Leash walking
How do I teach my dog to walk calmly past other dogs without greeting?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Reward your dog for continuing to walk beside you as another dog passes at a comfortable distance, starting with dogs far enough away that your dog barely reacts, often 10 meters or more, and gradually reducing that distance over several weeks. This is a different skill from greeting well, since it asks your dog to notice another dog and keep moving rather than approach at all. Most dogs learn faster if every pass is followed by a reward, so it becomes routine rather than something to strain toward.
Starting at a workable distance
If your dog pulls, whines, or fixates on other dogs from 10 meters away, that distance is currently too close for calm learning, so widen it, even by crossing the street, until your dog can notice a passing dog and still respond to you.
Rewarding every calm pass
Mark and reward the moment another dog is fully past, regardless of how calm the walk looked, so passing dogs becomes reliably followed by something good rather than an unpredictable mix of tension and occasional greetings.
Key takeaways
- Passing calmly without greeting is a separate skill from greeting well.
- Start at a distance where your dog barely reacts, then close it gradually over weeks.
- Reward every calm pass consistently so the pattern becomes routine.