Leash Greetings And Good Vibes
On leash greetings can feel strange and a little bit artificial to some dogs.
That's because they use body language to greet other dogs and they need to move their body freely to be able to articulate what they want to transmit in the meeting.
Duna and Jack-Jack meet for the first time.
The wrong walking equipment and short leads usually restrict movement and don’t allow dogs "freedom of speech". Dogs need to be able to make their own decisions regarding meeting other dogs. They need space to move around, and they need the possibility to move away if the event is too stressful for them.
When meeting other dogs on leash it is best to:
Have your dog in a well fitted H(Y) harness.
Have your dog on a long leash that you should keep loose and smiling.
Assess the situation. Is the space open enough, are there ways for your dog to leave if she wants to?
Assess the other dog. Do you know the other dog or not at all? If the dog you are meeting is new to your own dog, have you seen her interact with other dogs? How did that go?
Let your dog decide her next move. Keep calm, hold the leash gently, keep it loose and follow your dog.
When dogs start circling, which is part of how they get to know each other politely, hold the leash a bit higher but still loose and follow your dog's movements to prevent tangling.
We suggest you avoid:
Approaching dogs that are wearing aversive equipment (shock collars, prong collars, slip leads and other equipment that causes fear, pain and discomfort). These dogs are usually stressed and therefore unable to greet other dogs in a good way. The use of aversive equipment may even turn a greeting into a fight.
Forced greetings and interactions where there is a lack of choice, dogs are on short leashes and the space is reduced.
Lack of agency, the ability to choose what to do next, can be affected by anything that restricts the dogs’ choices.
The wrong equipment, the space around them and people telling them what to do or not to do are some of the things that can affect this choice.
Play on leash.
After a greeting, it is unusual for dogs that have just met to play. If we add leashes to the equation they can easily entangle and become an unnecessary problem.
Dogs need time to get to know other dogs and become friends. Parallel walking on long leashes is a really good way for two dogs to get to know each other.
The wonder of parallel walking
The importance of meaningful relationships
In the picture you see JJ and Duna. This is the first time they have met.
They are very similar in size, and they chose actively to get to know each other better. JJ is on a 5-meter leash and Duna, who is a bit more insecure, is off leash, giving her all the options and choices she needs to stay or go during this encounter.
