Dog Friendly in Arizona?

[Billy'sParent]

We have just moved from England to Arizona. On our morning walks we have noticed an unfamiliar thing happening with other dog walkers. Due to the heat we are walking at 5-6.30am. We are a non-threatening looking couple with a Chiweenie puppy (Dachshund/Chihuahua cross, if you weren't sure). In England, meeting other dog walkers was a great social outlet in the 6 months or so we have had our puppy. You would stop for a chat, dogs would interact and then you continue your walk. Since being in Arizona, every time we have come across another dog walker, they have crossed the road before getting to us or in one lady's case (as she wasn't able to cross the busy road) she made this big effort to walk through grass way off of the path, up against the back wall of nearby properties just to avoid us. This is really confusing the two of us (and our dog as well). Is there something we don't know about dog walking in Arizona? Or all dog walkers fearful of talking or interacting in any way with other dog walkers? Are Arizona dog walkers just an unsocial breed? We just can't figure out what is going on.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

I live in London, Ontario, Canada but the only thing I can surmise by this is perhaps the owners of the others dogs are out at that hour because their dogs are not well behaved with others. They may be avoiding you, and your very tiny dog, to prevent an incident.

I would not take it personally. Perhaps you can meet other dog owners at a dog park, or some other gathering place that is intended for social interaction amongst the dogs.

It must be quite an adjustment for you moving from England to Arizona! Good luck to you and I hope you start to meet some friendly people soon.

[kian]

I can answer that as we travel to Arizona a lot with our dogs. Most of those dog owners are limited on time due to work and need to walk thier dogs with no time to chat. Also, it's common courtesy to give other dogs walkers space and that is in a lot of U.S. Cities. When I walk my dogs early in the morning there, it is the same way. Many people are out for exercise for them and thier dog and then have a commute to work. Lots of commuters there!

There are many dog friendly parks in Arizona, that is a much better way to meet other owners. There are many dog clubs in Arizona as well. Lots of good ways to meet!

Arizona is way different than England! Are you British or American? Just curious, it must be quite different and we do have other members here from England.

[Billy'sParent]

I am from Chandler but we lived in England for over 20 years. I am a bit confused about it being a common courtesy to give other dog walkers space. What is the difference in saying hello to another walker or to another dog walker? We have plenty of people say hello in our morning walks who don't have dogs.

We have dog parks on our agenda and maybe that is the way to go.

However, not sure I understand the "no time to chat" because it takes more time to cross the road and avoid us than it would to just pass us by and saying hello or good morning. It just seems rude. We are not looking for a half hour chat. But a quick hello in passing would be a lot more courteous than avoiding us like we have a plague sign around our necks and a vicious pit bull at the end of our leash.

Charles

[nezza]

To put it bluntly, Americans are not as friendly as they used to be. Sorry to say it, but it's true. Anyone here, can and will disagree with me and that's fine. Currently i work in customer service...after being a vet tech for years (animals are much nicer to work with) i HAD to (not by choice) go back into customer service. Anyway....people have gotten angrier, more unfriendly, and self absorbed. So sad, isn't it?

I'm sorry that you've had to experience this. If i saw you walking toward me, i would stop to talk to you.
I live out in the country in Tennessee. Very, very small town...we don't even have a stop light. Every day, i wave to people on my street as i drive and most of them just stare, refusing to wave back! How could you not wave at someone who is waving, happily at you....every day for four years now!?!?!? It's appalling to me. And, yet, i still wave.

[JaymeK]

An opinion from Guelph, ON (not too far from Deb in London!)

I often walk Benson around 6:30am when I have to work and we meet some other dogs. Benson and I are both a little wary of other dogs at first because there are a lot of unsocialized dogs in our area. Whenever I see a small dog (or of course large dog, but the majority of the dogs in my area are small) straining at its leash I automatically move Benson as far away as possible. The one time I only gave Benson about a 5 foot berth from another dog it lunged at him and when I told the lady she should've warned me or held onto her dog properly (it was on a flexi lead, she had no control) she yelled at me, telling me I should've gone to the other side of the road (where there was no sidewalk). So it could be their dog isn't friendly, or maybe they aren't sure if your dog is friendly! But I still say good morning to almost everybody, unless they look unfriendly. Honestly, some people just walk their dog with their head down and have no interest in speaking to anyone.

I have gotten to know some of the people with dogs in my area and now I'm friends with quite a few and will stop and say hello when I see them.

Maybe give it some time and you will begin to recognize the owners! I know you are in a big city, but it could still happen. I think if you smile and say hello every time people might begin to recognize you and perhaps be more friendly:)

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

I concur with everything everyone has said!

I am quite familiar with England and have spent a great deal of time there. In my opinion, people there are far more "dog" friendly than they are in North America. Since I am Canadian, I can't really speak for the US, but I'm not surprised to hear that people tend to keep to themselves.

I agree with you Charles. It IS rude! It takes no amount of time to say hello, and even something as banal as "my dog doesn't do well with other dogs, excuse me". I think Jayme had a great suggestion about continuing to say hello, wave and smile. I often kill people with kindness, and generally make friends wherever I go, whether they like it or not.

Some people are just rude! If you are a stranger, then they don't wish to know. It is quite sad really. The world would be a much nicer place if everyone stopped being so wary of everyone else and actually took the 2 seconds to smile and say hello.

Vanessa, I would continue to smile and wave too!

[kian]

It's true we live in a busy society where common chit chat isn't what many people seek. Most of these walkers really are on time constraints. Many catch the Bus, many carpool and many drive those horrible freeways I really hate. While a few minutes may seem no problem, a few minutes to them could mean being late to work. Many people that early in the morning are deep in thier thoughts with the day ahead. Being a commuter in days gone by....thank goodness, I can vouch for this.

Nezza is right, Americans aren't as friendly and cities are worst if you ask me. I live in the Country and walk my dogs and find other dog owners will smile and say hi as they give space. Arizona isn't known as a very friendly state, I know this from personal experience. Lots of people keep to themselves. I know the Chandler area well, we have kids who live in the area.

Like Nezza, I would say Hi! More likely....Howdy!

Anyway welcome Charles, it's very nice to meet you. Let us know if your experience in the dog parks is different, I found it was.