How to Greet a Dog
Dogs can make great friends. Remember, however, to treat them with respect and kindness. Some dogs are very social, while others can be cautious or even scared. It is important to respect the boundaries of every dog you meet, and listen to their owner, who knows them best. This is why there are a few steps to remember whenever you meet a new dog that's on a leash:
1. Walk slowly towards the dogs owner to ask if you can pet the dog.
2. It's important to ask permission before petting a new dog. If the owner says "no," politely accept the answer and do not pet the dog.
3. If the owner says yes," curl your hand into a loose fist with the back of your hand facing out. Extend your had slowly towards the dog.
4. Allow the dog to sniff the back of your hand. We recognize people by sight, dogs recognize people by scent. Dogs sniff people to learn their scent.
5. After the dog has sniffed your hand, and stays near you or approaches you with a loose body and wagging tail, you may pet them gently under the chin or on the chest. This is where dogs like to be petted most.
6. If, after smelling you, the dog backs away, that's ok! This is the dog's way of telling you that they are not in the mood to be petted. Politely accept t his answer, thank the owner anyway, and try again another day starting from Step 1. Never chase or follow a dog that walks away from you...they might think you are trying to hurt them, and get scared!
If you ever meet a loose dog (unleashed) without an owner, do not try to pet them! This includes dogs that you may have pet before, even if you are friends with their owner. This is because without the owner preset, you do not know if the dog is safe, if they want to be petted, or if they are scared.
Zero from Shelby and Bruce's 4/6/18 litter
