Dogs view the world in very simple terms. To our dogs, things are either familiar or unfamiliar to them. So when you first encounter a dog at K9 Club, it’s important to know and remember you and the environment are unfamiliar to that dog. When a dog returns several times, you will likely see his body language and his behavior toward you change. This is because the environment and you are familiar to the dog. Definitely be cautious about meeting new dogs and go at a pace that is comfortable for them.
Be aware of their own personal space requirements as this will vary by each individual dog. Next you will read about what you should be observing as you do a greeting with a dog.
Let’s take a look at some “don’ts” or common greeting mistakes that we make. This is because our normal human body language when greeting a human is actually quite rude in dog language. When we greet each other we smile, reach out our hand and make direct eye contact when we say “hello”. This body language is very threatening and scary in dog language.
Don’t: Common Greeting Approach Mistakes
- Big friendly smile
- Reach out hand
- Lean toward dog
- Direct eye contact
So we need to learn to “speak dog” with our bodies and avoid some of the common mistakes such as hugging, kissing, learning over a dog, and petting them on the head.
Do: Dog Friendly Greeting
- Turn sideways (squat down with small dogs)
- Keep arms near your body
- Look away (non-threatening)
- Wait for dog to approach you for a sniff
- USE TREATS!
- Totally ignore a fearful dog until they are more comfortable in the environment
Traffic Signal Management | Possible Canine Responses | Safe Human Responses |
---|---|---|
Loose and Wiggly Stays for 2 seconds or more of soft interaction | Safe to approach and handle | |
Sniffs and moves away quickly Dog jumps up and becomes more excited Dog does not want to approach Dog barks at you | Approach and handle with caution. -Use slow movements -Use calming signals -Remain calm and confident |
|
Dog freezes | Stop approach! Divert eye contact and back away slow. |