Let’s say you’re running with your dog. You see another dog owner jogging or walking their dog on the same path, in the opposite direction. You know your dog is the type bolt at and attempt to jump all over the approaching hound. Your dog just loves playing with other dogs. It’s all in good fun, right? Let’s go over some manners when it comes to meeting other dogs in the middle of exercise.

If your dog is the type to crawl out of its skin to greet the other dog in this situation, it’s important to realize that the other dog may not be as friendly as yours – and neither may the other owner. Some dog owners just don’t like being interrupted in the middle of exercising or training their dog and it’s important to keep personal space in mind in this situation.

If you know your dog will attempt to bolt and jump on the other dog, here are some things you can do to avoid a potentially nasty confrontation:

• Move to the other side of the road
• Stop and have your dog sit while the other dog owner passes with their dog
• Make sure that you have control over your dog at all times, not just when you see another dog. It’s important not to suddenly clench your fist and tense up in anticipation of what’s to come as soon as you see another dog. Your dog will sense this and get even more wound up about the approaching animal. Just make sure that you have a secure grip over the leash all throughout your run.
• If you’d like to let your dogs sniff each other, always ask from a safe distance. If the other owner says no, don’t push it – move on. They have their reasons.

There are just some short term solutions you can take if your dog is the type to run at others. In the long term, it’s always best to correct the behaviour with consistent training. For example, using a long 15 meter lead has been working for Keeda and me. We use it to set boundaries for her in our training and more freestyle exercise. We still run on a regular 6 foot leash. Some dog owners also teach their dogs to move over when being passed by other dogs on their runs.