01/06/2026
Up too close and personal! ⚠️
I've noticed that sometimes I dislike it when strangers approach me head on, a bit like some of our more nervous/anxious dogs 🐶
I often will look at my phone, walk off at an angle, but most of the time I'm able to give enough space to let us simply pass each other 🚶♀️🚶♂️
Now let's take an anxious or frustrated dog...
Now add the lead, a dog running at them, no escape. The pressure builds up and rather than moving away the dog feels in its best interests to bark or lunge. The human equivalent to "GO AWAY". This often proves more effective, so gets repeated ✔
So today I'm going to discuss these type of meetings and how you can help your dog 🐾
Dogs on lead
Why should we expect our dogs to be friendly and want to approach other dogs on lead? Especially when we ourselves, can relate to this kind of situation in the human world?
Like dogs humans in general (but not always remember) enjoy each other's company - a bit like us humans meeting a friend. Perhaps we have a drink in the pub, perhaps a game of tennis or even a group walk in the park. However these are usually in situations that are polite and acceptable, often with people we are familiar with. After all we wouldn't just plonk ourselves next to a stranger in the pub (well most of us wouldn't!) Or suddenly join a group of people walking, uninvited.
Inappropriate meetings
When dogs meet on lead they are often unintentionally forced or persuaded into an inappropriate meeting. Often they will meet head on, unable to perform the polite greeting in the dog world - circling and sniffing each other's bum (the human equivalent to a hand shake). The lead can often get entangled, both dogs are unable to read each other's body language and the owner often tightens the lead (restricting the freedom of movement even further).
Choice
Having the choice, well mannered dogs would try to avoid any head on meetings – instead they might approach each other at a slight arc, all the time watching each other’s body language and being considerate to the other dog's needs.
Saying hello to every dog?
Therefore we shouldn't feel the need to get our dogs to say hello to every dog. In fact I always avoid head on meetings or narrow pathways doing a banana shape around the other dog. However if I am able to assess the situation well, there is lots of space and providing the dogs are happy to do so I will occasionally allow on lead interactions.
Dog meets on lead
As a rule of thumb I let the dog meet 1 in 3 dogs on lead for only a few seconds (only if they want to and in the case of anxious dogs distance is always preffered, building up confidence with parallel walking). But on lead dog meets, I must stress, is only providing both dogs and owner are happy to do so and the situation is appropriate and dogs are comfortable to do so. Most of the time I find it is much easier to teach the dog to ignore other dogs whilst on lead and instead, focus on myself or the environment around them or do some parallel walking instead. By doing so I'm reducing any unnecessary confrontation on lead.
Helping your dog
Here's how to help build safe interactions and experiences and coping with the 'up too close and personal':
🐕 Dog friends/helper/stooge dogs to build confidence - appropriate to the needs of your dog. I prefer small groups, or even 121.
🐕 Practice some parallel walking on lead with a buddy dog/helper dog.
🐕 Distance is great, especially with anxious dogs. I find places with mostly online dogs and practice parallel walking from a distance.
🐕 I often will stick to the edge of a quieter field, the centre feels like 'no Man's land' and often a place for the more off lead dogs.
🐕 I make sure I can see all exits and have a safe route to leave where possible.
🐕 I practice the 'emergency u-turn, turning around and throwing treats in the path of the incoming dog.
🐕 I avoid busy parks, busy walking times and often find the old industrial estate useful!
🐕 I recommend awareness leads (check out My Anxious Dog UK)
As always be guided by your dog's body language. If in doubt always avoid a on lead meet and remember just because your dog is friendly it doesn't mean the other dog is too!
Thanks for reading,
Helen Motteram
