Teddy's Top Training Tip: Do not allow your dog to run up to another dog that it does not know.

Do not allow your dog to run up to another dog that it does not know.

Many dogs are friendly, many dogs are anxious, many dogs are young and exuberant, many dogs are
your puppies exploring the world for the first time, many dogs are elderly, many dogs are recovering from operations, many dogs are suffering from disabilities or illnesses. Yet there are some who think that because a dog is social the time at the park is to let off steam and run around, running up to other dogs, jumping on dogs, wrestling dogs and engaging in all types of behaviors to produce a response from the other dog.

If you have a dog that anxious, elderly, young, recovering from operations or a disability then this is not a fun time, however, these dogs should be allowed to share the same space as all the other dogs that visit the park.

All our dogs are very different individuals, with different levels of training, experiences, household rules and so forth, just like our children we need to take responsibility of what they do when they are off lead.

If your dog is meeting a dog for the first time, then call your dog back, clip him or her on the lead and walk up to the other owner, asking could your meet or play with their dog. Do not be offended if the other owner no and the owner does not have to give a reason.

Being off lead is fun, however, it needs to be safely off the lead with owner control and that means
keeping an eye on your dog at all times.

Do not allow your dog to practice behaviors to try and get the other dog to play such as barking in the other dog’s face, pinching a ball, nipping at the dog’s leg, jumping on the dog’s back and so it can go on. These are not games and they are not acceptable.

Why not teach your dog to play with you – after all we chose a dog to enrich our lives, so why not
enrich your dog’s life and get playing with them – its fun!