Why I Don't Walk My Dogs in My Neighborhood

New Video: "Fun, Enriching Activities for Your Dog"

Thanks to Maddie's Fund^®, we are able to make available a professionally taped video of "Fun, Enriching Activities for Your Dog - day or night, inside or outside, in cold or heat" by trainer Karen Baragona, CTPT-KA of Eager Beagle Dog Training in Alexandria, VA.

To watch this informative and entertaining video, go to
https://youtu.be/_59ZMj252Yc (Don't miss the human agility course before the questions start!) #ThanksToMaddie.

We are hoping to distribute the video widely. So, please share this video with your friends, clients, list serves, rescues, and organizations' memberships. It's FREE, and there's lots of great information.

Your Dog’s Friend is a proud recipient of funding from Maddie's Fund^®, helping to achieve a no-kill nation. We will be able to professionally videotape and edit five workshops over the next year. These will be put up in the video section of "Free Workshops". Or join our YouTube channel. #ThanksToMaddie

Volunteer Position with Your Dog's Friend

Do you want to use your skills and help dogs too? Your Dog's Friend is searching for a bookkeeper or CPA to be our volunteer Treasurer. Time commitment is approximately 6-10 hours/month. Must be familiar with Quickbooks Online. If you're interested, contact Jen King, jlk6k@hotmail.com.

Highlighted Classes
12221 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD

JUST ADDED Basic Manners: Tuesday, Feb 19 - March 26, 8:15 - 9:15pm

JUST ADDED Puppy Kindergarten: Sunday, Feb 17 - March 24, 1:20 - 2:35pm
(6 consecutive weeks; no make-up classes)

Vet Visit & Grooming Tricks: Mon, March 4, 1:30 - 3:30pm (1 session)
Dogs in this class must be friendly with other dogs and people.

Train your dog to do "tricks" useful for vet visits, bath time, and nail trims, like:

Targeting — Train your dog to keep her chin, nose, or shoulder resting against your hand or the wall.
“Muzzle” — Since this is a one-session class, we’ll begin to teach the foundation for this behavior by teaching your dog to stick her nose in a cup.
Stand for exam — Train your dog to do a stand stay.
Go to place — Train your dog to go lie on a mat.
Give paw — Train your dog to offer her paw for handling.

We’ll also have stethoscopes to create positive associations for your dog!

We have a lot more classes on our schedule! You can see them all at https://yourdogsfriend.org/schedule-at-a-glance/

Next Free Workshops
Workshops are from 1:30 - 3:30pm at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 6030 Grosvenor Lane, Bethesda. Only demo and service dogs are allowed.

THIS Sun, Feb 17: Advice for Adopters - guidance for adopters, potential adopters & fosters

Sat, Feb 23: Helping Your Fearful Dog Navigate the World

You can see all of our workshops, both winter and spring, and register at http://yourdogsfriend.org/free-workshops/

Why I Don't Walk My Dogs in My Neighborhood
by Fanna Easter, CPDT-KA, KPA CTP
May 8, 2018

This may surprise some pet owners, while others can completely understand, but I refuse to walk my dogs in my neighborhood anymore. As a professional dog trainer, I agree dogs need daily exercise. However, when daily walks become dangerous, it’s time to choose different forms of exercise.

Why I Don’t Do It Anymore

When the weather is nice, our neighborhood sidewalks are filled with people enjoying the fresh air. Everyone hibernates through the brutal Texas summers, so naturally they will want to shed those extra pounds and exercise their dogs during the fall. The fact that more people are outside isn’t the reason why I don’t walk my dogs anymore. Instead, these are the two major reasons why I stopped bringing my dogs along for walks.

Rude Dogs

Cooler temperatures means more dogs are left outside in backyards unattended. As I walk by a house, these unattended dogs run along fence lines and start barking loudly. Some dogs even bang on windows barking fiercely indoors. These dog behaviors are super annoying and alarming for both my dogs and myself.

I’m forced to navigate sidewalks to avoid rude dog behavior. Plus, seeing rude dogs barking is extremely stressful for my dogs. Think about it this way: Dogs barking and lunging behind fences and windows is equivalent to them screaming, “I’m gonna beat you up fool,” to the passerby dog. Not only is this impolite behavior to other dogs, but it’s downright rude and preventable too. No dog should deal with this nasty dog behavior during a daily walk.

As humans, we understand these dogs are contained, but our dogs don’t understand that. Instead, they feel like they’re walking on eggshells, fearing for their safety. Also, constant exposure to a rude dog while on leash can lead to your dog becoming leash aggressive. Being continuously bombarded with threatening dogs that they can’t run away from may cause them to be threatening back. On the flip side, the dogs doing the barking and lunging from behind the fence learn that their aggressive behavior makes dogs leave, so they in turn become dog aggressive.

Loose Dogs

Today, I encountered two loose dogs within 20 feet of my home. Thankfully, I don’t bring my dogs walking with me any longer, but it still makes me extremely upset when inconsiderate dog owners leave their dogs loose outside. I have a few choice words with owners if they are around. Loose dogs are dangerous and can charge at your dog while walking, which teaches your dog dog aggression. By far, loose dogs make my hackles stand on end.

Neighbors, Contain Your Dogs!

Yes, I’ve screamed this very sentence at the top of my lungs numerous times. Pet owners must contain their dogs! Keep your dogs secured indoors or behind a fence, and never leave a dog unattended outdoors. Additionally, stop allowing dogs to bark and lunge at dogs (or anyone). Crate your window barking dog or keep him in an area with no access to windows. Trust me, while it seems like your dog is just “letting off steam,” your dog is becoming dog aggressive and you can be sued if your dog hurts someone or another dog.

How to Safely Exercise Your Dog

Of course, we all need exercise, including our dogs. Remember, mental stimulation is just as exhausting as physical exercise, so keep your dog’s brain busy. Here are a few options to keep your dog mentally and physically fit:

Play fetch daily.
Enroll in a weekly group class, such as nose work, agility or fly ball.
Provide all meals in food puzzles and stuff in toys.
Teach your dog to walk on a treadmill.
Toss kibble or treats into your backyard.
Play nose work games indoors.
Go hiking on private property—with permission, of course.
Bring your dog on car rides.

(NOTE: Our video, "Fun, Enriching Activities for Your Dog", has lots of other great ideas!)

Rethink walking your dog around rude dogs. As pet owners, it’s our job to keep our dogs safe.

Fanna Easter has moved her dog training and behavior blog posts to Animal Behavior College, where you can also find blogs on grooming and health. You can now see Fanna's blog posts at www.animalbehaviorcollege.com/blog/. Also, check out Animal Behavior College for certification programs for dog trainers, cat trainers, groomers, and veterinary assistants.

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