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| LifeFriday, June 13, 2008 10:00 AM CDT |
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Dog meet dog world has its own rules
John Edwards is one of the owners of K-9 Country Club, where up to 180 dogs will be on the property in Normal at a time for day care, grooming and boarding. He also owns five dogs. Edwards offers this advice on dog handling and dog encounters. Bowel and bladder It goes without saying that picking up and disposing of a dog's feces is a standard requirement for anyone walking a dog. Edwards thinks most dog owners tend to the unpleasant job and that the number of them doing so is increasing -- evidenced by poo bags increasingly being attached to leashes when dogs are dropped off at his facility. A dog's urinary habits are a little trickier. He describes it as "20 percent need to go" and 80 percent marking. Not all of it is territorial claim. He said a dog commonly will urinate near another dog's scent, not on top of it, to signify compliance - acceptance of a dog's territory and a desire for coexistence within it. While it may annoy another dog owner and a dog to see a dog urinate in their yard, Edwards doesn't see a practical way around the situation. Unless the dog's urine has abnormal acidy and is harming a lawn, let the dog urinate where it wants to urinate, he said. Leashed Dog etiquette and the laws in most municipalities require dogs to be leashed during walks in public places, except for designated no-leash areas. The rule applies to all dogs -- even your "good dog." Approaching other dogs While walking a dog, the best reaction to another dog being walked is to avoid the dog-to-dog contact, if the other dog is a stranger. A fight could be brewing. "I personally would cross the street," said Edwards. "There are telltale signs, but some dogs will show no signs and snap." If you know the other animal -- and trust it -- the interaction of dogs may be OK, he added. Approaching, Part II Suppose someone is walking his/her dog and you are walking by yourself. It may be OK for you to interact with the dog -- but maybe not. "You're best rule of thumb is to ask the owner," said Edwards. Giving a dog a treat is a nice way to befriend the dog, he said, but courtesy says to get the dog handler's permission first. People who are afraid of dogs will let off a scent, and this can put an otherwise friendly dog into a nervous state. For these people, avoiding the dog altogether may be the better option. Encounters with unleashed dogs • When coming into contact with a dog at an owner's home, with the dog owner present, the dog knows you are allowed inside. Friendship can be easily established if the dog wants that. Squat down or kneel. Avoid a stare-down. Keep your face somewhat away from the dog. Put your hand, palm open, somewhat close to the dog. Let the dog approach to sniff your hand. • If outside when approaching an unleashed dog, it may be best to avoid contact. Stop. Cross the street, perhaps. This is particularly true with breeds like Dobermans, which were bred for security jobs. A call to Animal Control may be appropriate, said Edwards. Professional dog handlers may want to approach and help locate the dog's owner from collar information, especially when approaching a dog from a less aggressive breed, but general members of the public take some risk when doing so. Even Edwards said he would "come to a stop and evaluate the situation." • If the dog looks to be starving, calling Animal Control certainly becomes a good option, whereas a professional dog handler like Edwards would tend to render aid. Putting out water is helpful. • If the dog is injured: Any contact requires extreme caution, even for the dog owner and his/her family members, he said. Don't run away Running away from an unleashed dog tends to set off the dog's instinct to pursue and prey, Edwards noted. Feeding Dogs that get fed scraps during a meal often will attempt to establish alpha dominance in a home through the process, said Edwards. (In the wild, the alpha dog eats first and leaves the rest for the pack.) K-9 Country Club discourages feeding human food to dogs, especially during a meal. It is a violation of etiquette to feed someone else's dog at the table. Dog parks Some communities have parks designated for off-leash dogs. There is a potential for dog fights. Edwards chooses to not take his dogs to them. The pool Allowing a dog into a pool is a decision for a pool owner, not just the dog owner, Edwards said. Guide dogs Guide dogs for the visually impaired are working. It is inappropriate to attempt any companionship with them during their work. Sleeping dogs The cliché of letting sleeping dogs lie has factual basis. "You wake me up and I get ticked too," said Edwards. E-mail this story | Print this story | Search archives | RSS Show comments |  Hide comments | Hide comments on all stories |
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