Can I pet your dog?

How often have you walked down the street with your pooch and heard that question? Almost every time I visit a dog park or have my dog out in public, I get asked.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad people are asking to pet Ollie before they actually do, I teach my kids to ask first as well, but do they actually know how to pet a dog?

Some people go right for the face, others the back end, some timidly stroke his fringe along the side. Luckily Ollie is pretty easygoing and likes his pets anywhere!

But, not all dogs are quite as laid back.

This leads to the question,

What is the proper way to pet a dog?

Here’s the thing, petting a dog you know is wildly different than petting an unfamiliar dog.

When a dog knows you, you can probably bend down, slap your knees, and call them over to you. Presumably, the pooch is excited to see you and covers your face in slobbery kisses while you pet him all over.

This is the ideal situation, especially if you love dog slobber!

However, petting an unfamiliar dog is an entirely different ball game.

Here are some tips to help ensure your encounter with a strange dog is a good one.

Try not to spook the pooch

Crouch down and turn your body to be a little sideways so you are not so intimidating (avoiding eye contact).

Do not bend over them (that’s intimidating for the pooch), crouch instead. 

Once you have squatted down, extend your hand and let them come to you. It’s a good idea to keep your fingers curled inward in case the pooch decides to snap at them.

If the pooch sniffs your hand and his tail starts wagging, it’s probably OK to pet them.

If they just stand there, indifferent or back away, just leave them alone. They do not want to be pet.

Body Language

If the dog is just standing there, stiffly, they probably don’t want to be pet. Likewise, if their tail is between their legs, they are uncomfortable and you should just leave it for now. 

If a pooch is sending you mixed messages such as a wagging tail and the hair on their spine are raised or their ears are pinned back, you can safely assume they do not wish to be pet.

When a dog’s tail is wagging, they have the body wiggle going on and are genuinely excited, you can surmise that they most likely want you to pet them.

Where to pet a dog

So, you have followed the tips above and have determined that the pooch indeed wants to be pet. Now where the heck are you supposed to pet them?

According to  Dr. Uri Burstyn, a veterinarian from Vancouver, dogs like to be pet under the chin. 

DO NOT go right for the top of the head. This can be construed as a form of aggression and could rattle the pooch.

As well, stay away from their belly, especially if you don’t know the dog. Just assume they are off-limits. 

Other areas to avoid include paws and rumpus area.

Also, don’t hug a dog. They are not kids and generally do not like being hugged. 

Once the pooch has warmed up to you and you are on good terms, you can try petting them on the lower back and chest.

Just keep an eye on their cues. Stiff and rigid, you might want to stop. Wagging and wiggly, you can probably proceed confidently.

What do dogs like when being pet?

What’s that saying? Different strokes for different folks. Well, how you pet a pooch takes this saying literally.

The correct way to pet a dog, especially an unfamiliar one is to be calm and slow with your petting, rubbing in the direction that the fur grows.

According to the author and trainer Mikkel Becker, 

“Petting should be calming and therapeutic for both dog and person, both reaping the mutual benefits of shared contact,” says Becker. “When you pet a dog in a relaxed, slow and gentle manner, he is likely to lean in tight for more.”

Conversely, short, fast strokes or pats can ‘whip’ a dog up into an aroused state, and in some cases, may lead to him play-biting and even snapping.

Bottom line, keep those pets low and slow, both you and the pooch will benefit from those positive endorphins.

Pet Etiquette

A brief summary of how to pet a dog properly:

• Crouch down, let the pooch come to you.
• Pooch sniffs your hand and backs away, stop trying to pet them, they aren’t interested.
• Pooch sniffs your hand and comes closer to you with tail wagging, proceed with the pets.
• Start with the chin, staying away from the top of the head.
• If all is going well, proceed with petting their chest and back in a calm, slow manner going with the direction of the fur.

Following these steps should ensure that your next encounter with a pooch is a good one.

Try your best to be relaxed and take cues from the pooch. They are very good at telling us what they like and don’t like, we just need to pay attention since they can’t shout it to us.

Where does your pooch like to pet be the most? Let us know in the comments.

Ollie loves being petted on his back, side, face, and pretty much all over. He just leans in and enjoys the lovin’!

(And so do I!)