Neighborly Dog Ownership Etiquette for New Pet Owners

So you’ve finally found the perfect new furry addition to your family — congratulations! Dogs bring endless love to a household, and who wouldn’t enjoy returning home to a wagging tail each day?

While you might think nothing can sour the newfound love you have for your new pet, it’s important to ensure you’re being respectful to your neighbors and following dog ownership etiquette. Keep reading to learn the proper protocol in order to keep friendly relations with your neighbors while raising your new pup.

Always clean up after your pet

This should be one of the more obvious tips, but a respectful pet owner always picks up after their dog. Keep doggy bags on hand during every walk, and always remember to bring extra just in case.

Once you’ve cleaned up after your dog’s business, be sure to toss the used poop bags into a proper public receptacle or your own trash can. Never use a neighbor’s trash bin or leave the used poop bags in a public space, like a park bench or next to a full public garbage bin.

Most importantly, failure to clean up after your dog may also decrease the price of your home when you decide to sell. Many factors go into pricing your home during an appraisal and having unpicked-up dog poop in your yard or your neighborhood won’t just turn off potential buyers, but it may actually force your in-person appraiser to give your home a lower price tag.

The importance of leashing your dog

No matter how trained you believe your dog to be, always keep them on a leash. While your dog may be extremely obedient, leashing your dog keeps them safe and ensures your neighbors aren’t uncomfortable. Remember, not everyone loves animals as much as you do.

Your leash should be short enough to prevent your dog from contacting or jumping on a passerby without your permission.

In addition, always ask the owner before letting your dog contact another dog. While your dog may be friendly, theirs may have issues with aggression, so letting your dog run up to another dog may end with one of them getting hurt. The same rules apply to people. Only let your dog greet a stranger if they ask.

Watch for signs your dog is uncomfortable during any interaction, and be ready to control them with the leash quickly if the need arises.

Train your dog not to bark

While home prices are high in the current real estate market, potential buyers will be easily turned off if they arrive at a house only to hear the neighbor’s dog barking non-stop. In order to keep good relations with your neighbors, you should prevent your dog from barking excessively and hope your neighbors do the same.

Some dog breeds are naturally inclined to bark more than others, and it’s entirely natural for your dog to bark when someone knocks on the door or a squirrel darts past a window. Dogs will be dogs, and some barking is entirely natural and acceptable.

However, your dog shouldn’t bark at every shadow that moves across the floor, and there are ways to train excessive barking out of them. Don’t yell at the dog to stop, as this sounds like you’re actually barking with them and encourages them to keep going.

Instead, ignore your dog’s barking so you teach that barking isn’t an efficient means of getting attention. Be patient with them, and don’t be afraid to seek the advice of professional dog trainers if you’re struggling.