Going for a Walk with Your Dog

The more obedient your dog is, the more freedom you can grant it during a walk.

In areas populated with game, as well as during the hatching time and breeding periods of wildlife, do not allow the dog to run into meadows or fields. A dog that cannot be depended upon to obey when it is off leash has to be leashed in such areas.

Stray dogs certainly are no rarity anywhere. There are dogs owners who let their pets stray in order to save themselves the bother of taking them for a walk. But a dog also can stray when it gets too little attention at home or has too strong a sex drive.

If the dog’s sex drive is very pronounced, castration is advisable. In otter cases, it helps to spend more time with the dog, engage in plenty of activities with it, and show it ample affection.

Stray dogs easily can place themselves and others in danger. For example, they can cause serious traffic accident, be accidentally shot by a hunter when chasing game, and at times behave unpredictably toward other dogs and humans as well.

Encountering Other Dog

Basically, it is very beneficial for dog to meet other members of its spices when out for a walk with you. When that happens, however, follow these ground rules:

• If strange dogs meet and their dispositions are relatively normal, it is best for them to be leash off. They can then sniff at each other to their heart’s content and become acquainted. Either a game will develop, or each dog will go its own way.
• If the dogs take a dislike to each other, the situation no longer looks so benign. The best course of actions is for you and the other dog owner to keep moving in opposite directions and to call your dogs.
• If your dogs ever gets involved in a fight, don’t try to intervene! If the dog’s dispositions are normal, they usually separate on their own after a short while. If not, the owners can try to grab their per simultaneously, by their hind legs, and separate them in that way.
• It is usually not a good situation when dogs meet and one is on leash while the other is off; a fight can easily be the result. When a dog on leash approaches you and your dog, leash your pet as well.
• If both dogs are on leash when they meet, chances are nothing will happen. However, you should make it a rule never to let strange dogs on leash get too close. Male dogs, in particular, often feel strong when they are on leash. In addition, the dogs could get their leashes tangled while playing, and that predicament often leads to a fight.

EDUCATING YOUR DOG WITH LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING, KATHARINA SCHLEGL-KOFLER