An interview with Kirstie and Reuben for Respect The Lead Campaign
For many dog owners, learning how to navigate walks respectfully takes time, experience, and often, a few hard lessons. In this interview, we speak with Kirstie and her dog Reuben, a 10-year-old labradoodle, about their journey together. From the early days of misunderstanding lead etiquette to now advocating for greater awareness, Kirstie shares candid insights into how both she and Reuben have grown — and how their experiences have deepened her commitment to the Respect the Lead campaign.
An interview with Kirstie and Reuben
Zoe: SO, firstly, I would love to know more about your four-legged friend!
Kirstie: Reuben is a sociable labradoodle who is now 10 years old. I have to confess that I did not understand other dogs’ needs when he was younger, so I didn’t always get things right. However, I understood dogs on lead needed space, and I tried hard to respect that. Unfortunately, I didn’t always succeed. With hindsight, I should have used a longline during his adolescence to manage his enthusiasm. (In my defence, longlines were hardly used back then, so not understood in the way they are now.) Persistent training and Reu maturing meant we evolved to be a much better-behaved pair.
Zoe: Is this the first dog you have owned?
Kirstie: Yes, and so I just did what everyone else I knew did when walking their dogs. It took me becoming a dog walker and studying dog behaviour for me to truly understand what socialisation means (hint – it’s NOT your dog greeting every dog you see). Over the years, I have become much more skilled at reading dog body language – my dog and others – and am always guided by that now.
Zoe: Have you ever been personally affected by an on-lead/off-lead altercation?
Kirstie: Yes, sadly, quite a few times. Reu is a black dog, and I think that makes him more of a target than some dogs. A neighbour’s small dog hates Reu and has gone for him several times. More recently, we also have had a few incidents with larger dogs, including some aggressive labradors and a golden doodle who attacked him twice in one week, just months after Reu had major spinal surgery. One of these attacks involved the dog biting him down his back. (There was bite inhibition thankfully, so it was just tooth catches and saliva. But the twisting and turning in trying to get away caused him real pain.)
Zoe: How has it affected your dog?
Kirstie: After each small dog attack, if we saw a small dog display stressed and anxious body language, he would do a pre-emptive pounce towards them to tell them to go away. I would have to condition him out of this each time, and so he would get over it. Since the series of large dog attacks, he is now extremely vigilant to all dog body language. If a dog stares at him, I have to intervene and ideally block his view to prevent him from staring back. I will play games to help him get past happily, or change direction if there isn’t enough space to get past safely. I am lucky that Reu is a very optimistic and resilient dog, and so has not become overly traumatised by what happened to him. I know it would not be the same with all dogs.
Zoe: How has it affected you?
Kirstie: As a dog walker, I am vigilant and continually risk assess for all the dogs I walk. But when it comes to Reu, I am now hyper-vigilant and don’t find walks relaxing at all, unless we are away from others. I think he knows that I will intervene when necessary, and so he is in a better place than I. He is not on lead all the time anymore, but I frequently use the lead to quietly ask people for space, as he has ongoing back issues. I’m lucky in that I know he can cope with non-aggressive dogs, so I don’t have to worry about his behaviour around all dogs, like some people have to. But I still don’t want bouncy dogs near him for his back’s sake.
However, my observation is that when someone says “it’s OK, he’s friendly”, the body language can often suggest otherwise. Many people don’t understand their own dog’s body language; they see a “wagging” tail and think it’s friendly when it’s flagging, and they are not seeing the stressed or conflicted body language signals. They also don’t understand that a dog staring is often perceived as aggressive by the receiving dog (regardless of intent), so never step in to distract and prevent problems.
The hardest aspect I have found, from both being a dog walker and managing Reu’s recovery, is that when asking someone to recall their dog, it gets such negative responses. And from some rudeness and abuse (that often seems to happen when they can’t successfully recall their dog, so they lash out in embarrassment instead). I’m sure these people love dogs, but they seem to struggle to consider other dogs’ needs beyond their own.
I should add, there are many considerate people out there walking their dogs. And I am very grateful to all of them. I just wish there were more of them.
Zoe: Had you heard of the Respect the Lead campaign before?
Kirstie: I’ve been aware of it for some time. As a dog walker, I walk some reactive dogs, and so I have educated myself about how best to help them.
The campaign really became personal for me when Reu was recovering from spinal surgery, needing toilet walks initially, and then a gradual increase in exercise outside. It amazed me that even with a huge yellow pennant asking for space on his lead, how many people didn’t think it applied to them or their dog. It was the most stressful part of the whole surgery situation, as just one impact or sudden twist could have fractured a healing vertebra.
Zoe: What do you feel could be done to raise awareness among other dog owners about good lead etiquette?
Education. However, there are so many relevant factors to cover; how to appropriately socialise dogs, dog body language and communication, and human-dog walking etiquette. I also think a better understanding of the law and what an under-control dog actually means would help.
I do think that when people understand the reasons why dogs are on a lead, most people become more considerate. Sadly, I think perhaps I get more understanding with an injured dog than people do with a reactive one. Perhaps they find it easier to imagine. Even though Reu is also now quietly reactive and needs my support, they don’t see that side. I hate using his back as a reason, but it is much easier to explain. No one should feel they have to explain why, though.
But how do we educate people? In my experience, the people who seem more resistant to learning are those who have had dogs for a long time and think their way is the only way. Or perhaps more recent dog owners who haven’t realised how much training and support a young dog needs and are muddling through without working with good trainers/ behaviourists who educate them. How do we get through to them? Not everyone devours dog content like I do. So, whilst I think social media can help, how do you get your message read in non-dog-focused areas and with people who aren’t interested in learning about dogs? Would having simple resources focusing just on the respect the lead message, available at vets, be the best place? You could also ask vets and nurses to deliver the message directly through puppy parties or similar opportunities.
Thanks to Kirstie for sharing about Respect The Lead
Kirstie’s story is a reminder that every dog on a lead has a reason, whether it’s recovery from surgery, trauma, or the need for space. Respecting the lead is crucial for both the dog and its handler. While education and empathy are key, there’s still much work to be done to shift attitudes and improve awareness. As Kirstie says, a little understanding goes a long way — and every respectful action helps make shared spaces safer for all dogs.
Get in touch with your encounters. We would love to hear from you!
If you and your dog have also had similar incidents, or would like to share something positive about dogs on leads, or the Respect the Lead campaign has helped you understand dog behaviour better, get in touch via email [opens new email].
Comments