What should you do if someone follows you while dog walking?
If someone follows you while you walk your dog, shorten the leash, keep the dog close and head toward open businesses, lit streets and other people. Do not lead the person back to your home. Cross the street to test whether they are really following. Call 911 if they keep pace, come close or act threateningly, and tap SOS in Holler so your Guardians can see where you and your dog are.
Protecting yourself and your dog
01Shorten the leash and take control
Reel your dog in to a short leash at your side. A dog on a long line or retractable lead can tangle you up, dart toward the stranger or pull you off balance just when you need to move. Close control also keeps your dog out of a confrontation.
02Test the follow with a detour
Dog walks are full of natural stops, which makes a follower easy to spot: pause for a sniff, then cross the road or turn down a different block. Someone who waits when you wait and turns when you turn is following you.
03Do not walk them to your door
Many dog walks start and end at home, so the instinct is to hurry back. Resist it. Go instead to a pet store, a gas station, a busy corner or a neighbor you know is home. Your dog is welcome in more businesses than you might think in an emergency.
04Do not rely on your dog as protection
A dog may deter some people, but you cannot count on it, and a dog that lunges can get hurt or bitten back. Keep your dog beside you and your focus on getting to people. If you need your hands, loop the leash around your wrist so you can hold your phone.
05Call 911 and send an SOS
If the person is threatening or keeps following, call 911, give the street and nearest cross street first, then a description, and mention you have a dog with you. Tap SOS in Holler so your Guardians get your live location by email and push. They can call you or the police, but Holler itself never contacts 911.
06Change your walk pattern afterward
Dog walks tend to happen at the same times on the same streets, which makes them predictable. After an incident, vary the times and loops for a while and report what happened to local police so they know about it.
Related questions
Will my dog protect me if someone approaches?
Some dogs react to a threat and many do not. Even a protective dog can be injured or frightened. Plan as if you are on your own: keep the dog close and move toward people.
What if I need to run with my dog?
Running with a dog on a leash is awkward and a fall is likely, especially on ice or uneven ground. A brisk walk toward a busy place is usually safer than a sprint. If you must run, keep the leash short and run toward people.
How do I make early and late dog walks safer?
Use a lit collar or leash so drivers and neighbors see you both, share your live location while you are out, and choose streets with lit homes and traffic. Our page on dog walking alone at night has more, and the dog walking safety hub collects the rest.
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Sources, checked September 2026: Alexandria (Indiana) Police Department: Personal safety tips, Apple Support: Use Emergency SOS on your iPhone.
More safety answers, or see the safety guides.