approaching an unknown dog...?

[Dreeza]

i've actually been meaning to ask this for awhile, and yoko's wonderful thread about the rottie he (she?) saved reminded me....

how safe is it to approach a stray dog? I am totally one to be like "oooh doggie!!" and want to pet it (of course allowing it to smell me first, and approach it slowly)..lol...luckily, there arent a lot of stray dogs at all around here, so thats never actually happened...

but, basically...im not very good at reading a dog's body language...

i mean, i know a lot from oakley, but i am sure there are some things i dont know, or dont catch on to since i rarely see him...

do dogs have different tail wags?

if a stray dog approached you, wagging it's tail, and appears friendly (letting you pet it and everything) is it safe to assume he isnt going to bite your head off suddenly?

anyways, i think i may know the answer to these things...just wanted some confirmation...or maybe some new facts too !

thanks

 

[Zoom]

What I do is approach it from the side, and my body is turned sideways to them as well. This is a less-threatening body posture than a face to face approach. Once I think I've reached the dog's 'comfort zone' (if I move any closer he'll run or attack, depending on the dog) I drop into a squat and extend my arm so that it's resting on my knee with my hand relaxed. I don't look directly at the dog, but more at it's feet and I'm talking to it in a quiet, calm voice. From here, let the dog make the next move. He may run, he may drop to his belly and squirm closer or he may just walk up and sniff. Don't move until he's gotten a thorough sniff, then you sometimes can very slowly raise your hand and see what he does with that movement.

Danger signs: Ears pinned back flat, tucked tail, lifted lips, hackles raised and "whale eyes"--you can see a lot of white in the dogs eyes. I don't quite know how to explain this next one, but if a dog goes TOTALLY still and quiet, do not make another move towards this dog. That's a dog that is going to snap at you, and it's not going to let you know when.

There's a lot you can tell from a dog, but it's sort of hard to type out. Or maybe it's just me and my not-quite-awake brain. Just watch a lot of dogs; you'll pick it up.

 

[oriondw]

Tail wagging is sign of excitement.

Some dogs are excited when they think they will fight.

You have to judge by the whole picture. Face, muscle. If the dog is stiff, staring at your and wagging its tail, be ready to get attacked.

 

[TroyF]

I'll just say that this is a question way to complex to try and answer on a bb. Different breeds, different socializations/backgrounds etc. all way in heavily. Experience and confidence are the two most important traits you can have when dealing with the unknown dog.

if a stray dog approached you, wagging it's tail, and appears friendly (letting you pet it and everything) is it safe to assume he isnt going to bite your head off suddenly?

Probably but old injuries or sudden movement can trigger a defensive response.

 

[bubbatd]

Most of the strays that come in our yard are pitties...so I'm very careful. If they have a collar I always try to get info ...but I don't push it.

 

[Dreeza]

thanks, this helps...

i guess now that its pointed out, the wagging tail always confused me on oakley, cause everynow and then, ok, maybe a lot more than that....oakley will randomly break out barking, go running around the house, hackles raised, but tail wagging like crazy....sometimes low growling too...

we can touch him, and play with him when he gets like this, but sometimes he kinda will get irritated, and give us a warning growl, or shrug us off....is this an indication that if some stranger were to walk in, oakley may attack them??

zoom...yeah, i wish i could observe more dogs....there are very few people with dogs around here....or maybe its more that everyone who has a dog feels the need to not walk it, and when they do, they dont exactly want to let their dog play with other dogs...also, we have no dog park, or place that dogs are *supposed* to be allowed to run around in...

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

You have to be careful. Occassionally I find loose dogs, and I'm always very careful to read their body language to make sure it's safe to go near them. I have safely captured and returned a few dogs to their owners.

