The Ten Commandements of Pet Etiquette

Summer is here, and the dark days of winter will soon turn into the dog days of summer. Most of us will enjoy the outdoors more: at the park, walking in our neighborhoods, and enjoying the outdoors with our ever-loyal K-9 pet. Although we briefly touched on a few indoor petiquette points in our January column, we thought this would be a great time to introduce outdoor petiquette to avoid a pet faux pas or should we say, a faux paw!

 Obedient Class. Teach your pup manners through a good-quality obedience class. This will make life much easier as you venture outdoors or welcome guests into your home. Basic commands not only cause your friends and family to “ooo and aww,” but more than that, they keep your furry friend safe and away from potential harm with commands like “stay,” “come,” and “sit.” It will also allow for socializing skills to be formed that will help Fido get along with other K-9 kiddos!

 “Scoop the Poop.” When I walk my Scottish terrier, Lucy, sometimes there is doggie doo-doo that a pet owner neglected to pick up. May I say, always, and without exception, pick up after your pup…scoop the poop!

 Barking. To allow us all to keep our sanity, please properly handle incessant barking. Aside from Chinese drip torture, this may be one that could break almost anyone!

 Jumping. Help your overly excited canine friend learn to be happy-go-lucky without jumping on your house guests and friends. The best way to achieve this is not to allow them to jump on you, their owner.

 Postal worker, Delivery Staff, Repairmen/women. Realize that allowing your dog to rush at these individuals is both dangerous and shows poor pooch pet etiquette.

 Or you risk being struck dead by lightning. Okay, maybe I am exaggerating. But, this is a very serious issue; many dog vaccinations not just keep your dog safe but those humans around them.

 Aggressive dogs need to be properly identified and handled. Please keep Cujo, umm, I mean Fido, properly contained, and especially away from children and the elderly.

 Know the color-coding of ribbons on collars and/or dog collars. Even though everyone may not yet be familiar with these, They are:

 Red: Caution-I need space

 Yellow: I like people, not dogs

 Green: Friendly-I like meeting new friends

 Ask before you touch. Kindly ask, “Is your dog friendly, and is it okay to pet your dog?” That keeps all involved safe and at ease.

 Keep on a Leash. Last but never least, keep your dog on a leash where it is designated. Yes, our pups love to run free, and there are areas for that. But, having an unleashed dog approaches a leashed dog and its owner is always somewhat alarming. Please abide by this rule at our parks and other public places. This really is the “golden rule” of pet ownership.

As the birds begin chirping and tulips begin sprouting, may we enjoy every glorious walk and moment with our furry family members. They truly make learning and following pet etiquette an honor and a privilege.