Many people are magically attracted to dogs. No matter where you meet a four-legged friend, you have to greet this dog immediately, talk to him, and ideally want to pet him. This article gives you tips on how to properly greet strange dogs.
Many owners have no problem with their dogs being greeted by a stranger. Especially if the four-legged friends are very well socialized and approach strangers in a friendly manner, this is usually not a problem. However, some dog owners do not like it at all when complete strangers walk straight up to their dog and not only want to greet him, but also want to pet him. That usually has a reason. For one thing, this dog may not be socialized yet or generally doesn’t get along well with strangers, and for another, many people just approach the dog the wrong way. It is therefore important that you always find the right way to properly greet a strange dog. As a rule, however, you should never do it without the prior consent of the dog owner. We, therefore, recommend that you always ask the owner. If he says no, then this must also be accepted without fail.
How do I deal with an insecure dog?
If the dog is wearing a yellow ribbon or if it is clear that the four-legged friend is afraid, you should respect that and keep your distance.
Welcoming strange dogs – important tips
The most important point is to find out whether the dog can, is allowed and wants to be greeted. Many dog owners know that their animals don’t like it and react badly to strangers. For these reasons, these dogs wear a yellow bow on their leash or harness. Some dogs also wear a yellow cloth or bandana. This yellow signal is a clear sign and means: the dog does not want to be greeted and needs its natural, personal distance. Yellow ribbons are worn by dogs that are fearful, like to snap at strangers, but also dogs that are ill, old, or in heat. The yellow ribbon should simply be the sign for everyone to leave this dog alone.
The course of an encounter with strange dogs – step by step
Especially if you don’t have a dog yourself and love these animals enormously, you tend to shout with enthusiasm as soon as you see a fluffy four-legged friend. The pitch increases by an octave and the volume also increases. This is of course the exact opposite of right. High, loud, excited noises will confuse and make any dog nervous. Very loud, hysterical voices can even be a trigger for some four-legged friends. If you want to address a dog when greeting, you should do so in a calm, rather quiet and deep voice.
It is just as important not to approach the dog too quickly, but rather slowly and prudently. Dogs don’t like it when you rush at them. Too hectic movements could also intimidate and frighten the dog.
It is important that the dog is not surprised either. The animal should see who is approaching it. It is therefore wrong to approach the four-legged friend from behind. Dogs also don’t like it when you look them straight in the eye. It is best if you approach the strange dog from the front at a slight angle and avoid direct eye contact. The four-legged friend should see you coming, but must not feel intimidated by it.
These approximations are optimal. A strange dog should be approached calmly, relatively quietly and possibly diagonally from the front. This creates a pleasant atmosphere for the animal that does not pose any danger to it.
How do I greet strange dogs?
In any case, you should check your voice. Dogs don’t like high, shrill, and loud voices. This makes them nervous and unsettling.
Greeting strange dogs – These are common mistakes
Dogs do a lot with their sense of smell. If two dogs meet, they usually sniff each other extensively – often first on the hindquarters. This does not mean that the strange dog should sniff a person’s behind – this behavior only applies to dogs.
Many make the mistake of immediately extending their outstretched hand when greeting strange dogs. This scares some dogs. So it can quickly happen that the four-legged friend snaps at the outstretched fingers. You should therefore show the strange dog the slightly angled back of your hand so that it can sniff it. Especially with a strange dog you cannot know whether he will react aggressively. For the sake of your fingers, you should definitely heed this tip.
Another mistake is standing up in front of the dog. This also intimidates many four-legged friends. So bend slightly forward or meet the dog in a stooped posture. Dogs usually feel more comfortable when you meet them at eye level.
Even if you have followed the steps up to this point correctly, things can still go wrong during the first contact. Strangers should not touch a strange dog directly on the head. This also feels threatening and uncomfortable for some dogs. You can usually tell that the four-legged friend flinches slightly as soon as someone else’s hand approaches over his head. Also on the body, strange dogs should not be petted first. The best spot for first touch is just under the snout. Dogs really like it when they are lightly scratched on or under the chin. So the four-legged friend feels comfortable and begins to trust. He can also continue to absorb the smell of the other person directly.
Another no-go is hugging the strange dog immediately or not respecting their space and warnings. When a dog growls or bares its teeth, that’s its way of saying: Stay away, I don’t like it. Dogs have a right to say this too.
How do you properly approach a dog?
The best way is to approach a strange dog slightly from an angle, slowly and carefully, without speaking aloud.
