Adventure dogs
Off-leash dogs approaching your leashed dog: what to do
It is one of the most common bad moments on a pathway or a trail: your dog is on leash, doing fine, and a loose dog comes trotting over while its owner calls out that he is friendly from somewhere behind. You have a few seconds and two dogs to think about. Here is what to do with those seconds, what Calgary's pathway rules say, and how to help your dog shake it off afterward.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026
The first seconds
Body-block, speak to the owner, scatter, then turn away.
Safety first: shorten your leash so your dog is at your side, and move so your body is between the two dogs. Stand tall, square to the approaching dog, one hand up like a crossing guard. Use a firm, flat voice aimed at the owner: call your dog, please, this one needs space. Say it once, loud enough to carry, without screaming; a shriek tends to wind both dogs up, and running invites a chase.
If the dog keeps coming, throw a generous handful of treats on the ground in front of it. Many dogs drop their head to eat, which breaks the approach and buys you a U-turn. Pivot away, keeping your dog on the side furthest from the loose one, and walk off at a brisk, boring pace. The piece that holds it together is a trained emergency sit or down at your side, held while you handle the problem and rehearsed on mild distractions first.
- Body between the dogs
- Firm voice to the owner
- Treat scatter breaks the approach
- U-turn, brisk and boring
Rules and recovery
What Calgary's pathways require, what not to do, and the walk after.
Calgary is an on-leash city. The City's dog leash guidelines say dogs must be leashed whenever they are off their owner's property, except in signed off-leash areas. On all pathways, meaning asphalt, concrete or brick surfaces, the leash can be no longer than 2 metres, dogs keep to the right except when passing, and they must not interfere with other pathway users. So the loose dog on a pathway is the one out of bounds, which should take the guilt out of asking for space.
Do not pick up a large or medium dog: your face ends up at bite height and your dog hangs there with no way to move. A small dog can be lifted and turned away, your back to the loose dog. Afterward, take a short, easy walk somewhere quiet with lots of sniffing and cues your dog can win. If wariness lingers or grows, or your dog starts reacting to every dog on the path, a professional assessment is the right next step.
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
An off-leash dog is approaching your dog: what do you do?
Shorten the leash, step between the dogs, and tell the owner in a firm voice to call their dog. If it keeps coming, scatter treats on the ground in front of it, then turn and walk away briskly. Save the training conversation with your own dog for later.
Should you pick up your dog when a loose dog approaches?
Only if your dog is small enough to lift in one motion and turn away, with your back to the loose dog. Lifting a medium or large dog puts your face at bite height and leaves your dog helpless. For bigger dogs, body-block and move off instead.
Are dogs allowed off leash on Calgary pathways?
No. Calgary is an on-leash city, and the City's dog leash guidelines say dogs must be leashed at all times on all pathways, with a leash no longer than 2 metres; the only off-leash exception is a designated area marked by signs. The owner of the loose dog is the one offside, not you.
How do you handle off-leash dogs if it keeps happening on a regular route?
Change the route or the hour first; management beats confrontation. Then build your dog's emergency sit and U-turn until they hold against real distractions. If your dog has started reacting to every dog it sees, ask for a professional assessment rather than stacking more management on top.
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