When we see a dog we have a great tendency to approach him to pet him and pay attention to him a little, but sometimes we forget to ask his keeper if we can do it. At the least expected moment he can growl at us or even attack us because we have not respected his space and we have ignored his body language.
We have to understand that not all dogs are sociable and friendly. There are some very shy or fearful who can react badly if we approach them. To avoid it, we are going to tell you how to approach an unfamiliar dog.
The dog must take the first step
It is very important to keep this in mind. The dog has to be the first to take the first step, the one who must decide if he wants (or not) to approach us. If we want to have a better chance of success, it will be necessary to avoid staring into his eyes and stooping, since this will bring us to his height and we will not be so intimidating.
Observe their body language
Before caressing him, we have to observe him. If he wags his tail happily, fine, it means that he is starting to like us; On the other hand, if he has it between his legs, or if when we bring our hand to his head he pushes it away, it will be better for us to move away from him.
Ask your human
If the dog is accompanied, it will be necessary to ask him if we can caress the furry or not. In the event that the answer is affirmative, we will do so taking into account the advice given above, making smooth and calm movements. As the furry one feels more secure with us, it is more than likely that we will see that it rests with its front legs on our legs.
So now you know: approach an unfamiliar dog, only if he wants to.