Adventure dogs
Dog etiquette on shared trails
A shared trail is a negotiation between people who did not choose each other: hikers, riders, cyclists, families, and other dogs on other leashes. The dog that makes it work is the one nobody notices until it is already past them. This page covers the courtesies that keep the peace, where the written rules back them up, and the training that lets a dog actually keep them.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026
Unwritten courtesies
The pass is decided before you reach them.
Horses and bikes go first. Step your dog to the trail edge, ask for a sit, and let them by; in our experience horses tend to read a still dog far better than a lunging one. When another leashed dog approaches, clip yours on well before you meet, even on a trail that allows off leash. The other owner leashed for a reason, and that reason is not yours to test.
Recall happens before the pass, not after. Call your dog back as soon as you spot someone coming, while they are still far off and your voice still beats the interest. A recall shouted after the dog has already reached a stranger is an apology, not a cue. Nobody on a trail owes your dog a greeting, and the person stepping off the path with a stiff smile is asking you to collect yours.
- Horses and bikes pass first
- Leash up near leashed dogs
- Recall before the pass
- Every bag leaves with you
Where rules apply
One loose dog on an on-leash trail costs every owner.
The written rules back up the courtesies rather than replace them. Inside Calgary, the City's bylaw page says dogs are leashed off their owner's property unless a sign designates an off-leash area, and waste gets picked up right away. In Provincial Parks, the Alberta Parks pet rules ask that pets stay leashed and under control and that waste goes in the garbage, and a dog judged a hazard or an annoyance can be ordered out. Other land managers set their own rules.
An off-leash dog on an on-leash trail is not a victimless shortcut. It pulls the leashed dog ahead into a greeting it did not want, and it hands anyone who wants dogs off that trail their best argument. Etiquette is obedience under pressure. A recall around a bike, a heel past a horse and a sit while a stranger passes are what Functional Off-Leash and Advanced Off-Leash work on, and the consultation points you to the lightest program that covers your trails.
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
What is proper dog etiquette on hiking trails?
Keep your dog close enough to control before anyone has to ask, step aside for horses and bikes, and pick up every bag. In Alberta's Provincial Parks that also means leashed at all times, under the Alberta Parks pet rules. Where a trail allows off leash, the courtesy is the same: nobody else should have to manage your dog.
What is off-leash dog trail etiquette?
Off leash is a privilege the land manager grants, so confirm the trail allows it before unclipping. Recall and leash up whenever you see a person, a leashed dog, a horse or a bike coming, early enough that the pass happens on leash. If your dog cannot do that reliably, it is still a long-line trail for you.
How do you pass other dogs on trails?
Call your dog to your side before the other dog is close, clip the leash on, and move to the trail edge so the two dogs pass with the widest gap available. Ask for a sit if your dog is excitable, and skip the greeting unless the other owner clearly invites it.
Do dogs have to be leashed on hiking trails in Alberta?
In Alberta's Provincial Parks, yes: the Alberta Parks pet rules require pets to be leashed or caged at all times. Inside Calgary, the City says dogs must be leashed off their owner's property unless a posted sign designates an off-leash area. Other land managers set their own rules, so check before you go.
Keep reading
Make your dog the easy one
Recall, heel and a settled sit around bikes, horses and strangers. Book a consultation; if a smaller program covers it, we will say so.
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