Every now and then, I run across a loose dog in my neighborhood while walking my dogs. You never know if an unfamiliar dog is lost, a stray or one that lives in the area and is allowed to roam on his own by his owners. Why a dog is loose doesn’t matter, how you prevent an unnecessary encounter, however, does. One of the most important things to remember when meeting an unfamiliar dog is to remain calm and pay attention to what he’s doing.
Most dogs you meet on the streets are not mean or aggressive, but they may be scared or confused. When you see a dog running loose, you have no idea how long he’s been on his own or if he’s injured in some way. You also don’t know if he’s apprehensive of strangers because of unkind treatment he’s received while on the loose. He may be just as friendly as your own dog. However, you don’t know and that’s why you need to take precautions and stay calm.
A stray dog doesn’t know if someone is trying to help him and if you try to approach a fearful or scared dog without understanding the warning signs he’s putting out, that can lead to you getting bit. Learning how to read a dog’s body language is one of your best defenses when meeting a dog you don’t know.
Dogs don’t just attack out of the blue. There’s always a reason for a dog’s behavior. You may think you didn’t do anything wrong, but dogs are experts at reading our body language and we can easily send the wrong message to canines. Being able to look at an unfamiliar dog and understand what his body language is saying can tell you if you need to be concerned with him or not.
A scared or fearful dog looks the part. His tail is tucked between his bent legs or hangs straight down. If he’s wagging his tail, it’s an uncertain fast wag. He crouches with his rear and head held lower, but his back is slightly arched. He will avoid making eye contact and may look at you out of the corner of his eyes. Never turn your back on a scared looking dog. His body language is telling you he’s unpredictable and wants to be left alone. Slowly back away and stay calm.
An aggressive dog holds his tail straight out from his body. It looks stiff and the hair may look like it’s bristling. His ears are pressed flat against his lowered head and he stares at you with narrowed and intense eyes. The hair (raised hackles) on his back, around the shoulders or on his rump will be raised. He may growl or snarl as he watches you while he contemplates his next move. Aggression on your part is likely to cause him to attack. Do not look him in the eyes. You need to keep an eye on him, but look at his tail or at his front legs. He knows you see him, but he’s not as threatened when you look at his body instead of his eyes. Slowly back up, but if he makes a move towards you, stop and stand still. Stay calm if he walks up to you and let him smell you. If he knocks you down or you accidentally fall down, roll up into a ball and protect your neck, ears, and head. Try to remain as still as you can and stay calm and quiet.
A dominant dog may also be aggressive. This dog’s body language says he’s ready for anything that might come his way. His tail is held high or straight out from his body and it looks stiff. The ears are standing straight up or pulled forward. He walks with confidence and may have raised hackles. Slowly back away from an unfamiliar dog showing a dominant personality and keep your eyes on him without making eye contact.
A confident, friendly dog has a relaxed mouth and wags his tail slowly. It’s relaxed and held up or straight out. His head is held high and his overall body language says he’s comfortable with you near him. The ears are perked up and his eyes are wide open, alert, and relaxed. You can see him smiling.
A submissive dog will roll over on his back and tuck his tail between his legs. He will do everything he can to show you he’s not a threat. Lip-licking, yawning, scratching, urinating, or chewing on himself is his way of saying, there’s no problem here.
Never run from a dog. All canines have a prey drive and some breeds have a higher one than others. Some dogs interpret running as you wanting to play and some view it as prey running from them. Either way, a dog is apt to chase you and you won’t be able to outrun him. Movement triggers their prey drive, so the best thing you can do until you determine if a dog is friendly or not is to stand perfectly still and watch him without making eye contact. An aggressive or dominant dog may see your stare as a challenge to him.
Stay calm when meeting an unfamiliar dog and teach your children what to do if they should come across a dog while playing or walking outside.
Body Language of Dogs: Understanding Raised Hackles
There are Good Reasons Why Dogs Bite
What a Dog’s Body Language Tells You About Dog Behavior
