It’s the holidays, pet expo season, and fall travel season all rolled into one: That’s the good news.
There are pet parents who will engage in one or all of the above with a less-than-well-behaved dog and less than customary human manners: That’s the bad news.
Every dog should have a specific set of behaviors that he or she should be accustomed to before they interact with the general public. I firmly believe and follow the adage that there are no bad dogs, only bad owners.
The minute you and your dog step foot outside or welcome visitors inside, there are basic tenets that should be followed. I cringe when I read statistics that dog bites are on the rise, and I often break down in disbelief by the number of dogs relinquished to shelters for “behavioral problems.”
Here’s a basic breakdown of the absolute bare minimum behaviors you and your dog should follow when interacting with the world at large (i.e., venturing outside, entering an expo, going to a pet-friendly hotel, etc.):

Scoop the Poop

I hesitate mentioning this, but while pondering the content for this article tonight on our evening walk, I literally counted six piles of animal feces within a two-mile walk. Leaving poop behind in a neighborhood is gross and unsanitary; leaving it behind at a pet-friendly hotel ruins it for everyone. Be a responsible pet parent and clean it up. There are products from pouches to pooper scoopers to packs that allow your dog to carry his own waste, so there is no excuse. Just do it.

Canine Good Citizen

The American Kennel Club launched the Canine Good Citizen Program in 1989. It’s designed to teach responsible dog ownership behaviors to pet parents, while dogs learn basic training and good manners. The core of the program is the 10-step testing process. Whether pedigree or mutt, spunky Sparky or golden oldie, dogs of all shapes, sizes, and ages are eligible.
Even if you don’t want the official title and papers for your dog, if your pooch can pass the basics of the CGC, then he or she makes for a well-rounded, accepting canine member of society. Well, that and it feels pretty darned good to tell folks what having his CGC title means—at hotels, in our travels, at expo, and everywhere in between. I had my dog certified and we had fun learning the basic things required to pass, too!

Speaking of Pet Expos

For the love of Lassie, please know if your dog gets along with other pets, is accepting of people, routine sounds, and crowds before going to an expo. Smaller dogs can get stepped on, so a dog buggy/stroller is a good idea if you want the fun of a pet expo without the fret of an injured pooch.
Case in point: I recently attended the Central PA Pet Expowith my dog, Dexter, and his canine partner in crime, Zoe. We had a booth there for Wigglebutt Warriors, and all pets in attendance got along. There were many adoption booths, and it was with a heavy heart that I spied dog after dog, cat after cat, waiting for their forever homes.
The reasons for giving these dogs up just broke my heart in a million pieces. They ran the gamut:
* New baby came along: Um, hello, there are ways to acclimate babies and pets.
Learn More: How to Add a Baby to a Dog Household
* He growled at other small animals (seriously, don’t get me started).
* Wanted a younger, more well-behaved dog (no words for this one).
Again, with love, time, training, and positive reinforcement, dogs adjust and become loving member of the family. Some people should just not be allowed to have a pet.
Refer back to the tenets of Canine Good Citizenship and be a mindful, respectful human being, too. Keep reading and you’ll see why I say this.

Don’t Raise a Hand or Jerk on a Collar

While out walking my dog earlier this year,  I witnessed a man chasing his dog down the street. Ever the “I’ll help, be right there” person that I am, my random act of kindness was quickly thwarted by a slap—but not to me.
The dog apparently got loose while on a walk and his owner was chasing after him. As he scooped the little guy up (a shih tzu mix perhaps), he slapped the dog on the butt and repeatedly yelled over and over “No! No! No!” and jerked the dog close to him.
I yelled over “hey” and before a second word could float his way, he picked his dog up and quickly walked off, perhaps caught in the act or just not wanting to deal with an obviously stunned me.
No matter how upset you are or what the dog did to frustrate you, hitting/spanking/slapping a dog is never appropriate. Never. Yanking the dog back to you demonstrates how amazingly powerful and scary you are, but teaches a dog fear.
Putting your hand(s) on a dog as a form of punishment is not only wrong but as harmful to the relationship you want with your dog (counterproductive in fact).
Dogs are bigger spirits than we as humans. Watch an abused dog as he or she is rescued from a kennel; I’ve lost count to the number of dogs I’ve seen wag. They trust us, believe in us, and give us second chances. Give them a break, don’t hit, don’t slap.
Jerking on a dog’s collar is also counterproductive and actually harmful to a dog’s sensitive throat area. Avoid neck, spine, and other injuries by training your dog to walk comfortably with a harness that best suits your dog’s needs. I travel with my dog frequently throughout the year, and the numbers of pet parents who yank and pull their dog as a means of control is an epidemic. So just don’t become part of it.
Article from Pet 360, click here to link to the original article