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SHARED by: JP Connolly, Biscuits and Bath

The appearance of spring is upon us, in all its splendor. Whether it be the tulips on the malls of Park Avenue, the Cherry Blossoms in Central Park or the volunteer attended flower gardens in Carl Schurz Park, the beauty abounds as longer days call us out of our winter seclusion and amongst our neighbors welcoming us to brighter days.

Outside, we reconnect with those we may not have seen in a while. Some of our neighbors are four-legged and furry and don’t always communicate the same way. Waves of hello and handshakes are not the dog’s way.  As a result, we must take the lead, approach properly and always use caution and teaching this to your child at a young age can help prevent a misunderstanding. Not every dog wants to be touched and all dogs can have bad days. As humans, must remain alert and be considerate of the feelings of our canine friends. Below I have listed the proper etiquette to approaching dogs on the street.

Be Alert – Not all owners are paying attention and not all dogs like all people. Trust your instincts and always use caution until you really know a dog.

Ask – Before you greet a dog you should always speak with the owner. Ask if the dog is friendly and wait for the owner to respond. Not all dogs like people and not all want to be bothered. You must respect that. They communicate differently and you may not like the way a dog will tell you “no.”

Look – Even if the owner says the dog is friendly, you should look first. If a dog does not want to be touched, they can communicate this in different ways with their bodies. If you see these signs, stay away.

Look for:

• Tails tucked under
• Hair standing up on the dogs back
• Dogs who won’t make eye contact
• Dogs who back away
• Heads lowered
• Starring & showing teeth
• Frozen – the dog stops moving altogether

Listen – You should also use your ears and listen for signs. Dogs may tell you with their voices. If you hear these signs, stay away. Listen for:

•  Growling
•  Excessive deep barking

Say Hello –  If there are no issues, you should slowly extend your hand, from below and from the side of the dog and allow the dog to sniff it. Once the dog has sniffed your hand, you may pet the dog on its back or under its head. Do not put your hand in a dogs face. Blocking a dog’s view can scare a dog and they may bite. Also, remember to move slow, fast movements can scare a dog causing them to react in a negative way.

As long as dogs are friendly, interacting with them on the street shouldn’t be a problem and is a great way to have your young one become familiar and comfortable with animals, especially if they don’t have any at home.