How Should I Handle Off-Leash Dogs?

This might be my least favorite topic to discuss. BUT it is by far one of the most common questions we get: How do you handle off leash dogs?

Here's the thing, you will never be able to avoid them completely (unless you just stay home). So I'm going to cover the most important things for you to do before heading out into the wild with your dog for an off leash adventure. Like knowing how to really tighten up your recall by pairing a high correction to it so that you can trust it when the shit hits the fan, so to speak. You need gravity attached to that recall. And that needs to be done now, before you go on your outing.

You'll never be able to control other people (I know...it sucks!) so the absolute most important thing to do that you actually can do, is train your own dog! You'll hear that common thread over and over again for every scenario. You and your dog are the things that are in your control. So we always look at those first.

I'll also give you some tips so that you have something to do besides just panic when you see the dreaded off leash dog heading right for you. Having a plan will enable you to execute in the moment. It happens fast, so you need to already know what to do. You can't really think in the moment and you certainly can't assess the other dog's intention. Don't even try.

It is your job to protect your dog. Nobody else is going to do it for you! I don't like to make people nervous or panicked. Don't forget, most dogs aren't going to harm or kill your dog. But a lot of dogs could and some certainly would. There's no way to know. So just having a rule structure you stick to will help keep everyone safe and you sane. 

I will ask the owner to call their dog, but they often won't or can't. Posturing at the other dog will often work to deter them. If neither of those work, use physical means to keep them away from your dog. No, that's not extreme. And no, it's not fun, but it's not your fault. They chose to go off leash with no respect for others or proper training to keep their own dog safe. That is on them. Period.

Consider carrying dog mace or spray vinegar with you. Or at least a slip lead so if the worst case scenario (a proper dog fight) erupted you could use the slip lead to get the offending dog to let go.