Don’t you just hate it when you’re taking your dog for a walk and, with your luck, there’s another person that’s walking their dog right towards you? You know that moment of awkward interaction is about to come and there’s nothing you can do but suck it up. It’s for the dogs, right?
Come on, I know some of you out there hate it as much as I do. Who really enjoys that moment of silence as both dogs start smelling each other and start to play? Odds are, you aren’t going to muster up the courage to say you’re in a hurry or that your precious little puppy is actually a ferocious beast.
Here are 3 tips on what you can do to make your next doggie owner interaction less painful:
- Don’t make eye contact and keep ushering your pup along — Let’s be honest, the other owner will probably be happy you did this. Sometimes the unspoken word that right now is not a good time to be social is best!
- Ignore the owner and focus on the dogs — When your dogs start socializing, add yourself to the mix and start petting them. This will give you something to do other than staring blankly at the other human in the group.
- Ask what type of breed their dog is — If you still feel awkward when petting the owner’s dog without making any conversation, try asking him/her questions. What kind of breed? How old? Maybe a friend or family member owns the same type of dog and you can make a reference.
Nope, I didn’t pull these tips out of a hat. I’ve successfully used each one, but, I must say, even though you try to avoid it, your pup most likely loves it and it’s definitely good to keep their charisma from going rusty (every now and then, at least). After all, every healthy relationship comes with making sacrifices. 😉 If you do want to get your dog out there socializing, dog parks are a great resource to find them some friends (and possibly some for you, as well!).
Comment below to share your go-to strategy for avoiding awkward doggie owner interactions.
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