It’s important to be a responsible dog owner and follow these dog walking etiquette rules when walking your dog.
Some of these seem like common sense, like cleaning up after your dog and keeping your them on a leash. But you’d be surprised at how many people don’t pick up their dog’s poop and let their dog walk off-leash and approach other people and dogs.
Dog walking etiquette plays more than just a role in keeping walks fun and stress-free. Dog walking etiquette tips ensure the safety of dogs, their walkers, and the surrounding community and keep your neighbors happy.
Walking Your Dog Etiquette Rule #1
Keep your dog on a leash
Most cities and townships have a leash law, requiring you to have your dog on a leash while walking in public.
We like to use a 6’ leash, it’s long enough to let them sniff and go potty, but short enough to keep control of them. Do not use a retractable leash, it is dangerous for you, your dog, and others around you.
📖 Read: How to Choose the Best Dog Leash.
Even if your dog is off-leash trained, think about what would happen if your dog got spooked by something and took off. Or, if another off-leash dog started charging your dog! You would have no way of guiding your dog away from harm.
Educate yourself on local leash laws and regulations to comply with legal requirements while walking your dog in public spaces.
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Walking Your Dog Etiquette Rule #2
Pick up your dog’s poop
Clean up after your dog… please! I can’t tell you how many times we see dog poop on our walks, at dog parks, and at hotels when we are traveling. It should be a common courtesy to pick up after your dog, but for some reason, so many people decide not to pick up the poop.
Always carry multiple poop bags and pick up your dog’s poop every time. Even if they just went potty at home, bring a bag… you never know! Leaving your dog’s poop in someone’s yard is a huge no-no.
Your dog’s poop can carry diseases even if they seem healthy to you. Dogs can get very sick by simply sniffing another dog’s poop that has worms, coccidia, and other diseases.
Just think if nobody picked up their dog poop, our lawns would be piled high with feces! Have you ever gone all winter without picking up your dog’s poop in your backyard? One of our neighbors even put out this dog statue that says “No Dumping!”. I laugh every time we pass it.
⚠️ PRO TIP: Get a poop bag holder that clips to your leash so you never get caught without a poop bag!
Walking Your Dog Etiquette Rule #3
Do NOT allow dog-to-dog meetings on walks
Don’t let your dog meet other dogs while you’re on a walk. Some dogs get scared or upset when meeting new dogs, even if they’re usually friendly. This can make them act differently while on a leash. It’s called leash reactivity.
As your dog’s parent, it’s your job to keep them safe. You can show your dog that you’ll protect them by having a structured walk. This means keeping them on a leash that’s about 6 feet long. This way, you can stay close and keep them safe from any unexpected encounters with other dogs.
Walking Your Dog Etiquette Rule #4
Limit dog-to-people meetings on your walk
Sadly, not everyone you meet loves dogs as much as you do. Adults and kids can have allergies, be afraid of dogs, or just not a dog person.
Don’t allow your dog to wander up to strangers. If a person asks if they can pet your dog, you need to be your dog’s advocate. If your dog is confident and enjoys meeting new people then go for it. But watch your dog’s body language to ensure they are comfortable with the situation.
Walking Your Dog Etiquette Rule #5
Respect your neighbor’s lawn
Proper etiquette extends to avoiding private property during walks. Sticking to public pathways respects homeowner boundaries.
It’s not okay to let your dog walk on other people’s lawns. In most suburban neighborhoods there is an easement area. This is the grass area that is between the street and the sidewalk. This is the only area you should allow your dog to roam and go potty.
A lot of people in our neighborhood plant flowers around their mailboxes, and they certainly wouldn’t appreciate if all the dogs urinate on them. So be considerate of flowerbeds, bushes, etc.
Watch out for invisible fences too. We walk by a few yards with invisible fences on our walks. It scares the sh** out of me and my dogs when a dog rushes toward us barking like crazy! I purposely walk on the other side of the street because their dogs go ballistic whenever we walk by.
Walking Your Dog Etiquette Rule #6
No digging or marking
While it might be natural for dogs to dig or mark their territory, it’s essential to discourage these behaviors during walks. Digging can disturb the environment and create hazards for others, such as uneven terrain or holes that could cause tripping hazards.
Marking, while a natural instinct for dogs, can cause damage to public or private property. Give your dog opportunities to mark areas that won’t cause damage.
In general, it’s considered acceptable for a dog to mark a fire hydrant, as this is a common behavior for dogs and doesn’t typically pose any harm. Fire hydrants often have a scent that attracts dogs, making them a popular spot for marking.
Walking Your Dog Etiquette Rule #7
Give right of way
Yield to pedestrians, cyclists, and other users of shared pathways, giving them the right of way. When encountering others on the pathway, always be prepared to yield by stepping aside, slowing down, or stopping to allow them to pass safely.
This not only demonstrates courtesy and respect for others but also helps to prevent accidents or conflicts that could arise from failing to give the right of way. Maintaining control of your dog is crucial in these situations to ensure they do not impede the passage of others or cause any disruptions.
Following the walking etiquette rules
When you’re walking your dog, follow these dog walking etiquette tips to make sure everyone is happy. Always keep your dog on a leash unless you’re in a special area where they can run around. Make sure you’re in control of your dog and ask before they go up to other dogs or people. And don’t forget to clean up after your dog if they go to the bathroom!
We also need to be careful that our dogs don’t dig holes, mark their territory, or damage things around us. When we’re walking, it’s polite to let pedestrians, people on bikes, and others using the path go first. And it’s super important to pay attention and not get distracted while we’re walking.
We should also make sure our dogs stay away from other animals and respect their homes. Some people might not be comfortable with dogs, so it’s good to be mindful of that too. It’s a good idea to teach our dogs some basic commands so they listen well.
We want to be good neighbors, so let’s keep our dogs up to date on their shots and follow any rules about leashes. Lastly, let’s enjoy our walks while being respectful to everyone we meet along the way!
Do you have any other etiquette rules you think I should add to the list? Please comment below and share with our Rescue Dogs 101 community.
I want to thank you for all the fantastic ongoing information for "Food for thought"
As well, I love they way you write. It feels like we are having coffee with you!
Thank you for your kind words Brenlee!
Dog owner get mad when I tell them to curb your dog , they walking their dog on the property side of the street and theres 6-7 pee spots the dogs have created and owner act like it’s the dogs fault smh it’s the owner who decided to walk the dog on the side they on so it’s the owner fault
Thank you for the tips- I actually found this article as I was googling dog walking etiquette. I try to be mindful where our 7 month old puppy goes during our walks but tonight I stopped in front of a house as the homeowner was parking in his driveway. Our puppy decided it was the perfect time for him to poop unfortunately on the grass area in front of their house. This is the small area next to the street, not their actual lawn. The homeowner proceeded to lectures me even after I apologized and picked up his poop. I explained to him that I tried tugging on his leash to stop him but our pup pulled back. How do I avoid this in the future? It’s so difficult to stop him mid poop a he quite strong. Also, I thought it was okay to allow dogs to use that part of the grass as king as you pick up after them but apparently our neighbor considers that his property.
The easement in most cases is non exclusive… it’s not public property… it’s private property with a with right of way use … like a side walk and or for public utilities… drainage…etc….it’s not a public toilet. You can walk thru someone’s property on the side walk with your dog…but arguably it’s not a necessity your dog pee and poop in the easement …which can be considered overuse and a nuisance…the easement was created for a specific purpose…. Utilities walking to your own house.. . You have your own yard and your own easement attached to your own property if your dog needs to relive itself …. Or find a common area which is public to a degree… but in most cases people have no respect for other people…