Field Guide · Glossary
Parallel walking
Methods and protocolsWalking two dogs, or a dog and an unfamiliar person, in the same direction with space between them rather than toward each other.
How it works
Shared movement gives both parties something to do other than assess each other, and it avoids the head-on approach that dogs generally find rude. Distance starts wide enough that neither dog is troubled and closes only as both stay relaxed. It works because nothing is being asked of either dog beyond walking, which means a dog who cannot cope with a greeting can still spend twenty productive minutes near another dog.
What it looks like
Two dogs start on opposite sides of a wide path, walking the same way. Over half an hour the gap narrows from sixty feet to ten. Neither dog is asked to greet the other, and both spend most of the walk sniffing.
Commonly confused with
- Meet & greet
- Parallel walking is one technique, and often an entire session in itself. A meet and greet is the broader introduction it usually forms the first part of.
Related terms