 

[yoko]

i'm a she

and no matter the body language i'd still be really careful. i'd seen that dog around once in a while with another dog *that i haven't seen lately * the workers here and i would always leave plates of food out for them by the dumpsters where they lived.

before i went out to this dog it had come to the drive through window and jumped up to see if anyone was in. i went outside and whistled to it and when it came over i didn't do anything until it had sniffed me over and then i petted it and told it to sit luckily it did and then i was lucky if followed me so i could get a leash out of my car.

if you look up dog body language on yahoo or google there are a few with some basic stuff like anger agression stuff like that with some pics and tell you key things to look for

 

[Brattina88]

http://www.pawsacrossamerica.com/interpret.html

I usually encourage a stray dog approach me if at all possible, first.

 

[mojozen]

One thing I do with all dogs that are not mine is I don't look them directly in the eyes. I focus on their ears, or on their cheeks. I approach from the side, and squat down with my feet under me (in case I need to get out of the way quick) to appear less threatening.

I then extend my hand out with the palm facing downwards, and sometimes curl my fingers up into a loose fist. Slow, calm movements, with quick glances to keep tabs on what the body language of the dog in question is saying to me.

Knowing the basics of dog body language is key - dogs don't always warn you vocally before they attack. A stiff body, and a tail wagging in short stiff movements means you don't have a friendly dog on your hands. A dog who is more loose in stance, play bows, and smiles (open mouth - tongue lolling around) irregardless of what their tail is doing (generally hanging low and loose with sweeping slow wags) is a friendly dog.

It's been a successful method thus far in my 24 years of dealing with dogs.

(BTW This is whether or not they are strays or on a leash... )

 

[Violet21]

I don't go up to strange dogs unless its extremely obvious they are friendly.

I don't know how to explain that; I trust my gut feeling and its never really failed me.

If i feel nervous I stay away.. if a dog is staring at me not moving that scares me. If its wagging its tail slowly and still not moving and staring, scares me. If its a big wag and it flops over, friendly..
if its a big wag and excited whine/lunging thats friendly.

If its growling or seems weird, bad.

lol..

 

[oriondw]

One thing I do with all dogs that are not mine is I don't look them directly in the eyes.

Thats the best thing you can do when meeting a new dog.


You have no idea how many people stare in my dogs eye's without blinking then bitch at me when he growls at them.

 

[mojozen]

Thats the best thing you can do when meeting a new dog.


You have no idea how many people stare in my dogs eye's without blinking then bitch at me when he growls at them.

my own dog doesn't care... he will willingly gaze into yuor eyes with a wagging tail and open relaxed body posture. however, majority of dogs take gazing into their eyes directly as a threat, because they are not human! To a dog that is very impolite and rude to stare at them directly...

 

[JennSLK]

You have no idea how many people stare in my dogs eye's without blinking then bitch at me when he growls at them.

sounds like you are doing the dog community a great service with your very well socolized dog

 

[oriondw]

sounds like you are doing the dog community a great service with your very well socolized dog

Sounds like you have have idea of what you are talking about...

 

[JennSLK]

Sounds like you have have idea of what you are talking about

I do, Im just sick of your mocho, I have the bigest dog on the block aditude.

I just dont like you.

 

[oriondw]

I do, Im just sick of your mocho, I have the bigest dog on the block aditude.

I just dont like you.

Oh so friendly. Do you think I care what people like you think? lol


Kids these days...

 

[RD]

lol, Jenn. So growling at a percieved threat automatically makes a dog poorly socialized? Most dogs I know are not comfortable with being stared at. It's normal.

 

[Dreeza]

i actually did not know about not staring dogs in the eye...i do it with oaks all the time...not like he has an issue with it.....

and im gonna have to agree with orion on this one...some dogs just dont like certain things...doesnt mean they arent properly socialized. Oakley growls when you hug him around the chest....

at least he gives a warning, and doesnt just attack...

 

[oriondw]

i actually did not know about not staring dogs in the eye...i do it with oaks all the time...not like he has an issue with it.....

and im gonna have to agree with orion on this one...some dogs just dont like certain things...doesnt mean they arent properly socialized. Oakley growls when you hug him around the chest....

at least he gives a warning, and doesnt just attack...

Well you are his family