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Hibbs, Heeks and I go walking everyday around the pond in our neighborhood. It is good exercise for them and for me. Hibbs and Heeks are dogs, Hibbs is a Cockerspaniel Poodle and Heeks is a Pomeranian Poodle. Hibbs and Heeks have many dog friends that we see on our daily walks. I think it is important that they socialize with other dogs as well as people. I have tried to learn all the dogs names in the neighborhood. I always speak to them when we go by. My neighbors probably think I am a little weird but there is a method to my madness. All the dogs in the neighborhood know us. They see us everyday and often times they will stop barking after I speak to them. Many of them will come up to the fence in their yards to see us. Some even look forward to our daily treks. It is a good way to get to know your neighbors who will often come out to see what their dog is doing. The main reason I do this is for safety as well as a love for dogs.
One day we were out walking and one of my neighbors was out walking his Rottweiler. She is a big dog. When ever she is out in the yard I speak to her and say hello. I usually call them "puppy" until I learn their name then I address them by name. On this particular day she got off the leash and bounded towards us. Her owner was starting to panic which made my heart race too. Heeks let out a frightened yelp as the big dog approached. The Rottweiler ran up to us, took a quick sniff of Hibbs and Heeks and bounded back to her owner who was frantically calling her. He got a hold of her apologizing profusely for the incident and took her home. I firmly believe that the fact that I speak to her everytime I see her is what avoided an incident. She knows us because she sees us walk by everyday.
Another time a large neighborhood dog was off leash roaming the neighborhood, with no owner present , when she came running towards us. I had also spoken to her previously when I would see her in her yard. She came right up to us wagging her tail but for a moment there I was not sure what was going to happen. I later found out that she was female and whenever she is loose I call her pretty girl and she comes over to us for pats.
If you walk your dog everyday it might be a good idea to speak to the other dogs in your neighborhood as well. You never know when it could effect your safety. If I see a dog I do not recognize in the neighborhood I maintain as much distance as possible and will often turn around and go the other way. That is what I have to do with the geese that live on the pond. I do not mess with them at all and always give them a wide berth. No one can promise that you will always be safe with loose neighborhood dogs but this method has served me well so far.
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