How To Approach A Dog

Dogs are like people, in that they have their own personalities and preferences. Some dogs are curious and friendly, while others are more reserved or shy. As with people, you can’t always tell how a dog will react based on their appearance alone. You’ve got to take each encounter with a dog on its own terms. That means knowing when it’s appropriate to approach them and what kind of greeting they’ll respond best to based on their mood at the moment—not just yours!

Ask for permission.

When you’re trying to get a dog’s attention, it’s important to ask permission. These are social animals, and they won’t approach a stranger without being asked. If you want to play with your friend’s dog, you’ll need to ask if it’s OK first (and wait for their response). Even when dogs do like each other, there can be some tension between them until they get used to spending time together and learn how much physical contact is appropriate for each other.

If you want your own dog or another person’s pet (even if it’s just someone else in the house) to spend time with yours, take them on walks together or invite them over for dinner and let them interact freely while they’re out on their romping adventures together—this will help create bonds between them without any negative side effects!

Let the dog see you coming.

• Let the dog see you coming.
• Start with a friendly greeting and make sure your body language is relaxed, but not too relaxed. You want to convey that you are safe, so avoid stiffening up or closing off your body as you approach; instead, keep your arms held loosely by your sides and don’t cross them over your chest (this may make the dog feel uncomfortable).
• If a dog approaches you first, wait for him or her to show signs of trust before moving forward with direct contact. The best way to do this is by sitting down on the ground next to the dog while making eye contact and waiting patiently until he or she decides whether or not he wants social interaction with you (if someone else’s pet approaches yours during this time frame, ignore them).

Approach the dog at their level.

• Approach the dog from the side, not from behind.
• Approach the dog at their level, not above or below.
• Don’t make sudden movements.
• Always approach a new dog with a smile, so that they know you’re friendly and there is nothing to fear.

Avoid eye contact.

If you’re meeting a new dog and don’t want to startle or upset them, it’s best to avoid eye contact. It’s natural for humans to look a dog in the eye when greeting them; however, most dogs interpret this as a threat or challenge. Dogs will often growl at you if they feel threatened by your gaze because they think that staring is an aggressive act on your part. You can avoid any confrontation by simply avoiding direct eye contact with the animal until it gets used to seeing you around more often.

If the dog approaches you, let them initiate the encounter.

If the dog approaches you, let them initiate the encounter. Dogs don’t like to be pushed into meeting someone and may perceive your attempts as aggressive rather than friendly. If a dog does not approach you, do not try to force them into an interaction with you.

Don’t be pushy.

If it’s your first time meeting a dog, you should never try to force them into something. It can be tempting to do things like petting or playing with a dog, but it’s important to remember that these are their boundaries and what they want. If you see that the owner has their dog out for exercise or just for fun and you want to pet them too, let the owner know first so that they can introduce you both properly. When introducing yourself, try not being pushy about any kind of interaction; just say hello and wait patiently if they don’t come right over right away.

Know when to back off.

• If the dog starts to act nervous, back off.
• If the dog starts to act aggressive, back off.
• If the dog starts to act scared, back off.
• If the dog starts to act happy, back off.

Just like you wouldn’t want a stranger running at you, dogs don’t want strangers either

Your dog is probably a natural-born skeptic, as it’s in their nature to be wary of strangers. They’re territorial too, and they have strong senses of smell and hearing. When they are approached by new people, they may react aggressively or defensively because they don’t know if the person approaching them means them harm.

Some dogs will even refuse to interact with people who have approached them before if that interaction was unpleasant or scary for the dog (like when a stranger tried to pet your dog without permission). For example: If you’ve ever been bitten by a dog before while trying to pet it, don’t expect your next encounter with that particular canine friend go smoothly!

So how do we approach dogs? We need their cooperation first—and luckily there are some simple things we can do that increase our chances of earning their trust.

Conclusion

So, the next time you see a dog on the street, remember this guide. It will help you approach him safely and make sure he doesn’t get nervous or scared. The more dogs we can help with positive interactions with people around them, the more likely they will be adopted into loving homes.