04/05/2025
Great advice about the almost automatic human to dog greeting (and I don’t even know where it comes from!): putting your hand out to say hello.
This can be a difficult movement for an anxious dog, and not even brilliant for confident ones. They can smell you a mile away (or 12!) so it’s not a scent thing…and if you want to befriend them they will like you more if you let them take the lead. Tossing treats behind them as recommended here shows them your presence means good stuff without the need for them to feel worried about getting too close.
🐶 ♥️
When a dog is shy or nervous its really common for people to offer a hand to sniff or a tasty treat in an attempt to try and win them over.
I prefer not to do either of these things for a few reasons.
1) If a dog backs away or is worried, a hand coming towards can be just as scary. Nervous dogs are more like to bite extremities, so hands are a prime target and I push that dogs anxieties higher.
I don't care if dogs always " like you" or " your good with dogs", both statements are ironic in a way as if they liked you they would approach you comfortably of his or her own accord and you wouldn't push your hand in their face to make friends in the first place.
2) Offering Treats seems a logical thing to do for sure. However, you are in effect forcing the dog to approach to get the treat. This can put a dog in conflict as they want the food but don't want to be near the person.
You also run the risk of that food or food in general being associated with feeling pushed and a dog snatching and blimming sore fingers!
So what can you do?
Firstly Ceasar Milan, if a dog is backing away, growling, barking or wanting space, listen to that, this isnt about ego, this isnt about not showing you're not scared or being, heaven for outdated sakes "Alpha".
ADDED : If a person isn't respecting yours or your dogs requests we also have to advocate for our dogs and leave if that's what is needed.
If a dog just needs a little time, just stand still, or depending on the situation, ignore them and give them choice, let them come to you.
You don't even have to touch them you know, if movement spooks them, sometimes just the opportunity to sniff and get information is a win!!
If you are using treats with strangers I toss treats AWAY from me, behind the dog, so they don't need to approach or pass me to get the good stuff, no pressure.
I do get it, the I LOVE DOGS part of me just wants to make friends with all of them, but the real I LOVE DOGS part of me knows that's not what some dogs want from me.
