Below are common methods of interacting with dogs that can actually be quite uncomfortable for them. Most of these interactions pierce a dog's personal bubble and can make them feel trapped or threatened, potentially leading to a bite, even with a bonded owner - especially if they are being trigger stacked (dealing with multiple stressors at once). Fun fact: dogs can smell about a football field away; they don't need us to put our hands out in order to smell us and gather information about us. Two things are not shown, are direct eye contact, and squaring off. Standing in front of a dog and maintaining eye contact are extremely threatening whether done by humans or other dogs. Clear requests for attention include snout boops, pawing, or leaning into us. Please remember, dogs don't hug and kiss like we do. Licking can be sign of stress, or way of keeping the peace, but it's not typically a gesture of love. 

Once your friend has shown interest and solicits attention (not just sniffing/information gathering), below are the safest spots to touch a dog. Dogs generally dislike being petted on the head, it can block their view and feel smothering. Keep the interaction brief to be sure it's appreciated. Consent tests are a great way to find out if a dog is enjoying the interaction or if the dog is saying ‘no.’ If after a few pats the dog walks away, that's a clear ‘no.’ If the dog paws you, nose-bumps, or leans into you, that's a ‘yes.’ If the dog is conflicted, assume that's a ‘no’ as well. Feeling conflicted isn't a pleasant feeling, wait for the next interaction/consent test to see if you get an enthusiastic ‘yes!’ 

Dogs vocalize, some more than others, but a great deal of their communication is done with their bodies. They use their eyes, ears, mouth, posture, tail, and even fur. Loose & wiggly dogs are generally relaxed, whereas stiff/tense dogs are often feeling stress & anxiety. Below are images of behaviors and gestures that provide us with important information. Some of these might surprise you! We'll begin with the ladder of aggression (distance increasing behaviors) to demonstrate the range of signals from subtle to blatant. Listen to the whisper (green) so they don't have to shout!

Myth Busting

As explained in the introduction, context includes the full body (eyes, ears, mouth, body, tail, posture, fur), as well as situational context (is the dog tethered or confined, in a crate, home or in a stressful environment, are kids around, chaos, noise). Context is so important because body language, similar to humans, can mean different things depending on what's happening around the dog. Have you ever laughed without thinking something was truly funny? Have you ever gotten ‘goosebumps’ from excitement as well as from fear? The next few pictures display body language that can often be misinterpreted - which can lead to dangerous interactions, especially for children. 

Are these dogs saying the same thing? An exposed belly is often assumed to be an invitation for rubs n' pats, but an exposed tummy is not always an invitation for attention, sometimes it's actually a request for space. There isn't any situational context in these photos, so we don't know what's going on, but the dog on the left is requesting space. How can we tell? This dog's eyes are hard and brows are concerned, the mouth is stiff and mostly closed, the front legs are stiff and held together over the dog's body, the tongue is flicked. The dog on the right, however, is showing signs of being relaxed. This dog has an open mouth and relaxed jaw, relaxed paws that are open and floppy, and the eyes and brows are soft. When we reach out to touch dogs who are asking for space, we risk pushing a dog over threshold to a bite. 

These images provide more situational context which helps determine what each yawn means. The dog on the left is on a comfy couch and has a relaxed body, while the dog on the right is being held and looks awkward/uncomfortable. Additionally, the dog on the right is giving an exaggerated yawn, it's wider and showing more tension, with ears slightly back - this dog is asking to be left alone. Reaching out to pet a dog who is asking for space risks pressuring a dog to feel defensive and possibly bite.  

This will be difficult for many to accept, but dogs do not kiss. Kissing and hugging are not natural for dogs, they use licking to communicate mostly feelings of worry or anxiety, and in a very general sense is a way of saying, ‘hey let’s be friends, I mean no harm.' A peace-keeping gesture, also termed ‘appeasement gesture’ or ‘calming signal’ - licking is used to avoid conflict or deescalate a potentially confrontational encounter. When we put our face in the face of a dog believing we are getting kisses instead of communication, we risk a bite, especially with dogs who are unfamiliar to us. When we have a strong bond with a dog, it's still something that's often tolerated instead of appreciated. Does this mean it's never affection? Maybe not, but it's important to remember that kissing is human behavior.  

Is it a Kiss or a Dismiss: -Jennifer Shryock, BA, CDBC, Family Paws (dog bite safety and babies)
Excerpt: “Licking can be many things. Grooming, care taking, self-soothing, appeasement — but what about distance increasing or a cut off cue?” Read full article, with videos, here.     

Kisses and Stress Signals - the following pictures show stress signals as a result of having their personal space invaded by a kiss. Two pictures also show a dog being physically held in place and/or leashed, effectively trapping and forcing a dog to endure an uncomfortable interaction without an escape route.    

If you have any questions about safe dog meets at the shelter, or about body language & dog bite prevention in general, please feel free to email.