Taking your dog out for a walk comes with a few important rules. First, always pick up your dog’s poop—no excuses. Second, remember that not everyone loves your dog as much as you do, so be mindful of how your dog behaves around strangers. Third, let dogs greet each other naturally, even if it means a bit of sniffing—it’s normal dog behavior. Finally, work on reliable recall, so your dog comes back when called, especially if off-leash.
Meanwhile, if you’ve ever wondered whether a dog’s mouth is really cleaner than a human’s, science says it’s not that simple. An award-winning 8th-grade experiment found that while dogs may have fewer bacteria overall, they carry more types. Most of their bacteria are harmless to humans, but it’s still smart to avoid face-licks from dogs who eat raw diets or get into gross stuff like litter boxes. Keeping your dog’s mouth healthy with regular teeth cleaning also helps.
Bottom line: Practice good manners at the park—and yes, it’s usually safe to enjoy a few doggy kisses if your pet is healthy!
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