I've always been amazed how people just go right for the head
when approaching a dog. None of mine have ever taken a bite
but have snapped when startled, or didn't like someone.
Thanks for your posts, I like your delivery.
Most dog-smart people do not try to pet others’ dogs.
They wait until the dog is curious enough about them to come up and do a “sniff-over”, and they wait until the dog has gotten all the information it needs.
This usually tells the dog everything about the stranger’s house, car, yard, assorted pets, what they have eaten for the past week, and which restaurants they have visited.
The dog-smart person then asks the owner if the dog likes to be petted. If the owner’s response is positive, the dog-smart person lets the dog sniff a hand, relaxed and at his/her side., This hand makes no effort to pet the dog.
Then the dog-smart person squats down to dog-level, and extends the hand well below the dog’s chin, and lets the dog sniff again, while murmuring nice friendly tones of admiration for said dog.
Only then, does dog-savvy person try to pet the dog, and the side of the neck, sort of below the ear, is usually the safest spot. After a quick and quiet pet, the dog-smart person ignores the dog, and carries on his/her business with the owner.
The dog-smart person usually carries a nice smelly treat in his/her pocket if visiting a friend with a breed of dog known to be aloof to strangers. I always suggest dehydrated salmon skins, broken into teensie tiny pieces, and asking the dog to sit before offering a tidbit suggests to the dog that you expect some good behavior in return for the treat.
It is also a test to see how well the owner has trained his/her dog.