The Community of Cooperative Canine Custodians or 4Cs
I’m going to take a bit of a detour from talking about real estate to cover one of my biggest passions: dog ownership, and how we can all make it a little easier for each other.
If you stop by my new office on Tennyson Street with your pup, you’ll likely find some Milkbones on the window sill for all the good dogs out there. I became a dog person later in life, and as you can tell by the Pet Parade I host every year, I’m all in.
These days, as I watch dogs and owners stroll past my Denver Nook window, I find myself thinking about a few specific behaviors that we dog owners can commit to improve life for all the dogs.
Laws aside, let's talk courtesy and cooperation! Here are a few of my ideas—if you have any ideas I’d love to hear them!
If you can see a dog on a leash, your dogs should also be leashed.
Unless you are in an area that is designated as an off-leash dog park or trail, then the expectation is that all dogs should be leashed. I’m not going to throw rule books at you, but if you see a dog on a leash and your dog loose, put your dog on a leash. It is the kind, courteous and cooperative thing to do. Dogs like mine, who have anxiety, fear, or reactivity can be triggered by simply seeing off leash dogs when they are leashed. I have spent, and will continue to spend countless hours and thousands of dollars training my dogs and helping them be better adjusted to the world around them. They are doing great, but an abrupt encounter could set them back years in their process.
Keep your dog focused on you.
If you see a fellow dog owner trying to keep their dog’s attention, you should keep your own dog’s attention. It is likely that they are training for reactivity, and nothing will set a reactive dog off faster than being stared at. Extended eye contact in the canine world is a sign of aggression. “Extended” could be several seconds or a simple glance depending on the dog. If an owner is working to hold their dog's attention, it is likely that their dog's threshold is low/short. Being able to recognize a dog owner who is actively training and mimicking what they are doing with their dog is the most helpful thing you can do.
If you run with your dog your dog’s attention should always be on you, but especially when near/passing other dogs and people. When dogs are running their arousal level is heightened and the chances of them lunging or darting away from you (even on leash) are heightened. If you run with your dog, take the time to train them to stay focused on you. It will make your runs more enjoyable for you (WAAAAY LESS PULLING) and for the people and dogs in your path.
Recognize that there are people out there who don’t like dogs
I know, sometimes I can’t believe it either, but there really are people out there who aren’t dog people. I was one of those people, and I can trace it back to being approached quickly by a dog that was friendly and simply wanted to play. I was terrified and I wrote off dogs for the next 40 years! We LOVE our dogs. I scroll dog videos on the socials for way longer than I care to admit. It’s hard for me to believe that there was a time when I wasn’t completely obsessed with my (and your) dogs. Those people are out there. Those kids are out there. Give’m a break and give them space. As people are learning to ask permission before they pet your dog, we need to ask for consent to approach people too.
Doo Doo I need to state the obvious?
It’s unbelievable how many dog owners don’t pick up after their dog. This gives us all a bad rap. Let’s keep our dog-friendly parks and neighborhoods clean too! Need a pack of baggies? I’ve got plenty in my office. Come by anytime to grab some!
