Can’t win a dog over?

A friend of mine is deeply in love with animal-kind.  She has 3 dogs and a cat of her own.  She recently visited a friend who has a dog and she was shocked that their dog did not seem to like her.  She said this is the first time she remembers meeting a dog that didn’t like her. The owners told her their dog likes ‘everyone’ but when it looked decidedly uncomfortable with her attention she backed off.  She is a gentle character and relates to animals well.  The owner said ‘Don’t worry just reach out and pet her anyway’. I’m glad my friend decided not to.  She was smart enough to read all that body language.  I asked her to describe the scenario so here’s the picture.

Fido in the far corner of the lounge with a doggy gate around him. (No where to escape). Visitor he’s never met approaches front on.  Looms overhead at the little fence looking at the dog and talking to it.  She reaches out her hand to the dog even though the dog has not come forward to greet.  He was very flat and giving the moon eye. (Look out!)

I assured her that regardless of what the owners say she need not feel insulted.  If dogs could speak English she wouldn’t have to guess and for all we know he might not be feeling well. Dogs give lots of body language and she did well to read it.  Even if an interaction doesn’t result in aggression we want to build trust in our animals and put them in as few tricky situations as possible. So, if a dog doesn’t want to know you, ‘pressure off’ is the best angle.

I made the following suggestions for the next visit. Ask if they chat in an open setting where the dog may come to her if it chooses.  Ignore the dog by not looking directly at it or talking to it. Angle your body side-on to the dog when possible. Place your hands by your body instead of reaching out.
Allow the dog to come and sniff you in its own time. Refrain from patting the dog when it comes to sniff you, there’s no rush.

Once he looks comfortable enough and is hanging around for more, he may even nuzzle your hand.  Then a little scratch under the chin is suffice.  The gorgeous lab photographed here is not part of the story but just a lovely model.

Leah & Angela OMeara

Hound Dog Day Care (Specialists in Dog Minding & Dog Boarding, Pet Sitting Brisbane & Doggy Day Care Brisbane)