05/19/2026
🐾 Not every dog wants to be touched — and that's okay.
Dogs are not public property, and we should never assume that an unfamiliar (or even familiar) dog is inviting interaction just by being present.
The golden rule: don't approach unknown dogs. Give them space, stay relaxed, look slightly away, and let them come to you.
And even when a dog does approach you, sniffing, standing nearby, or coming close is NOT necessarily an invitation to pat them. Wait for clearer signals — loose, relaxed body language, leaning into your leg, gentle eye contact, a nudge, a paw, or a play bow. Those are consent.
Once you have those signals, you can ask their guardian if it's okay to interact. Keep it brief, and pause to check if they want to continue.
🚫 Avoid: patting on the head, pushing your hand in their face, hugging, or overwhelming them with too many people or too much intensity.
⚠️ Signs a dog is uncomfortable: lip licking, yawning, looking away, moving away, ears pinned back, tail tucked, whale eye (whites of the eyes showing) — and of course snapping or growling, which is an immediate request for more space.
This applies to children too — teaching kids that unknown dogs are not to be approached is one of the most important lessons we can pass on.
I've put together an infographic breaking all of this down — save it and share it! 👆
And if you want to go deeper, I've also made a video exploring whether people should even have the expectation to pat an unknown dog — and why "asking first" doesn't always make it okay 👇
📺 https://youtu.be/K2D8cOGUhs4
