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Confused about whether or not your dog should say hi to others on leash? We've been there.
While many professional dog trainers avoid on-leash greetings... some pups seem to do just fine with them. And it’s impossible for many pet parents to completely prevent contact with other people and dogs on walks. (Think about strolling through a crowded city neighborhood.)
So what’s a guardian to do? Let's break down some pros and cons of on-leash greetings. Then you can make the decision that’s right for you.
Cons: Why many dog trainers advise against on-leash greetings
Most canine professionals don’t recommend letting your dog interact with everyone you see out on your walks.
On-leash greetings can correlate with common behavioral problems like overexcitement, pulling, leash reactivity, general fear reactivity, and (in extreme cases) aggression.
Risks of on-leash greetings with other dogs
- Social dogs who learn to greet every new friend they see might become frustrated when it isn’t appropriate to say hi (like if the other pet parent declines, or you’re trying to relax at a restaurant patio when they walk by, or you’re in the vet’s office).
- Many owners inadvertently teach their dogs to pull towards things they want when they allow on-leash greetings. Your dog tries to get to their friend across the street… and you follow them. This pattern can make it difficult to safely navigate distracting environments.
- Nervous or selective dogs can feel trapped when greeting other pets on leash because they aren’t able to move away or display natural body language. Greeting head-on is considered confrontational in the canine world!
- Many handlers tense up on the leash—without realizing—when their dog approaches another. This can make their pup stressed during on-leash greetings.
- If a dog feels overwhelmed too many times, they can start to associate seeing any other dog on leash with those scary feelings. This results in defensive reactive displays where they try to keep other pets away.
Risks of on-leash greetings with people
- Just like with other pups, some dogs start to expect every person they pass to give them attention if they get used to on-leash greetings. This can make it difficult to walk through busy spots!
- Many people aren’t comfortable around dogs. If your pup tries to say hi to everyone they see, they can make scared, allergic, or simply busy strangers feel unsafe in a shared space.
- Nervous dogs can feel trapped when approached by a stranger and expected to sit still for petting, especially if they're restrained by a leash. This can eventually lead to fear reactivity.
Pros: Why some dogs and pet parents enjoy on-leash greetings
There are plenty of reasons to avoid on-leash greetings. But some dogs seem to love them, right?
Here are a few reasons people might allow their pup to say hello on leash.
- Not all dogs can be trusted off leash—and not all environments allow dogs to run freely. Sometimes on-leash greetings are the only option to say hi to another person or pet.
- Some dogs are truly social in almost all circumstances. They might get real joy out of meeting neighbors!
- Stopping to chat with people on walks can be fulfilling for the human end of the leash. Yes, we put our dogs first, but your experience as a dog parent counts too!
- When handled appropriately, leashes can guide dogs through meeting strangers in a safe, respectful way. (This usually requires trainer guidance to ensure the leash makes things better instead of worse.)
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Are on-leash greetings right for your dog?
How high is your risk tolerance?
- Are you willing to take a chance that your dog has a negative interaction?
- Do you know how you'll respond if something does start to go wrong?
How well are you able to avoid potential risks?
- Can you limit on-leash greetings only to people and pets your dog is already comfortable with?
- Are you confident in your ability to read your dog's body language and know whether they’re feeling comfortable?
- If things start to go south, do you trust their recall and your ability to help them get out of the situation?
These things can be the difference between deciding “no on-leash greetings ever” or “it depends on the situation".
What is your dog’s temperament?
If your pup is incredibly confident with loads of human and dog friends, the chance of something going wrong probably feels a lot smaller—and less impactful—than if you’re the caretaker of a nervous dog who easily latches onto bad experiences.
What kind of environment do you live in?
If you call the suburbs home, it’s a lot easier to avoid on-leash greetings or “drive-by” pets and sniffs than if you live in a crowded downtown area. If you aren’t able to stop on-leash greetings completely, it might be a good idea to actively train and prepare for them instead.
We've got your back
Still have questions? We're here to help, dog parent to dog parent—and always without judgment.