While walking, you cross paths with a dog you don't know. Whether he is alone or accompanied by his owner, it is important to remain cautious and avoid any bad gestures. While many dogs are very sociable and happy to meet new people, others are more suspicious or fearful and may be aggressive. Here are some tips on how to safely approach an unfamiliar pooch.
Approaching an unfamiliar dog: you start by observing its behavior
If you cross paths with an unfamiliar dog, whether alone or accompanied by its owner, you must be vigilant in your approach. To adapt your driving, start by observing the animal.
Recognizing a Sociable Dog
A sociable dog is more confident when it meets people you don't know. It usually tends to move naturally towards them, wagging its tail, without apprehension.
Some pooches may even seek contact and stick to their legs to get pets.
Recognizing a Suspicious Dog
Conversely, a more suspicious dog will be less likely to naturally approach unfamiliar people. If he comes towards them, it will be with his body tense, his tail wagging with rapid beats. In some cases, the dog may try to make itself bigger and more impressive by bristling its coat or pointing its ears forward. They may also lower their head or ears and move away when approaching the stranger, or even try to avoid contact, especially if they are afraid.
Be careful, however, as some pooches may growl or even bark if you try to get closer. It's not necessarily a sign of aggression, but it can be a dog that lacks confidence and is suspicious at first, as some humans may be of other people they meet for the first time.
Don't underestimate these dogs who can react to their fear by fleeing, but also by aggressiveness, which is above all an act of defense. To avoid injury, it's best to be vigilant.
How do you approach an unknown dog? The rules of good behaviour.
If you approach a dog you don't know, it's important to adopt a neutral behavior that the animal won't perceive as a potential threat.
How to behave when dealing with an unfamiliar dog?
To prevent the animal from misinterpreting your gestures, here are three points to respect.
The Gaze
Don't look the dog in the eye, don't try to stare at him, as he may interpret this as a provocation. It's better to be indifferent so that the animal doesn't risk perceiving you as a potential threat.
Contact
Let the dog come to you to allow him to sniff you for a few seconds. You can talk to him gently, but let him feel you without trying to touch him.
The gesture
Be as relaxed as possible, as the animal will perceive your stress and may be aggressive in response. Don't rush things and observe the animal. If he seems to be looking for contact, you can reach out to him gently to stroke him, vertically and with your fingers folded, avoiding his head and back. Prefer a caress under the chin, which is a non-dominant gesture and an area that limits the risk of bites. Avoid cuddling, as hugging an unfamiliar animal can trigger a stress response in the pooch.
If he doesn't look for it, let him evolve around you or continue on his way without insisting.
If the animal seems calm and wants to 'get to know' you, you can crouch down to reassure it. Be careful, however, not to be too abrupt or lean too close to him, he may feel that you are trying to dominate him. Give him space, crouch down at a certain distance so that he can then come to you.
Be careful, as the animal may appear serene but this does not mean that it will not be aggressive. A simple gesture that is too brutal on your part can destabilize him.
Ask your owner for advice.
If the dog you come across is accompanied by its owner, the best thing to do is to ask the owner if you can touch his little companion. Indeed, he will be able to tell you if it is better to avoid contact, especially if the dog is aggressive, or he will be able to give you any instructions to approach him safely.
What should I avoid when approaching an unfamiliar dog?
We have seen the right gestures to favor when approaching a dog that we do not know, but it also seems essential to us to take stock of what not to do, on the contrary. Indeed, we must not forget that our doggies do not perceive things as we humans do. To avoid misinterpretation, here's what to avoid.
You don't pet a dog that's tense, nervous or stressed.
The dog you pass may approach to sniff you, but that doesn't necessarily mean they want to be petted. If he seems nervous or tense, avoid touching him.
You don't pet a dog on 'the top'.
Some dogs don't like to have their head or back touched. Petting them in this way by approaching the hand from above can put them in a position of inferiority, and therefore vulnerability.
It is better to wait until the dog seems to be in favor of contact before touching it, favoring the chin or flanks.
You don't stare a dog straight in the eye.
Staring into the animal's eyes can induce a feeling of unease. The animal may perceive it as an attempt at dominance or intimidation and react aggressively.
We don't run to the dog.
This type of behavior is stressful for the animal. Approaching too quickly is very nerve-wracking. We ourselves would feel uncomfortable if someone we don't know suddenly ran up to us to talk to us or touch us.
Similarly, do not insist if the dog does not want contact. You have to respect your need for peace and quiet.
You don't cuddle the dog.
Leaning over and hugging the dog is a sign of dominance that he can find very difficult to bear. This makes them feel particularly vulnerable, and this position of inferiority can trigger an aggressive reaction.
Fingers and faces are not extended to the dog
Avoid placing your face too close to the dog and do not reach out with your fingers unfolded. It is better to fold your fingers and present the palm or fist, always gently and carefully.
The approach of an unknown dog: beware of children!
It is essential to be very careful if you come across an unfamiliar dog when you are with your children. The little ones are often tempted to run towards these large balls of fur to touch them, but this is a gesture that can be dangerous if the animal is tense, stressed, or not open to contact.
As a parent, teach your children early on not to approach an unfamiliar dog without first asking permission from its owner. It is not a question of frightening your offspring, but of teaching respect for each other and in particular the need for tranquility of an animal. Teach your children how to behave with a dog or any other animal. The doggies you come across are not cuddly toys, take the lead to prevent your small child from becoming aware of it by being bitten or attacked.
What to do if the dog is aggressive?
It is important to know how to behave when faced with an aggressive unfamiliar dog so that you adopt the right attitude so as not to arouse the pet's nervousness.
What not to do when dealing with an aggressive dog
Do not try to threaten him, yell at him, or make loud gestures to scare him away and make him flee, as he will perceive it as a provocation and an attempt at domination. On the contrary, his first move is likely to be an attack to defend himself. Also, don't stare him in the eye.
More often than not, small dogs are the most nervous and aggressive. This behavior is explained by their smallness. To defend themselves, they have to establish themselves as more dangerous than they are, which causes them to growl, bark, or hop to frighten or even bite. And don't underestimate their bite, it can be painful, especially in a young child!
Avoid any power struggle. If you feel like you're being ridiculous in front of a little pooch barking at you vehemently, it's even more foolish to get into conflict out of sheer pride. Move on, because the outcome of the conflict might not even be to your advantage.
Of course, avoid sudden gestures and shouting. You would only put more stress on the animal, making it feel all the more threatened. Keep your hands in your pockets to protect them and don't run away, as this will trigger the dog's hunting instinct and it may then start chasing you.
What to do when dealing with an aggressive dog
Stay calm as much as possible and as neutral as possible. Try to mask your fear so that he doesn't perceive it, as this will increase his feelings of stress and aggressive response. Show respect to the animal to let them know that they have no reason to be afraid of you.
If the animal is guarding territory that you have unknowingly entered, it is best not to continue on your way. Get out without turning your back on it and without rushing. You can also talk to him calmly and gently to soothe him.
You can try to calm the dog down by giving commands firmly but without aggression. 'Lying down! ' or 'Don't move! ' can help you keep it at bay if the pet is being trained.
What to do in the event of an attack?
If the dog attacks you, protect your hands and face. Be careful, by the way! In the event of a bite, do not try to pull the bitten limb out of the bite, as the dog will only tighten its fangs. Instead, try to act slowly and talk calmly to soothe him, this will limit the damage.