How to keep your pet from annoying everyone else

Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

There’s a common refrain I often hear from irresponsible dog owners while I’m out jogging or hiking. “Don’t worry,” they say as their unleashed pooch comes barreling towards me, “he’s friendly.”

And, of course, the dog may be. But that isn’t the point.

Lots of folks don’t like dogs — friendly or not — and don’t want to be approached by one. And lots of folks walk dogs that don’t like other dogs and don’t want to be approached by one, and might bite if they are.

But too often, especially in natural areas like parks, people let their dogs wander.

So I was pleased to see that Petco released a tip on “pettiquite,” which means, basically, how to make sure your pet isn’t a nuisance to the rest of the world.

Most of it’s pretty simple stuff, but judging by the bad poochie (and owner) behavior I so often see outdoors, some people need a reminder.

“Keep dogs leashed at all times while at parks and in other dog-friendly public places. Excited dogs who are off-leash may run and jump on people or children or hurt themselves by running away from their pet parent,” the guide says.

In parks near the water, there’s another danger: alligators. They don’t generally hunt people, but they do go after dogs. Be especially careful about letting a dog approach and sip from a river or lake, even if the dog is leashed. A gator could explode out of that water and make a meal of your pet.

One exception to this rule, of course, is on board boats and paddlecraft: leashing a dog that’s on a vessel can be dangerous because the leash could get tangled during a capsize and drown the dog. If the dog isn’t well behaved enough that you can control it on board without a leash, don’t take it along. If you do take your dog on the water, get a doggy life vest.

“Keep barking under control,” the guide continues. This is obvious in a home, but it also applies outdoors where people out picnicking, fishing or enjoying a perfect sunset don’t want to be disturbed by incessant barking.

“Clean up waste,” it advises. “Walking into the front yard and stepping in a pile of poop from a neighbor’s dog can be upsetting.”

This tip also applies on the trail. There’s almost nothing more annoying on a hike than stepping in a hamburger-size glob of doggy doo and having to stop to scrape it from your shoes, then continue onward plagued by the inevitable stink of the residue that doesn’t easily come off. Carry bags and pack out that poop!

Petco offers training advice for dog owners struggling to get a leash on their pup’s behavior. For more information, visit petco.com/Content/ArticleList/List/35/1/Training.aspx.