How (Not) To Greet A Dog
Friends of the Dog
Friends of the Dog
A lot of people seem to have forgotten how to meet a dog. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve seen someone crouch down in front of a tense, wide-eyed Collie cross or a cute little Toy Pom, stare them in the face, and shove out a hand like they’re presenting a peace treaty. And every time, I think, this is a great way to get bitten.
Somewhere along the way, it became normal to treat other people’s dogs like celebrities — the furry equivalent of holding a baby in a café so everyone can coo and fuss. Owners bring their dogs out, and instead of giving them space, strangers feel duty-bound to go straight in with baby talk, patting, and full-on eye contact. But here’s the truth: most dogs are not social butterflies desperate for attention. They’re loyal, family-focused animals who are naturally cautious with strangers. That’s not a flaw — it’s part of who they are - think about it, how would you feel if somebody you did not know came over and just gave you a huge hug?
Yes, some breeds are naturally more wary, some dogs have had poor socialization, and some just lack confidence. But no matter the reason, they all need a moment to decide if a new person passes the “my human says you’re okay” test. And most people don’t give them that chance.
Instead, they lean over, reach out, kneel, chatter, and stare — basically ticking off every box in the “how to scare or annoy a dog” checklist. If you were looking for a way to make a dog snap, this would be it.
Here’s the rule: you don’t walk up to a strange dog and stick your hand out. The dog doesn’t know who you are. It doesn’t care that you’ve “always been great with dogs” or that “they can smell fear.” It just knows a stranger is trying to touch it.
You see it all the time — outside shops, cafés, or on the pavement — a tethered dog minding its own business while people (and worse, their kids) swarm in for a pat. They’re unknowingly teaching their children a risky habit that can end in a nip to the hand or face. Even with the owner present, rushing in like this is a bad idea.
The safest way to greet a strange dog? Don’t. Ignore it. Yes, even if it looks friendly. Body language can be misleading — I’ve met dogs that looked happy enough to win “most approachable” at the village fete, right before trying to take a chunk out of somebody´s sleeve.
If you really must meet a dog, start with the owner. Talk to them, ignore the dog, keep your movements calm, first question is to ascertain if the dog is happy with people. If so, let the dog make the first move. Once it relaxes and chooses to approach you, then you can offer a calm scratch or a quiet “good girl.” Keep it low-key — no squealing, no rubbing them like you’re polishing furniture. Push an insecure dog too far and it will retreat or react.
And if a dog’s tied up alone? Leave it alone. You’re not proving anything by being the self-appointed “dog whisperer” of the street. Save the interaction for when the owner is there.
Teach your kids this, too. Most dog bites happen to children under twelve, and a big reason is that we’ve trained them to greet dogs in the most unsafe way possible — hand out, face in, no reading of signals. Change that habit, and you’ll prevent a lot of bites.
Somewhere along the way, it became normal to treat other people’s dogs like celebrities — the furry equivalent of holding a baby in a café so everyone can coo and fuss. Owners bring their dogs out, and instead of giving them space, strangers feel duty-bound to go straight in with baby talk, patting, and full-on eye contact. But here’s the truth: most dogs are not social butterflies desperate for attention. They’re loyal, family-focused animals who are naturally cautious with strangers. That’s not a flaw — it’s part of who they are - think about it, how would you feel if somebody you did not know came over and just gave you a huge hug?
Yes, some breeds are naturally more wary, some dogs have had poor socialization, and some just lack confidence. But no matter the reason, they all need a moment to decide if a new person passes the “my human says you’re okay” test. And most people don’t give them that chance.
Instead, they lean over, reach out, kneel, chatter, and stare — basically ticking off every box in the “how to scare or annoy a dog” checklist. If you were looking for a way to make a dog snap, this would be it.
Here’s the rule: you don’t walk up to a strange dog and stick your hand out. The dog doesn’t know who you are. It doesn’t care that you’ve “always been great with dogs” or that “they can smell fear.” It just knows a stranger is trying to touch it.
You see it all the time — outside shops, cafés, or on the pavement — a tethered dog minding its own business while people (and worse, their kids) swarm in for a pat. They’re unknowingly teaching their children a risky habit that can end in a nip to the hand or face. Even with the owner present, rushing in like this is a bad idea.
The safest way to greet a strange dog? Don’t. Ignore it. Yes, even if it looks friendly. Body language can be misleading — I’ve met dogs that looked happy enough to win “most approachable” at the village fete, right before trying to take a chunk out of somebody´s sleeve.
If you really must meet a dog, start with the owner. Talk to them, ignore the dog, keep your movements calm, first question is to ascertain if the dog is happy with people. If so, let the dog make the first move. Once it relaxes and chooses to approach you, then you can offer a calm scratch or a quiet “good girl.” Keep it low-key — no squealing, no rubbing them like you’re polishing furniture. Push an insecure dog too far and it will retreat or react.
And if a dog’s tied up alone? Leave it alone. You’re not proving anything by being the self-appointed “dog whisperer” of the street. Save the interaction for when the owner is there.
Teach your kids this, too. Most dog bites happen to children under twelve, and a big reason is that we’ve trained them to greet dogs in the most unsafe way possible — hand out, face in, no reading of signals. Change that habit, and you’ll prevent a lot of bites.
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