“Don’t worry, he’s friendly” 🐕 — a quick guide to walking etiquette

Discover why letting your off-lead dog approach others can trigger fear or aggression. Penarth Dog Training’s guide to safe, polite dog walks.

Why Off-Lead Approaches Cause Problems

“Don’t worry, he’s friendly” is something I hear a lot when I’m out walking my dogs around Penarth. But here’s the truth: it’s not a great idea to let your dog approach unknown dogs, because you don’t know how they’re going to react 🚫.

👉 Many adult dogs are perfectly happy minding their own business and want to be left alone.
👉 Some owners simply want to walk undisturbed – which they absolutely have a right to do.
👉 And letting an off-lead dog run up to an on-lead dog is a really big no-no.

If you see a dog on a lead in an area where most dogs are off lead, it’s usually because they’re reactive, training, or recovering from an injury 🩹.

Dogs have a simple coping mechanism when they don’t like something: they move away. But when they’re on a lead, that option is taken away. So they may switch to plan B – aggression 😠 (often rooted in fear or discomfort).

This means that your “friendly” dog can easily trigger a nasty response if they invade another dog’s personal space 🚷.

Nicky’s Story: The Reality for Reactive Dogs

Case in point: our older cocker, Nicky 🐶.

He’s a rescue who was badly attacked by another dog before coming to us – he even has a scar under one eye 😢. We can’t undo that trauma, only manage it.

Now at 10 years old, with some arthritis and a recent knee surgery, all he wants is to mind his own business. Yet almost every week he’s blindsided by dogs without manners or recall, leaving him screaming in terror 😱.

He’s been bowled over by out-of-control dogs and often has excitable puppies shoved in his face – which could result in a defensive snap. It’s heartbreaking, and it’s avoidable.

One time, when I asked someone to call their three dogs away (they couldn’t), I was yelled at: “They’re dogs, that’s what they do.”
But that’s not what dogs do – it’s what owners allow them to do.

Think of Dogs Like People 👥

Here’s a simple way to look at it: think about our own interactions with strangers.

Would you cross the street to hug someone you’d never met? Of course not!
Most people we see, we ignore. Sometimes we exchange a polite “hi, how are you?” with a neighbour 👋. And then there are friends we seek out for deeper interaction ❤️.

Dogs should be the same:

✅ Learn to ignore strange dogs
✅ Avoid on-lead dogs
✅ Only interact when given permission
✅ Play with appropriate friends who share their energy and style
✅ Only go off lead with a reliable recall (for safety!)

Good Manners Every Dog Should Learn

Your dog might be friendly 🐾… but many others aren’t, and they have the right to be left alone.

Good manners from dogs and awareness from owners are essential in shared public spaces 🌳. Allowing your dog to rush up to others is frustrating for those dealing with behavioural issues (often rescues, like Nicky) – and it puts your own dog at risk every single time.

If your dog struggles with recall or calm greetings, my Walk & Train sessions can help proof their skills in real-life settings. And for puppies learning polite social skills, take a look at my Puppy Training programme.

Final Thoughts: Respect and Safety First

Walking etiquette isn’t about being unfriendly – it’s about respect, safety, and giving dogs the chance to enjoy their walks without unnecessary stress.

A little awareness goes a long way. After all, not every dog wants to say hello – and that’s perfectly okay.