How To Approach an Unfamiliar Dog

Dogs are a man's best friend; we love our dogs.  We often also want to love our friends' and neighbors' dogs, but are all too frequently rebuffed and sometimes even bitten by these animals.  Dog bite statistics in the United States are staggering, with many dogs being euthanized for their mistakes, although humans are usually the real culprits.

To protect yourself and your children from unintentional dog bites, you should learn the proper method of approaching a strange dog.

It is in a dog's nature to its home and its pack.  If you are approaching a strange dog in his home, you can take some basic steps to keep the dog from feeling threatened.  

• When entering a room with a strange dog, find a place to sit quietly and let the dog approach you. 
• Do not stare at the dog directly, although you should keep an eye on him from the corner of your eye. Staring at a dog is perceived as a challenge and can provoke an already nervous dog into biting. 
• Allow the dog to sniff you without making any sudden moves and talk to him gently and soothingly. This should relax him and allow you to touch him. 
• Gentle stroking at this point should further relax him and then the introduction should be complete. Bear in mind that the dog may continue to be wary of you as you move through the house.

Approaching a strange dog outside the home is a slightly more complicated matter.  The dog may not be on his home territory, which makes any aggression toward you a defensive response on the dog's part.  If a dog is feeling defensive, you must take immediate action to make yourself as non-challenging as possible.  

• Do not stare the dog in the eyes and do not make any sudden movements. 
• Do not make any loud noises.  If the dog approaches, remain calm, but ready to react. 
• Whatever you do, do not take your eyes off of him or let him wander behind you because the dog may choose to bite when you have the least chance of retaliation.  
• Speak gently and reassuringly to the dog, which should help relax him and make him easier to approach.

As a general rule, it is best to let a strange dog approach you, especially if it is the pet of a friend or a neighbor and you can be perceived as invading its territory.  If it a dog appears to be particularly aggressive or fearful, it may be best to just leave him alone.