Pets

How should you react if a dog without an owner nearby starts barking at you or chasing you?

Expert advice on safely handling barking dogs chasing you

Hi, my name is Liz and I am a professional dog behavior specialist and sport dog trainer. The question is how should you react if a dog without an owner nearby starts barking at you or chasing you? This is a really good question because this is a safety question and we want to make sure that nobody gets hurt. So if they're barking at you it's likely that the dog is not thrilled with your presence. You can read the dog as best you can but generally we should assume if the dog is barking at us that it's not in a friendly manner. So the best thing you can do is be very still, avert your gaze, don't stare at them, turn your body slightly sideways. If you need to move behind another object like a car, slowly behind a car or a tree. But just try to do what you can to de-escalate the situation. And usually most dogs will stop if you don't really react. So soften your body language, be still and be safe.

If a dog without an owner nearby starts barking at you or chasing you, the best thing to do is be still and be safe. Soften your body language and avoid staring at the dog. Try to deescalate the situation by slowly moving behind something like a car or tree.

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If a dog without an owner nearby starts barking at you or chasing you, it's important to react in a way that prioritizes safety. As a professional dog behavior specialist and sport dog trainer, I suggest the following approach. When a dog is barking at you, it indicates that they are likely not happy with your presence. It's important to read the dog's behavior and assume that their barking is not friendly. In response, remain very still, avoid making direct eye contact, and turn your body slightly sideways. If possible, seek protection behind an object like a car or tree, moving slowly and calmly. The key is to de-escalate the situation by not reacting strongly. In most cases, dogs will stop if you don't engage with them. Soften your body language, maintain stillness, and prioritize your safety.

When can I start teaching my dog agility?

Building the Foundation: Preparing Your Dog for Agility

Hi, I'm Liz Randall. I am a professional behavior specialist and dog sport trainer. The question is, when can I start teaching my dog agility? I love this question because I love agility and it's awesome for you and for your dog. So, when can you start? We recommend that you don't actually start teaching obstacles or putting your dog over obstacles until they're at minimum a year old because we want to make sure their growth plates are closed and that physically they are strong enough to withstand the jumping and the impact of going on the different equipment. But, that said, there are many, many, many things that you can do much earlier than a year old to prepare your dog for agility. So, those are some basic skills like recall, like stay at my side, stays, also body awareness, can you climb over things, under things, through things, toy skills, all kinds of lots and lots and lots of fun things you can do before the dog is a year old. So, look for a local foundations agility class in your area and they can get you prepped to get going with your puppy even well before they're a year old. Have fun. Agility is amazing. It's so much fun. It's a great way to build a bond with your dog and I hope you get out there and try it.

We recommend waiting until your dog is at least a year old before starting to teach them agility. But there are many basic skills you can work on with your pup before then, such as recall, stay, body awareness, and toy skills. Look for a local foundational agility class in your area to get prepped and have fun with your pup.

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As a professional behavior specialist and dog sport trainer, I love the question of when to start teaching a dog agility. While you should wait until your dog is at least a year old before introducing them to obstacles to ensure their growth plates are closed and they are physically ready, there are plenty of things you can do earlier to prepare them. Focus on building basic skills like recall, staying by your side, stays, body awareness (climbing over, under, and through things), and toy skills. These activities will lay a strong foundation for agility training. Look for local foundations agility classes in your area that can guide you in preparing your puppy well before they turn one. Agility is an amazing way to bond with your dog and have fun together. So get out there and give it a try!

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Professional, certified trainer and dog sport competitor for 12+ years. I help clients across the US with agility skills and behavior challenges. 

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