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Approaching
a Dog Correctly
Never run towards a dog that you don't know
The act of running directly at a dog may be seen
as aggressive and confrontational. The dog may feel threatened or wish
to protect its owner or territory and react in an aggressive manner.
In general avoid patting dogs you don't know
Dogs that are tied up, confined in a yard, or a
car, or roaming unsupervised are always unknown quantities and therefore
should be avoided at all times.
Always get permission from the owner to pat his/her dog
The owner, in most situations, knows his/her dog
the best. He/she is in the best position to know how the dog is feeling
and how it reacts to strangers.
Approach the dog from an angle, not directly from the front or rear
Approaching a dog from the front could be mistaken
for a challenge. Approaching from behind could frighten or startle the
dog. Approaching from a front angle is the most appropriate response so
that the dog can see you coming. A dog's peripheral vision is less than
that of a human and this needs to be taken into account when determining
the angle of approach. It must be able to see you. The ideal situation
is to let the dog approach you rather than you approaching the dog.
Slowly
extend the back of hand (not an open palm), curl the fingers, and allow
the dog to sniff
Dogs use their sense of smell when they meet each
other. Allow the dog to sniff the back of your hand with your fingers
curled under. This is not a fist. The hand should be offered by slowly
extending your arm towards the dog. Do not push the hand forward in an
aggressive or downward motion, which again could be misinterpreted as
threatening. If the dog were to attack, the back of the hand with the
fingers curled out of the way, is less likely to result in serious injury
than exposing the open hand and fingers.
Stroke the dog on the side of the chest, the shoulders or under the
chin (not on top of the head)
When dogs greet each other they tend to lick the
side of the face, shoulder and neck area. Gently stroking these areas
will normally help to relax the animal. By patting the dog on the head
you are coming over the top and assuming a dominant position. The dog
may also be unable to see the action coming and startle.
Don't continue patting the dog if it backs away or doesn't sniff the
hand
If the dog backs away or doesn't sniff the hand
it is not inviting you to approach it and should be left alone. If you
approach, you are taking away its option of escape and that may force
it into an aggressive action.
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