For the benefit of the dogs you meet.

skinnydipper

skinnydipper

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For Bonny. I am not trying to be a smart arse. I am sharing information which I hope will be of benefit to both dogs and people.

My last dog presented me with challenges I could never have imagined. He wasn't my first dog but my 10th. I had always had an interest in dog behaviour but he made me realise how little I knew. He taught me a lot.

If you have nothing useful to contribute to this thread then please do not comment, it is disruptive and unnecessary.

Believe it or not, I often hold my tongue when someone expresses a view that is different to mine.;)


On a thread in another forum on this site there have been some dangerous suggestions and I want to try to correct those with some simple advice.

To be clear, this advice is for average day to day interaction with dogs you are not familiar with and does not address dog aggression (but may help prevent it).

When you meet a dog, any dog, respect his space.

The owner may give you permission to stroke him but the dog may not. Listen to the dog.

Keep your hands to yourself.

Observe the dog. Posture, mouth, eyes, ears, tail. Is he happy and relaxed? If anything changes stop what you are doing.

Don't shove your hand in his space.

Wait for the dog to approach you.

If he does, this is not an invitation for you to stroke him. He may just want to sniff you.

Wait for the dog to invite contact. If he doesn't that's fine. Respect his decision.

Crouch, don't loom over the dog. Approach from the front not from above.

Many dogs do not appreciate being stroked on the head and prefer under the chin, sides or chest.

No need to slap big dogs on the side (just why?), a gentle stroke is just fine.

Don't force your own dog to interact. Its ok to say no on his behalf.

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Do not try to initiate eye contact.

Fine with your own dogs but not something to instigate with unfamiliar dogs.

Do not stare, it is very rude and can be regarded as a threat or a challenge.

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To contradict a couple of points on the other part of the forum.

I don't believe dogs pick fights with humans. Perhaps the human committed a social indiscretion (see above) that the dog objected to.

I would also like to point out that we share our lives with domesticated dogs. They do not regard us as prey.

Absolutely no need for any posturing by the human.

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So, experienced dog people. Have I missed anything? We might be helping someone new to dogs with our information.
 
Thanks for posting SD.

Dogs are non-verbal, everything they do is based on sight, smell and sound and body language is the key for both dogs and humans. Dogs only do what is in their best interests, I've seen a dog go for a bite and then immediately back down purely because of the posture and vibes being exuded by his intended subject, he immediately thought better of it. But this was a person who has been training dogs to a very high level for 40 years, he didn't stare at the dog, he didn't act aggressively. As with many things, people either have it or they don't and most people don't.
Calm confidence is key.

Getting bitten sucks, it REALLY hurts, it could impact on your future earnings, there's a huge infection risk. It's not worth it to get 'one over' on or trying to fix someone else's dog, if it's not your job. It's their job to train it or employ someone else to do so.

As an aside, I am also getting bored of posters who do nothing but ridicule and cross-question others and but have absolutely nothing to bring to the table themselves apart from the fact that 'my dog never does that/I've never had this problem'.
 
I would say in the recent past I have been guilty of asking the person with the dog if I can pet them, rather than actually looking at the dog and whether they look like they are happy for a stranger to interact with them. Now if I'm walking and see a dog I allow them to have the choice rather than assuming all dogs like all people all the time, if they come up to me calmly then great if not then move on.
 
Good post. Ffee hates strangers, but is fine if they ignore her. It really sorts out the them who knows, when we went to the dog trainers yesterday I said that she wouldn't want to be touched before I even got her out the car and the trainer didn't even try, totally blanked her. Hence after 5 minutes Ffee was initiating contact (but still would not have wanted to be touched).
The day before my neice came over and was told F wouldn't want to know her, so she constantly leaned towards F and spoke to her, all friendly stuff. F growled incessantly, sat next to me and refused eye contact.
I do know this is all my fault and I made a crap job of socialising her as a pup. As someone who is paranoid about dog theft I don't actually mind if she doesn't want to be touched by strangers, out shooting she is fine and just ignores everyone.
 
Sukhpreet Aujla said:
I would say in the recent past I have been guilty of asking the person with the dog if I can pet them, rather than actually looking at the dog and whether they look like they are happy for a stranger to interact with them. Now if I'm walking and see a dog I allow them to have the choice rather than assuming all dogs like all people all the time, if they come up to me calmly then great if not then move on.
Click to expand...


It is always best to check with the owner and then take your cue from the dog, if owner says it's ok.
 
Clodagh said:
Good post. Ffee hates strangers, but is fine if they ignore her. It really sorts out the them who knows, when we went to the dog trainers yesterday I said that she wouldn't want to be touched before I even got her out the car and the trainer didn't even try, totally blanked her. Hence after 5 minutes Ffee was initiating contact (but still would not have wanted to be touched).
The day before my neice came over and was told F wouldn't want to know her, so she constantly leaned towards F and spoke to her, all friendly stuff. F growled incessantly, sat next to me and refused eye contact.
I do know this is all my fault and I made a crap job of socialising her as a pup. As someone who is paranoid about dog theft I don't actually mind if she doesn't want to be touched by strangers, out shooting she is fine and just ignores everyone.
Click to expand...

Or it's genetic. My older dog is similar, he's just not that into people, none of his breeding is. And I therefore don't put him in positions he's uncomfortable with. I tell people to pretend there is no dog and usually he comes round but if I see he's not happy I take him away or he stays behind me anyway. He can be a delight of his own volition, but does not take kindly to unbidden contact.
 
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Excellent post!

I hadn't appreciated just how genetic these things can be until wee dog, who had a textbook socialisation period and has no interest in people that aren't me, and only really limited interest in other dogs. He is the absolute spit of his father, who still blanks me completely after knowing him for three years. :p
 
Drives me nuts when people insist on trying to touch Zak, last one was a mate’s OH. I warned him not to, so he went round me and bent to touch him. Unsurprisingly, Zak air snapped. If he’s ignored, he comes round quickly and makes friends but it must be on his terms.
 
Blimey this thread makes me really pleased I chose the breed I did - I’ve picked up greyhounds straight out of racing kennels, from sheds on allotments, in awful condition, that have clearly been abused and badly treated, but none of them have ever been aggressive towards me. That’s one of the things I love about the breed ? I really couldn’t be doing with dogs who growl at people or show aggressive behaviour ?

Lurchers on the other hand are an unpredictable pain in the **** ??
 
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