being in training, being nervous and needing time to build confidence having been attacked before. Just because your dog is friendly, doesn’t mean it will be received well. Non-consensual uncontrolled meetings for your dog always run the risk of your dog getting hurt. It doesn’t really matter if your dog is big or small, or of a specific breed, dog manners are universal and relevant to all, it’s nice and indiscriminate that way!
It’s always a good idea to keep a close eye on dogs even when they are playing and seem to be getting on great. Things can easily get heated if one dog gets over excited or overstimulated. Look for signs of your dog getting nervous, overwhelmed, or bullied and do your best to advocate for your dog to make sure they stay happy in every play situation they are in.
General training advice is that you make sure you have a really reliable recall before you let your dog off a lead. That means you can make sure you know where your dog is, that they are not getting into any mischief and can keep them safe by getting them back to you and out of the way of any hazards.
It is a really good idea not to let your dog approach another on a lead unless you have permission from the owner. If you see a dog on a lead, putting your dog on a lead or under very close control is a considerate and polite thing you can do, to help the other dog and owner out and keep your dog safe.
Recall is not always easy, so you can always get a certified trainer to help you. There is also a lot of free advice available online, although it can be a bit overwhelming. Victoria Stillwell’s (best known for Channel 4’s Its me or the dog) website offers free online guidance on this and other areas of positive training.
