manners MATTER
BY KAREN LA CORTE
Petiquette
Managing
Your Pet's
Behavior
Karen La Corte is an
etiquette and manners
expert trained and certi-
fied by the Emily Post
Institute in Vermont. She
has been teaching eti-
quette and manners to
children and adults for
over thirty years. She is
also a certified image
and fashion consultant.
Karen is happy to answer
any personal etiquette or
image questions you may
have by emailing her at
[email protected]
P
etiquette is about managing your pets’
behavior. If you’re an animal lover, this
article is for you. I’ve had pets all my
life, from cats and dogs to bunnies and
birds and many more in between. Some pets
came my way because of my kids, which I’m
sure a lot of you can relate to. I’ve only gone
four years in my life without a pet!
With a pet comes responsibility. Not only
do you have to feed the animal, but a happy
pet is well groomed, walked, checked by the
vet and most of all loved. Children need to
be taught this at an early age. Unless you
have a fish, pets are a huge commitment.
Actually, even fish need to be fed, and not
too much at a time! And, their bowl or tank
needs to be cleaned and tended to periodi-
cally. Along with caring for your pet, there
are some rules of etiquette.
Since I have a dog, and dogs seem to be
the most popular pet to take with you, I am
going to focus mainly on them. However,
keep in mind that these rules of etiquette
can apply to most pets that are transportable.
Dogs go everywhere nowadays. They
are on leashes, in carriers, and in baskets
on bicycles. Certain restaurants and hotels
welcome them. Business owners in Carmel
even put out bowls of water in front of their
shops for them. Dogs have wardrobes, go
to work with us, service hospitals and the
sick, and travel with their owners. But, these
modern-day dogs need to be taught rules
of behavior if they are going to be socially
accepted. And, it is up to the pet owner to
do the teaching and make sure their pet
adheres to the rules.
My first rule of petiquette is to always
pick up after your dog. In some cities it
is illegal to not “scoop your poop.” Be
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
APRIL/MAY 2018
respectful of your neighbor’s lawn, a side-
walk, or a park. Bring several bags. If you
run out, come back and clean it up later, or
ask another walker if they have an extra bag
they wouldn’t mind giving you.
My second rule is to be respectful of other
peoples’ space. Only let your dog approach
someone if they are open to it. Don’t assume.
And, if your dog offends someone by
jumping up on them, apologize and prevent
it from happening again.
Next, know what triggers your dog’s
unruly behavior. If your dog is unsociable,
or aggressive around other dogs, stay away
from dog parks. Stay away from festivals, car
shows, street fairs, outdoor concerts and the
beach if you know your dog might act up
with crowds or at the sight of another dog.
It’s about respect for others here.
If an area is posted, “Dogs permitted
only on leash,” then adhere to this. There’s
nothing worse than walking your leashed dog
only to have to fend off an unleashed dog
charging toward your dog or you!
If it is posted, “No dogs allowed,” then
don’t bring your dog. It always amazes me
the number of folks who smuggle their dogs
into grocery stores, restaurants, the theatre,
even church, when they are clearly not
allowed. Once again, it is all about respect
and sometimes a Health Department issue.
The only exception is a bona fide service dog,
usually for the handicapped or the sick
and elderly.
If your dog is a barker, it is good manners
to make sure your neighbors aren’t annoyed.
Only allow your dog in your yard if someone
is with him. If he is alone all day barking
in the house while you are gone, try to get
someone to come in and walk him mid-
gmhtoday.com
75