Cover photo

Pinto Art

This article is for those who don’t have a lot of experience with dogs in general, but it’s a nice ‘wake up’ call for those who have the experience but never seem to understand that dogs’ mind works under certain rules, and that no matter how cuddly or friendly-looking a dog might be, we should never simply approach it as if greeting an old friend. This misconception is the reason for so many dog-related accidents, bites, or people getting scared. Dogs are social beings, but that doesn’t mean every dog wants to be friends with everyone at all times. This is the rule that applies to both giant Great Danes and tiny Chihuahuas.

How to Greet a Dog?

The best way is to be as unthreatening as possible. It doesn’t matter if the dog is confident or fearful; we should appear relaxed and pose no threat to the dog. This can be done by mimicking some of the dog’s behavior. Those we can mimic, of course.

What does it mean to be unthreatening:

• Don’t loom over the dog
• Don’t make sudden moves
• Don’t reach for a dog before letting the dog come to you first
• Don’t yell or shout
• To be extra careful, avoid direct eye contact
• Don’t run toward the dog

Looming over the dog, standing tall and reaching from above, sudden moves, shouting and so on can be very scary or threatening to a dog. Depending on the dog, you can either scare the dog and make it run away (the best option for you), or you can cause fear-induced aggressive behavior. In very confident dogs or those who act protectively toward their owners, you will trigger “protective aggressiveness” in them.

The dog is not “too aggressive” if it doesn’t react in the way you wanted it to react. It’s simply reacting instinctively. Remember, no one owes you friendly behavior, no matter if it’s an animal or a person.

What To Do Step by Step

Here’s a direct, step-by-step guide when meeting a new dog. 

1. If a dog is with its owner, ask the owner if you can approach the dog. Don’t approach while asking! Wait for the owner to say, “Yes.”
2. If the owner says, “Yes”, we can approach. The best option is to crouch down when you come closer to the dog.
3. Offer the dog your hand to sniff.
4. Let the dog come to you!
5. When the dog sniffs your hand and accepts your “greeting”, you can pet the dog.
6. Don’t pet the dog on the head right away.
7. You can absolutely say, “Who’s a good boy/girl?”
8. If the dog sniffs your hand and turns to walk away from you, don’t grab the dog. Don’t reach for the dog; just let the dog go. This behavior is common in dog breeds such as the Akita or the Shiba Inu. 

Why Does Slow-Approach Matter?

This kind of behavior is important for establishing correct communication and a relationship with a new dog. We are representing ourselves in a friendly manner and building trust. This especially comes in handy if we want to change the behavior of a dog in the future. For example, meeting a dog you want to adopt or foster in the described way is very important for any future work. A relaxed environment is key in helping a dog change behavior. If a dog perceives us as a threat initially, it’s much harder to gain the dog’s trust, regardless of whether or not the dog is fearful.

Here’s an example of a nice way to greet a dog when it is on a walk with its owner. I love the fetchmycamera_ dog photographer, so I had to choose him as an example. The videos will make you smile; I am certain of it. 

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Look at how he waits for the dog to approach him and how he’s respectful of the dog’s decision to step away. Perfect. Here’s another one below, but I recommend you follow Mark. The photos are absolutely gorgeous!

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Final Thoughts

The key is respect, just like with any other living being. In most cases, dogs are already well-socialized, and greeting one out in the park is not a big deal. But, we always have to ask the owners for approval to come and say hello. If they say, “No,” that’s it. Don’t approach. There are many reasons why they don’t want you to come. This is something we should teach children as well. I’ve seen children running after dogs or at them too many times without any reprimand from their parents. A few days ago, I saw a 4-year-old running toward a Staffie that had a muzzle on and was on a leash. The dog didn’t react; it was very well-trained. When the father finally came and took his child, he said to the owner, “Thank you for putting a muzzle on your dog.” What? In my mind, it’s like saying to a car driver, “Thank you for stepping on the brakes,” when a child runs off to a busy street. I know there are those who will disagree with me, because “a child doesn’t know.” But that’s just it; we should be the ones telling children what to do or not do. How else will they know? 

Cover photo by Pinto Art