Leash Laws and Common Sense: A UH Guide to Dog Etiquette
Photos courtesy of Lola Handzel
Dog leash etiquette—let’s get into it. It’s a crucial public safety issue surrounding dog Guardianship.
You must have your dog on a leash. San Diego County Code §62.669 mandates that dogs in public be on a leash not exceeding six feet except within designated off-leash areas. Our little Normal Street dog park is a permitted off-leash area. Trolley Barn Park is not. Neither is Birney Field, which is why it’s now closed.
Get a good leash. It should be sturdy, have a solid clasp, and have a padded handle allowing a good grip. Retractable leashes are okay with one key modification: take a hammer, don some safety glasses, and smash that “leash” to pieces! (Sorry, not sorry, to friends who use them.) They’re awful and not lawful when extended past six feet. Retractable leashes are dangerous and frequently cause injuries and deaths that were entirely preventable. Just say no.
Never let your dog go around a corner in front of you. I see it too often, a dog comes around a corner, potentially causing issues with another dog, child, or adult, and their person is yards behind and out of sight. For everyone’s safety, dog guardians must stay aware and alert.
Know how to properly use a leash. Maintain a tight hold of your leash or, even better, use a secure hands-free device. Keep your dog close to you, especially around others. If you’re holding the end of the leash and something happens, you can be left with too much slack and no leverage to give input or redirect. That’s why, especially for bigger dogs, I like leashes with a second handle close to the dog’s neck. This allows you to quickly take better control with a taut leash.
Dogs don’t automatically understand how to walk on a leash. They must be properly trained. Good handling technique makes for good leash skills. Working with a qualified trainer to help you master the fundamentals and troubleshoot issues can save you and your dog a lifetime of frustration.
Never let your dog stare at another dog. It’s extremely rude in canine language and will almost certainly cause a commotion of reactive barking or worse. Also of critical importance, never approach or let your dog approach another dog without the expressed permission of their human. It doesn’t matter if your dog is friendly—the other dog might not be. I’ll discuss this more in a future column on reactive dogs.