What to Do When an Off Leash Dog Approaches Your Leashed Dog

By Pro Canine Trainer Annie Phenix, ACB-KSA

Here is a truth bomb too many irresponsible dog owners tune out:  if it is the local law and you allow your dog off leash in public spaces, you are breaking a law. In a civilized society, members do not simply pick and choose which law applies to them. Laws – like leashes for dogs – exist for everyone’s safety.

Imagine what could happen if I woke up tomorrow and decided stop signs are not for me. Who has that audacity and, really, that kind of troubling mindset? When it comes to off leash dogs there seems to be an unlimited supply of reckless dog owners who put their own dogs and our leashed dogs at risk because they choose to not obey leash laws. Do they think they are above the law? Apparently, they do and they can cause huge medical bills and trauma for others – including dogs, adults, children, bicyclists, etc. It’s selfish, at best.

Another truth bomb for the reckless off leash dog proponents: your dog can live a perfectly happy life being walked on leash. Nothing stops you from walking your dog with a 30-foot leash, for example, which safely gives your dog room to roam. Dog owners can and should find safe places that are NOT public spaces for off leash time if you feel you must provide this for your dog. I recommend SniffSpot.com – check them out.

I repeat this mantra daily:  it does not matter if you perceive your dog to “be friendly” or that “he loves other dogs.” It does not matter because the dog you have no voice control over is daily hurling himself into the faces of dogs who very well may NOT be friendly to other dogs. Your dog galloping into a leashed dog is rude canine behavior, even if you are running behind your dog screaming: “Don’t worry! He’s friendly!!” You endanger your own dog and all those you allow him to terrorize or scare.

I am a certified, professional dog trainer and my human clients work hard to calm down their dog’s anxiety at seeing other dogs (which is often caused when they were attacked the very first time by rude, off leash dogs!). We help these anxious dogs learn to trust their handler and we rebuild their faith that they can walk safely in their own neighborhood. We make significant progress in keeping these dogs calm and focused on their owners instead of hyper-vigilantly scanning for dangers . . . such as your off-leash dog. And then here you come one day scoffing leash laws and your dog undoes everything the owner and I have just worked so hard to teach the leashed dog. They are back to square one and you have convinced them they are, in fact, not safe. Well done.

Since there remains a segment of the dog-owning population who is either selfish or totally clueless about canine behavior, I want to give those leash-law abiding dog owners some tips on what to do when such a dog comes into your dog’s space. I have created an affordable course (Managing Off Leash Dog Encounters Course by Annie Phenix) that is now available to address this all-too-common concern. And I will be hosting a live weekly discussion group in my private dog-loving community called The Dog-verse for the month of October. Join us over in the Dog-verse (https://phenix-dogs-canine-behavior-experts-llc.ck.page/755ae57d44) and share your story – and heal with us!  

My new course goes into all the details you need to create a safe walking experience for your dog. Here are some tips to get you started:

Tip #1:  Work with a qualified behavior expert (find one here: Pet Professional Guild) to help your dog learn to trust his environment and handler when he is on leash. Dogs can feel trapped by that lifeline. It’s vital that we teach them behavior we want them to offer us when they see other dogs. These behaviors first must be taught in a safe, controlled setting such as a dog training center or in your home with a qualified, force free professional. Never punish your dog – he is scared for a legit reason.

Tip #2:  Keep your focus on your dog. Keep moving on a walk instead of stopping and being chatty with others. While you and the other person are smiling and looking at each other being decent humans, your dogs may be sending signals to one another that they are uncomfortable. Keep moving and keep focused on your dog’s body language. If your dog stiffens, growls, starts randomly sniffing or scratching, or you can see his hackles (among other warning signs that your dog is getting uncomfortable), do a trained U-turn and put something visual between you and the trigger that is upsetting your dog.

Tip #3:  Always carry quality (and smelly) training treats on your outdoor adventures. You want to reinforce behavior you like your own dog doing, such as looking at but not reacting to a dog a good distance away. If you have to stop an incoming assault from an off leash dog, you can yell “STOP!” at the oncoming dog (sometimes it works) and then throw your yummo treat on the ground near that dog and do a quick, calm U-turn and move away. Could the dog have some sort of allergy to these treats? Possibly. That’s just one more reason that dog’s owner should keep their dog on leash. I have an allergy to leashed dogs being harmed by off leash dogs.

Tip#4:  Don’t waste time in a critical situation being polite and trying to reason with the unreasonable human who allowed their dog to come into your dog’s space. By allowing their dog to be unleashed where leashes are required, that owner has by default demonstrated a lack of concern for his own dog or yours. You may feel like screaming obscenities at them for their lack of care, but that wastes both emotion and time. It can also ramp the dogs up even more. Throw treats in the direction of the oncoming dog and turn on your heels and walk away – or use one of the safety tools I suggest in my new course (Managing Offleash Dog Encounters Course by Annie Phenix ).

I cannot even count the number of dog owners who become frozen in a state of shock when their dog is being harassed by the off leash dog only to see the owner of the unruly dog standing there, saying nothing and he or she doesn’t help to put an end to the situation. If another person is walking with you, ask them first to attempt to catch the oncoming dog as you vacate the scene (you have to decide in an instant if that would be a safe maneuver or not because breaking up a dog fight is an excellent way to get bitten).  Ask your co-walker to film what’s happening in case you need it later to identify the owner and to hand them any veterinarian bills that might ensue from such an unwanted encounter. It’s far better to have a plan of action in place before you ever step outside your door with your dog than to create a plan during an emergency.

It is a sad reality that dog owners must be prepared for an off leash dog every time we take our leashed dog for a walk. It’s far better to have a plan and be able to implement it than to be shocked into a state of in-action when this event happens – because it is a matter of WHEN and not IF it happens to you and your dog.