The Safe Way To Meet a Strange Dog

Remember, ALWAYS ask the dog's owner for permission to pet his or her dog.

DON'T bark at a dog but DO speak softly to it.
DON'T put your face into a dog's face or look it in the eye but DO put your hand down by the dog for it to sniff.
DON'T crawl at a dog or back it into a corner but DO wait to see if it will come to you.
DON'T sit on a dog.

Nice to Meet You! A Guide for Parents

Dogs are not little people in fur coats. They don't think as we do or see the world as we do. Actions which seem to us to be affectionate or playful may appear threatening to them, forcing them to take actions to defend themselves. It should be remembered that, unlike the wonderful dog in your home, not all dogs are friendly to children. Also, some dogs may be feeling ill or recovering from surgery and thus, not up for the energy of a young child. This is why we listed the Do's and Don'ts for your child.

Barking at a dog/putting your face in a dog's face: These are seen by dogs as aggressive actions, as invitations to fight. A dog invited to fight may do so!
Putting hand down by dog: When a young child puts his or her hand up high when trying to pet a dog, it is natural for the dog to think that that hand, held tantalizingly out of reach, is holding something wonderful. A dog is very likely to jump up to see what it is, perhaps knocking a small child down.
Backing dog into corner/crawling towards a dog: This brings out a fear response in the dog and he will feel that he has to defend himself.
Sitting on a dog's back: Here, the child is coming at the dog from above him. This puts the child in a dominant position to the dog and, again, the dog may feel compelled to defend himself.

You should teach your child to always ask a dog owner's permission to pet his dog -- they should not, under any circumstances, run up to a strange dog and pet it or try to hug or kiss it. As we have explained, in the dog's world, these are not necessarily playful actions and not all dogs are friendly to strangers.

What should your child do is he or she meets a strange dog with no owner around and they are firghtened of it? The last thing they should do is scream or run away. Running away causes a dog to chase after the running child (in fact, the best way to catch a dog that doesn't want to come to you is to run away from him!) Teach your child to pretend they're a rock -- close their eyes and be very, very still. After a while, the dog will probably lose interest and move away. Then, the child should move slowly and quietly to the nearest house of someone they know -- a friend or relative.

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Last modified:
00-08-10