02/06/2026
Honour a dog’s space bubble.
Because dogs deserve bodily autonomy too.
I really wish we could shift society’s expectations around dogs.
Just because a dog is cute, fluffy or standing quietly does not mean they want to be touched — especially by people they don’t know.
So many dogs are constantly expected to tolerate uncomfortable interactions simply because they are dogs. But dogs have feelings, preferences and boundaries too.
We teach children about consent and respecting personal space — dogs deserve that same respect.
Imagine how much safer and happier our communities could be if we stopped expecting dogs to “put up with it” and instead learnt to listen to what they are communicating.
Not every dog wants a pat.
Not every dog wants to say hello.
And that’s okay.
And this is something we need to be teaching our children too — helping them learn that respecting a dog’s space, feelings and communication is a normal and important part of safely living alongside them.