#Asked

Now that shops and parks are opening back up, most of us are opting for outdoor adventures — choosing to eat on our patios, walk around downtown, take trips to the park + enjoy hikes galore. And, with the warmer weather, pet owners are bringing their dogs along.

When it comes to bringing our four-legged friends with us, there are rules of etiquette all dog owners (and bystanders) need to keep in mind. For starters, leashes are very important — unless you are at the dog park + within the fenced-in area, the City of Raleigh requires all pet owners to keep Fido on a leash at all times. Dogs are also required to have proof of current rabies vaccination.

Wake + Durham Counties have discontinued public-mandated identification of your pets. This came into effect when under-the-skin microchips became a more prominent and efficient method of tracking pets and reuniting them with their owners.

Now that we know the required city rules, we want to hear from you — all of our pet parents + shop, business, and restaurant owners, and those without dogs — what are some tips and rules of etiquette to keep in mind when taking a dog out in public?

Respond to us and let us know.

#Answered

Below is a shortlist of answers we received surrounding general dog etiquette + COVID-19 etiquette for Raleigh.

🐶 Samantha D. — “If you can’t bring the dog inside with you on your errand, leave them at home. Working downtown, I've seen a lot of people leave their dog in a hot car.”

🐶 Patricia S. — “During the pandemic, people should ask before petting or letting your pup touch another dog. You don't know if the owner is at higher risk of contracting COVID-19, or lives with someone who is. So be respectful of others' concern levels surrounding the spread of the virus, it might be different than your own.”

🐶 Susan H. — “One of the most important things is no retractable leashes.”

🐶 Kim M. — “Please educate children to ask if they can pet your dog. Parents too. My dog is shy and super cute, so sometimes when in public I’ve had a child run over to my dog, it scares him, and then he barks and scares the children. However, if they were to approach slowly and ask to pet him I will have my dog sit and they can pet him.”

🐶 Linda K. — “Thank you for thinking of non-dog owners! I love dogs, but while sitting with your dog at a restaurant, please keep them next to your legs and not mine. I don’t want them to lick or sniff my legs when I have not initiated the action.”

🐶Charlie Doodle — “When we see folks walking on the same side of the sidewalk, we try to cross the street when possible. This gives us extra social distancing space and helps if people are scared of dogs or are walking their own dogs.”

🐶 Gillian G. — “Dogs can be leash aggressive because they feel trapped, so a huge part of dog etiquette is to not let your own dog rush up to another dog on a leash. Always ask before introducing your dog to another.”

🐶 Suzanne C. — “I’m recently a puppy owner, and the other day someone kissed my puppy without asking permission. Though (outside of COVID-19) this wouldn’t be an issue, you never know what a dog is going through so it’s best to check with the owner first before giving a pup some love.”

🐶 Jarrod R. — “I think it’s important to know where it is acceptable to walk your dog and let them go to the bathroom. Private property is not a place that you can walk with your pet or let it use the bathroom wherever it wants.”

🐶 Meredith S. — “I always keep my dog on my right side when taking her around the greenway, away from people passing on my left, so that she doesn't trip them or greet them without being welcome. It would be so helpful if other people walking on the trails would keep their dogs on the right, too.”

🐶 Anonymous — “I have a child who is allergic to dogs, so please keep your dog close, off human furniture in public places, and don’t assume that everyone wants to interact with it. It could mean two weeks of a painful rash for some people.”