How to approach a new dog you don’t know

NOT every dog likes to be patted, especially if they don’t know you. Here are some steps to follow when you meet a new dog.

Some dogs love attention, others are a bit more reserved. Picture: iStock

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NOT every dog likes to be patted, especially if they don’t know you. Yet I see plenty of people approach strange dogs and go right ahead and pat them.

This is particularly common with smaller dogs. The cuter the dog appears, the less cautious people are around them. Dogs don’t have many ways to protect their personal space, so there is a risk of being bitten.

The truth is that any dog can bite, and being approached by a stranger in the street – no matter how well-intentioned – can be threatening to a dog.

Let a new dog sniff your hand first before giving him a pat.

I don’t simply pat every dog I meet in the street. I talk to the owner and find out if the dog is friendly, if he or she likes people, what is his or her name?

If the owner is unsure, or says “he doesn’t like strangers” or “she’s a bit funny with people when she’s on the lead”, I don’t touch the dog.

If the owner says the dog is friendly AND the dog looks comfortable, I allow the dog to sniff my hand first. I then give them a pat, usually on the side of the neck. I do not touch dogs around the face, top of the head, paws or around the rear end.

If a dog is tied up outside a cafe without an owner present, I don’t pat the dog. And I never put my face near a dog I don’t know.

Dr Anne Fawcett is a lecturer in veterinary science at the University of Sydney and a vet with Sydney Animal Hospitals Inner West. Read her blog: smallanimaltalk.com