Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Approach the Dog Carefully
• Part 2 of 3: Pet an unfamiliar dog
• Part 3 of 3: Pet a familiar dog
• Tips
• Warnings

Dogs are man's best friends, but they don't always behave in a friendly way. In this article, you will learn how to approach an unfamiliar dog, make sure there are no signs of aggression, and pet it so as not to cause fear or frustration. We will also give you some tips on how to pet your dog or a dog you know well.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Approach the Dog Carefully

1. 1 Ask the owner for permission to pet the dog. The dog may look friendly, but if it is a stranger, you may not know how it reacts to strangers. If your host gives you instructions other than those listed here, follow them. If the owner allows you to pet the dog, specify where he likes to be stroked - for example, on the back or on the head.
2. 2 Be careful if the dog does not have an owner (or at least one is not around). If you see a dog on the street without an owner, proceed with caution and be ready to defend yourself if necessary. If a dog is chained or closed in a confined space, it is more likely to bite, as is a dog eating or chewing on something. Approach such a dog with caution, and if you notice aggression on its part, then give up the desire to pet it.
3. 3 Stay away from your dog if it shows signs of aggression or discomfort. Signs of aggression include barking, tail raised upright, raised hair on the nape, growling, tension of the whole body. Signs of discomfort, fear, or anxiety - lip licking, visible whites of the eyes, avoidance of eye contact, drooping tail, yawning, ears drawn back. Never look dogs closely in the eyes - they usually regard this as your intention to attack. If the dog does not calm down or does not come up to you after half a minute, leave him alone.
4. 4 Bend over or crouch down to indicate that you want the dog to come to you. Encourage your dog to take the first step by squatting to be on the same level with it. For a more confident dog, it is enough only to bend slightly, however not lean right over her so she doesn't see you as a threat. Sometimes you can calm the dog down by “introducing” to it. When the dogs get to know each other, he sniffs each other. When people meet, they shake hands.Accordingly, when a person wants to get acquainted with a dog, he needs to stretch the back of the hand to the dog's nose. By sniffing the hand, the dog is likely to calm down.
   • Never crouch next to your dog if it is without an owner or if it is behaving aggressively (see signs above). Stand to protect yourself in the event of a dog attack.
   SPECIALIST'S ADVICE

   

   David Levin

   
   
   Professional dog walker and trainer David Levin is the owner of Citizen Hound, a professional dog walking service in the San Francisco Bay Area. Has over 9 years of experience in professional dog walking and training. Citizen Hound was voted Best Dog Walking Service in San Francisco by the Beast of the Bay in 2019, 2018 and 2017, and by the SF Examiner and A-List in 2017, 2016 and 2015. Citizen Hound prides itself on its customer service, care, skill and reputation.

   David Levin
   Professional dog walker and trainer

   Our specialist confirms: If you want to pet an unfamiliar dog, do not look into its eyes and get close enough so that it can sniff your feet. You can also turn your face to the side and squat down. This will allow the dog to sniff you without being overwhelmed by your attention.

   
   
5. 5 Call the timid dog closer. If the dog does not come up to you when you squatted, if it is shy or afraid of you (running away or hiding), turn away, as it may be intimidated by eye contact. Call your dog quietly and calmly. You can smack your lips, whistle, talk softly, and so on, just avoid loud noises or noises that make the dog clearly nervous. Turn sideways to appear smaller and less threatening.
   • Ask the owner for the dog's name and call it by name. Some dogs are trained to respond to their name, which makes them less timid or aggressive.
6. 6 Reach out to the dog with a clenched fist. If, after all these steps, you see that your dog doesn't mind being stroked, or at least shows no signs of tension, aggression, or discomfort, let him examine your fist. Bring your fist to the dog's nose, but don't poke it in the face.
   • Do not hold out your open hand to the dog. An unknown animal may mistake your fingers for a treat and bite you.
   • When a dog sniffs you, it does not mean that he is asking for affection; it means she is studying you. Let her complete her exploration before stroking her.
   • Don't be alarmed if your dog licks you. This action is similar to a kiss - this is how the dog shows that he trusts you and likes you.
7. 7 See if the dog is calm. If your dog's muscles are relaxed (not looking tense), if he makes brief eye contact, or wags his tail, he is probably comfortable with you. Continue to the next section, but stop petting your dog and let him sniff your fist again if he tries to leave.

Part 2 of 3: Pet an unfamiliar dog

1. 1 Pat the dog behind the ears. If your dog is not showing signs of aggression, slowly pat or gently scratch behind the ear. Stretch your hand to the side of the dog's head, not over the muzzle.
2. 2 Move to other parts. If everything is going well and the dog is not afraid of you, you can pat it on the back or gently rub the back of its head with your fingers.
   • Many dogs enjoy scratching their upper back near their spine. Stick to the front, closer to the dog's neck and shoulders, as touching near the tail and hind legs can alarm the animal. Do not touch the limbs, tail and intimate areas.
   • Friendly dogs sometimes like to be stroked on the chest or under the chin, but others do not like to be touched by strangers in the jaw area.
   SPECIALIST'S ADVICE

   

   David Levin

   
   
   Professional dog walker and trainer David Levin is the owner of Citizen Hound, a professional dog walking service in the San Francisco Bay Area. Has over 9 years of experience in professional dog walking and training. Citizen Hound was voted Best Dog Walking Service in San Francisco by the Beast of the Bay in 2019, 2018 and 2017, and by the SF Examiner and A-List in 2017, 2016 and 2015. Citizen Hound prides itself on its customer service, care, skill and reputation.

