05/18/2026
Ask your dog if they want to be pet! Here’s how:
PERMISSION BEFORE PETTING
Domestic dogs have very little agency over their bodies and day to day lives. Guardians make a myriad of choices for them daily and they have no choice but to comply. Examples include where to sleep, what toys to play with or what food to eat. The least we can do for them is to respect their choice to be petted or not.
Waiting for consent from dogs before petting has many benefits:
1. It can prevent bites - most dog bites occur because subtle warning signs of discomfort are ignored. Applying consent rules reduces stress or fear-induced reactivity and aggression. A lot of dogs are touched or petted while they are sleeping and this leads to a fear reactive bite.
2. It builds trust and safety - when dogs learn that they can say "no" and that you will respect that boundary, they feel safer and more secure around you. They trust you more and may want to spend more time being near you.
3. It can reduce fear and anxiety - by forcing physical contact, such as hugging or petting, some fearful dogs can become more anxious and damage their confidence.
4. Just like humans, dogs have personal preferences; a dog that likes being petted on its chest might not enjoy head pats, and even friendly dogs may not want affection at all.
Giving dogs consent and choices to be petted, improves confidence and a sense of having a little bit of control over their lives. They are not plush toys or objects but rather sentient beings with feelings and preferences. Reducing the human sense of entitlement over their bodies by changing the petting rules can only improve our relationship with them.
