Your dog is likely to welcome a dose of cuddling and petting. However, this may not be the case every day, or all dogs may not react in the same way to physical contact. Therefore, there are certain things you should consider before petting dogs.
Tips before petting dogs
Physical contact is essential between you and your dog. The affective bond that is created between owners and dogs is given, in great part, by the caresses you give him.
However, you have to consider that even if your caresses towards the dog are always well-intentioned, the animal may not interpret it that way. That is why certain things should be taken into account before petting dogs.
Ask before petting a stranger's dog
Dog lovers are very prone to look lovingly at every dog that crosses our path on the street. Some people even make their owners stop to dedicate a few words of love to their pet and even caresses.
Maybe you are one of those people. But do you ask the owner of the animal if you can pet it? Many people did not feel comfortable with strangers running their hands over their pets. It is important to respect this in any case.
Also, there are dogs that react aggressively to human contact with strangers even if they appear harmless from a distance. You won't know that until the dog shows its teeth.
For all these reasons, it is always better to ask the owner before petting other people's dogs.
Clean hands
It seems very logical, but some people forget that they are making food, for example, when they decide to pet the dog.
This is serious for two reasons. On the one hand, your dog's fur can become impregnated with odors or food residue from whatever you had in your hands. On the other hand, sometimes you resume the activity you were doing without washing your hands again after having touched the animal.
Because of this, both before and after petting dogs, you should wash your hands thoroughly.
Pet without scaring
Whether it is an unfamiliar dog or your own, remember to pet with affection. If in a moment of exaltation of love for your pet you rush towards him to pet him or your hand goes too quickly towards his head, he may get scared and react badly to your attempt to pet him.
If the dog is relaxed or absent-minded and you want to pet him, always do it with love. There will be time for more active play when he is well aware that it is cuddle time.
Beware of the abdominal area
A dog lying on its belly is a sign of submission. This is because the abdomen is a vulnerable area and when they leave it exposed they are very defenseless.
If he does this with you regularly, it is a sign that he considers you a leader and also that he trusts you. Therefore it is also likely that he enjoys caresses in that area by you.
But beware of a stranger or you as a stranger petting a dog in the belly area catching him off guard. He may think he is going to be attacked and react to protect himself.
Put yourself at his level
If you want the dog to enjoy a petting, but he is a little shy or scared, the best thing to do is to show him that even though you are the leader, you can also put yourself at his level.
To do this, you should crouch down, stretch your hand a little while you call him and avoid direct eye contact so that he does not find it threatening. Ideally, he should always be the one to approach you.
Know where do dogs like to be petted most?
Although every dog is different, there are certain areas that don't usually fail when it comes to petting. Therefore, knowing where to pet a dog is essential before you start petting.
The back of the ears, the end of the back and under the muzzle are usually favorable places for doggy petting.
Of course, you should pay attention to the dog's behavior while petting. If he does not have a relaxed posture or wants to move away, he is not liking this contact very much.
On the other hand, a relaxed posture or a wagging tail are usually very positive signs. And if you stop scratching and the dog chases your hand or even taps you with his paw, you've done well: it means he wants you to continue!
Have you taken good note of what to consider before petting dogs? Great!