   David Levin
   Professional dog walker and trainer

   Monitor your dog's reactions to see if he likes the way you stroke him. If you want to pet a dog that looks friendly, try to sit down, be level with her, and scratch her chest rather than leaning over her head. When you gain her trust, you can scratch her around her ears, under her collar, or the muscular part of her hind legs and at the base of her tail. If the dog likes it, it will probably lean against you or shift its weight to the part you are scratching.

3. 3 Stop if the dog is unhappy. Keep in mind that some dogs don't like being touched on the top of their heads. Others do not like it when the back of the body or other parts are stroked. Any growl, tail tucking and unexpected body movements should be a signal to you that you need to immediately stop and freeze. If the dog calms down again and reaches for you, stroke the other part of the body.
4. 4 Do not make sudden movements. Do not scratch your dog too vigorously, do not pat or slap on the sides, do not move abruptly from one part of the body to another. If your dog likes the way you caress him, you can go from stroking to lightly scratching, or stroking with both hands instead of one. Proceed with caution, however, as it is not known how an unfamiliar dog will react to more vigorous petting. Moving quickly or too vigorously can cause even a friendly dog ​​to become overexcited and jump on you or bite your hands.

Part 3 of 3: Pet a familiar dog

1. 1 Find out what the dog likes. Since you know this dog, find out what he likes more than what. Some dogs enjoy having their belly scratched or paws massaged. Others will growl if you touch these parts. Pay attention to your dog's body language and stroke where it pleases him most. If your dog wags its tail, its muscles are relaxed, and when you stop and walk away, it whines, it means that it likes the way you stroke it. Drooling can be a sign of agitation, although it does not always mean that the dog is relaxed.
2. 2 Be careful when scratching your dog's belly. When the dog is lying on its back, it can be a sign that it is scared and begs for mercy, rather than expecting affection. Even if a dog you know well loves to have its belly scratched, sometimes it takes this position for another reason. Do not stroke the belly if the dog is nervous, tense, or looks unhappy.
3. 3 Teach children how to handle dogs properly. Dogs are often nervous around children, even those with whom they grow up, as children can be awkward when petting a dog. Explain to the children not to hug, kiss or grab the dog tightly, because if the child does not calculate the strength, the dog will be uncomfortable or painful and may even bite. Teach children never to pull or throw anything at the dog's tail.
4. 4 Give your dog a full massage from time to time. Set aside 10 or 15 minutes periodically to pet your dog completely, from head to tail. Use a circular motion to stroke the dog's face, chest, and neck. Move to the top of the neck, shoulders, back and work your way up to the tail. Some dogs will allow you to massage each leg.
   • The massage is not only pleasant for the dog, but also allows you to feel any swellings and bumps and know which ones are normal and have always been in the dog, and which ones have appeared recently and may be symptoms of health problems.
5. 5 Give your dog or puppy a paw massage. Some dogs will not allow you to touch their paws, but if you can safely take your pet's paws, gently massage them to improve circulation and remove sand or thorns that are causing pain.If the pads are dry and cracked, ask your veterinarian for a recommendation for a dog-friendly moisturizer and rub it into your animal's paws.
   • If you massage your puppy's paws, it will be easier for you to trim his claws later, as the puppy will get used to the fact that you touch his paws.
6. 6 Massage the puppy's mouth. Puppies may allow you to touch their paws and mouth. Massaging the oral cavity is pleasant for a teething puppy, and also teaches him to touch in this area, which will make it easier to care for his teeth in the future.
   • While massaging your mouth, gently rub your cheeks and jaws in a circular motion. You can use a dog toothbrush to massage your gums.

Tips

• Teach your dog how to behave when meeting new people to prevent unpleasant incidents. Do not let the dog rush to the person, jump on him and do whatever he wants. Teach her, for example, to sit next to you when you meet someone new. So the situation will remain calm, you will control the dog, and it will not bite or scare anyone.
• If you want to pet an unfamiliar dog, first let it sniff you.
• The best way to gain your dog's trust is to feed him or treat him with a treat.
• If your dog is scared, place your palm on it. This will help the dog relax and feel safe.
• Always ask the owner if it is okay to treat the dog. Some dogs may have hypersensitivity to certain foods, such as gluten, which is found in inexpensive dog treats.
• Watch your dog when someone else is petting him. If you find that the dog is uncomfortable, politely ask the person to pet it differently or stop altogether.
• A young dog may bark if it doesn't remember you. First, give her a fist and let her come and sniff him.

Warnings

• Even a friendly dog ​​can get agitated if several strangers try to pet it at once.
• Never scold your dog for growling. The dog growls, trying to communicate that something is not pleasant to it. If you yell at your dog for snarling, then the next time it is in discomfort, it may not growl, but immediately bite.
• Never pet your dog while it is eating or chewing. Some dogs tend to defend their food or toys and may attack you so you don't take anything away from them.
• Stay away from a dog sitting on a chain. Dogs always defend their territory, and chain dogs especially. A dog on a chain is more likely to be unfriendly and will try to bite you, sometimes without even snarling or otherwise showing displeasure. If you see a dog on a chain that is clearly being abused, report it to the Animal Welfare Society, but do not try to approach the dog yourself.
• Be alert if you think your dog is about to bite. Walk away calmly and slowly, keeping an eye on the animal.
• Never pet an unfamiliar dog on the head. The dog may consider this a threat and bite you.
• When petting an unfamiliar dog, do not reach for any objects, such as a smartphone - the animal may think that it is a stone. Even a familiar dog may feel uncomfortable when you photograph it, because it does not understand why you are holding this object.
• Do not try to play snowballs with your dog - he may think that you want to throw a stone at him.