As a responsible dog owner, you will need to educate people about the correct way to approach your dog. These five steps will help friends, family, and strangers get to know your dog safely and appropriately.
- Ask before you touch. Ask the owner if you can pet their dog. If the dog is unsupervised, think twice about approaching.
- Ask the dog if he wants to be touched. Offer your hand for sniffing. If the dog doesn’t come forward to check you out, don’t pursue him.
- Move slowly and be gentle when you pet the dog.
- Pet the dog on the shoulder or the back, not on the head or tail.
- Don’t force the dog to stay and get touched if he doesn’t want to be touched.
Young children are down at dog level, and may need special coaching when they meet an unfamiliar dog. A child’s screaming or jumping around may frighten a dog or trigger his predatory instincts.
- Remind children that the dog is a living thing, not a toy.
- Remind children that the dog is not like the animals they may see on TV.
- Teach children not to startle the dog or be rough with him.
- Don’t allow children to tease the dog.
- Encourage children to be careful approaching the dog when eating or sleeping.
- Supervise all child-dog interactions.
- Allow children to offer treats, so the dog learns that good things happen when children are around. Place the treat on an open palm so the dog can take it; fingers holding a treat may get nibbled by an enthusiastic dog.
If your dog has had aggression problems in the past, you may want to have him wear a muzzle when you are out in public or when strangers come to the house. Muzzles allow the dog to drink and breathe normally, but will prevent biting. A basket style muzzle may be a good choice for a dog with a history of aggression.
When in doubt, choose caution over a potential accident. If you think your dog might bite, don’t allow strangers to approach or touch him.