“Don’t worry, he’s friendly.”
It’s something I hear regularly when I’m out walking my dogs. Usually it’s shouted from a distance as an enthusiastic dog hurtles towards us, while its owner attempts a recall that may or may not work. The assumption is that because one dog is friendly, every dog should welcome the interaction.
However, not all dogs see it that way. I have an older rescue who was badly attacked before coming to us. He finds unexpected approaches from unfamiliar dogs incredibly stressful.
And unfortunately, he’s far from alone. Many adult dogs are perfectly happy minding their own business. Some are elderly. Some are recovering from injury. Some are nervous around unfamiliar dogs. Others simply don’t enjoy being approached by every dog they encounter.
Yet we often expect them to tolerate behaviour that would seem bizarre in human society. Imagine walking down the street and having complete strangers repeatedly run up to you demanding conversation. Most of us would find it exhausting. Some would find it intimidating. A few might become quite annoyed. Dogs are no different.
One of the most important lessons I teach owners is that good social skills aren’t about greeting everyone. They’re about knowing when not to.
A well-mannered dog can see another dog and choose to carry on with whatever they were doing. They don’t feel compelled to investigate every passing dog. They don’t drag their owner across the pavement for a quick hello. They simply acknowledge the other dog’s presence and move on.
Ironically, these are often the dogs with the healthiest relationships. They can still play, socialise and enjoy canine company, but they don’t treat every encounter as an invitation.
As owners, we can help by calling our dogs away, asking permission before allowing greetings and respecting the fact that not every dog wants to interact.
Your dog may well be friendly. But sometimes the friendliest thing they can do is keep walking.
Penarth Dog Training helps owners understand and work with their dogs’ natural instincts – using kind, modern, and games-based methods.
Contact Richard Phelps at info@penarthdogtraining.co.uk or call 07897 618 711.
