Have you ever approached an adorable dog, but instead of a wagging tail and a hand sniff, they’ve responded to you by growling, barking, or cowering from you? Some dogs make it clear they want to be left alone, while others give signals that are hard to read. In this blog we will explain how to safely approach a dog and then discussing some warning signs to look out for and how to better understand a dogs body language.
Is a dog approachable?
Even if a dog appears friendly and approachable, it’s important to play it safe. Instead of approaching the dog, let them come to you.
Once they start asking for attention from you with excited, wiggly body language rather than stiffening up or backing away, you can then ask the owner if it’s okay to go ahead and give their dog some love.
For more information on how to approach a dog, you should check out our TikTok video on how to approach a dog by Sean Savage.
Warning signs that a dog doesn’t want to be approached
So how can you tell if a dog is not approachable, even when the owner says that they are? To help tell if a dog is friendly, you should read their body language and let them come to you.
Of course, you shouldn’t make it a habit to approach strange dogs. Generally, if two or three of the following body language warning signs are present, you should play it safe and not approach.
Warning signs to look out for include:
- Is the dog giving a hard, direct stare?
- Does the dog’s mouth change from open and relaxed to tightly closed shut?
- Does the dog’s tail go from a relaxed position to being up, rigid, still, to sometimes wagging? In some cases, their tail may go from a neutral position to being lowered or tucked between their legs.
- Is the dog’s overall body language forward and very stiff? And in some cases, leaning away from you?
- Is the dog avoiding approaching you, staying close to their owner, or even getting behind the owner?
Observe the dog as a whole
If only one of these signals is present, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the dog is not approachable. Instead, observe the dog as a whole.
For more information on a dog’s body language, you can check out our blog on “Identifying Body Language in Dogs” by our co-founder and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Dr. Kristyn Echterling-Savage.
We also recommend you check out our TikTok channel for more information, including our video by Sean Savage, on how to read a dog’s body language to determine if a dog is not approachable, regardless of what the owner might say.
Now that we have discussed warning signs, let’s talk about the commonly believed belief that you should always let a dog sniff your hand before petting them.
Should you always let a dog sniff your hand before petting them?
Many people hold out their hand so a dog can sniff it before attempting to pet them. This habit may have started because we hold our hand out to greet someone, whether it’s a handshake or a high five.
However, when you hold out your hand to a dog, they may just see it as someone reaching towards them. Lots of dogs love meeting strangers, but can be intimidating for them if they don’t know you, especially if they are undersocialized, nervous, standoffish, or simply don’t want to be approached or touched.
Just because they sniff your hand doesn’t mean they want to be pet. Many people will naturally want to pet a dog right after they sniff their hands. This situation can result in the dog biting the person approaching them.
Remember, by reaching towards them, you may be putting the dog in a vulnerable position and yourself in a dangerous situation.
Should you crouch down when approaching a dog?
Some people like to crouch down, where they will crouch down directly in front of them. This puts the dog in an even more vulnerable position, and the person in a very dangerous position, as their face and neck are the closest target if a bite occurs.
We are here to help
Are you looking for help training your dog, whether it’s socialization, obedience training, or to address specific behavioral problems including resource guarding, reactivity, or fearful behavior?
You can contact our Pet Behavior Team for a free consultation, where we can chat with you and provide a personalized recommendation that meets your needs.
Beyond the Dog offers board-and-train programs and virtual training programs to clients in Sarasota and to clients nationwide. Our Sarasota location offers personalized one-on-one training sessions, including training at your home and local neighborhood.
We use scientifically proven training methods, backed by over 20 years of hands-on experience. Beyond the Dog Sarasota is led by our co-founders, Dr. Kristyn Echterling-Savage, a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), and Sean Savage, a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) and Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA).
