approaching new dogs

[miki]

Hi everyone,

I am a girl guide leader, and will be doing a night on animal awarness, and youngsters sometimes have the habbit of just running up to other people's dogs, and although more often than not it's okay, sometimes it can be quite dangerous. I know the basics of what I've learned, but I was wondering if you guys could leave me any tips you may have that I can add to my own, which are few. And anything about any other domestic animals that you may know. I will be bringing a dog into the group that night to demonstrate with. Completely tame dog, who lives with a 2 year old boy and 1 year old girl! So you can imagine! Thanks for your help!

[jdf]

whenever I meet a new dog, I stand back at arms length and slowly extend my hand back side up with the fingers pulled under in a relaxed way. I think this approach allows the dog to check my scent without invading the dog's "space" very much. Also, I think the relaxed "fist" presentation of the hand may be less threatening. After the initial approach, I stand back and let the dog make the next move which could be anything from coming closer or sitting down. At that point, I slowly pet the dog on the top of the head. Dogs can sense fear very well so it's best to try to be relaxed and not fearful but at the same time not overly aggresive toward the dog.

Hope this helps, good luck with your group.

[Traci]

Miki....lots of things immediately come to mind, but perhaps a link or two will be more thorough....also, in addition to jdf's good advice, teach your youngsters to NEVER approach a stray dog, no matter how friendly it may seem (could be lost, afraid, infected with a disease, in pain, etc)

I would also suggest teaching them that they should ask permission of the owner first before attempting to pet a dog or any other animal who appears to have an owner.

More:

Stay Dog Bite Free

Dog Bite Prevention (From CDC)

Dog Bite Prevention (From AVMA)

Thank you for choosing this topic to teach and educate your young group!

[davet]

one other titem that sometimes hel,p is get down to the level of the dogbefore my knees and back started to get old (other parts got old also) i used to sit on a stool when a new questionable dog came into the office and just ignore them. Pretty soon they figured what is this nut doing, but he is at my level so he can't be too bad...took a few seconds and then they would sniff me (I didn't sniff them) and we would get aquainted pretty soon...my clients though i was nuts but of all my fifty bite scars i never got one from a dog i approached like that....doesn't alway work but sure better than reaching for them

[miki]

50 scars? Where did they come from? Are you a vet?

[davet]

yes i am or was a vet...most are puncture from the canine teeth but i have an 8 inch one on my left for arm from a kittens claws..didn't hurt but it sure was bloddie and then one big one on my left hand from a gfermans shepard that really, and i mean really didn't want to get a shot, i mean really really.

[TheSkeptic]

Wow the hazards of being a vet. I'm not a vet, but I have been biten by one dog and clawed and bit by I can't remember how many cats. (Guess who is not a cat lover.) Kicked only once by a horse and once by a cow. The two last when I was very young and stupid. (As opposed to now when i am old and stupid.)

I follow the calming signals method with dogs, like Davet. Calming signals don't work with cats. ....

http://www.diamondsintheruff.com/calmingsignals.html