5.5.2021

Just leave them alone, they will sort it out!" Good advice or dog-lovers’ nonsense?

When two dog – strangers meet, accompanied by their masters, the situation can go all sorts of ways. Very often, however, the following sentence is heard in such a scenario: "They'll sort it out." For some dog lovers this is the most functional principle, while owners of reactive dogs usually run like hell. Should we leave dog communication up to the dogs alone, or would it help everyone involved if we intervene more in the situation?

When two dog – strangers meet, accompanied by their masters, the situation can go all sorts of ways. Very often, however, the following sentence is heard in such a scenario: "They'll sort it out." For some dog lovers this is the most functional principle, while owners of reactive dogs usually run like hell. Should we leave dog communication up to the dogs alone, or would it help everyone involved if we intervene more in the situation?

 Dog owners who are lucky enough to have a canine companion are used to giving dogs responsibility for their own behaviour. Their dogs are well-balanced and respect the principles of good dog manners. They trust that their dog is meeting a similarly disposed individual who also wants to reason with them or walk away from the situation. In the worst case, these are masters who simply don't mind a little bit of barking. Or they don't know how to read the dog's signals and don't know that the tension between the dogs is rising unpleasantly.

But what if the dog is timid, not well experienced or reactive? Or he is too excited and goes “blind and deaf” when meeting other dogs. Alternatively, it is a puppy or a dog that hasn't had a chance to learn proper dog manners yet. In this case, it is good to set healthy boundaries for communication.

Balanced dogs and the others

If you meet a stranger with a dog on the street, you never know which of these groups they belong to. And that's why caution is advised. Even the most calm dog can be bitten by a nervous dog with an even more nervous master. Dogs can sense our emotions and can sense when we are fearful in a situation. Sometimes we send tension straight through the leash. Often we unwittingly add stress to the situation.

If you can, talk to the other owner to see if he/she agrees to meet. If so, observe how your dog behaves in the situation. Whether he is relaxed and playful, or tense and trying to leave but is prevented from doing so by the leash. Dog boundary setting is not necessarily a bad thing, but you need to watch that it doesn't go too far.

In order for the dog to remain an easy-going buddy, the maximum number of such meetings should turn out well. If you sense that a problem is brewing, you should leave the situation. Next time, try it from a greater distance or in a quieter area. Dog communication doesn't have to be a complicated science. However, it is important not to push the dog and to take things slowly. Even if the owners of other dogs don't understand your decision.