Important Tips to Remember When Walking Your Dog:

While walking your dog may seem like a mindless duty, there are some important items to keep in mind not only to ensure safety for your pet but also keep the general public content.  Some of these tips may seem like a no-brainer but believe it or not, some people don’t always practice them.

First and foremost, pick up poop!!  Not only is it frustrating stepping in a dog’s poop that was left by a careless owner, it is also unsanitary!  It is actually illegal to not pick up your dog’s poop.

Keep your dog on a leach in unfenced areas.  While you may have complete confidence in your ability to control your animal,  you never know if something might distract him and cause him to run off.  You also don’t know how other dogs may respond that are leashed should your dog rush up to an aggressive dog.

As hard as it is to believe, not everyone loves dogs.  Try to keep your pooch from jumping up and sniffing people unless given permission to do so.

Always ask before allowing your dog to greet other dogs.  Like people, dogs act differently to various individuals and while your dog may normally be very mellow around other dogs, you can not always guarantee how he will act around a new dog.

Try to be courteous about where your pet goes to the bathroom.  Don’t let your dog go thrashing through someone’s flower bed.  The grassy areas between the sidewalk and the street are considered public property and are the perfect place for your pet to do his/her business.

Make sure your leash is six feet or less in busy areas.  This is for both safety to others but to you and your dog as well, should a car come close to your or another instance like that.  You should also make sure your dog’s collar or harness is on properly.  Many dogs can back out of a collar and run away or run into the street.