15 Essential Rules of Canine Etiquette
After ten years of rescuing, socializing, rehabilitating, providing medical care, professional training and placing hundreds of dogs in well suited loving homes, we have learned and continue to learn all things dog and a few things human!. A human piece we've learned is that the majority of us are willing to go above and beyond to have a great and meaningful relationship with our canine companions! SO AWESOME! We have also discovered that many people aren't aware of some basic rules doggie etiquette which are easy enough to understand but often demonstrated or simply explained SO... We have consolidated and tried to simplify our understanding of what we refer to as Essential Rules of Canine Etiquette
* You can easily learn the basic language of DOGS and it will not only enrich your lives it will keep everyone, including your dog SAFE!
* Keep your energy calm - as in "I've got this" - especially in highly emotional situations
* Dogs are magnificent companions who require the ability to communicate easily with their humans. Its on us to learn how to do that.
* Dogs need to believe there's always a trustworthy, kind and capable leader in charge.
* ALWAYS call a dog to come to you. OK to entice and then reward
* Always GIVE dogs plenty of personal space.. from people, other dogs and an ability to remove themselves from a situation they want to get away from.
* Always pay attention to a growl - the dog is urgently saying I am uncomfortable with how close you are & never punish a growl
* ALWAYS TRADE .. DON'T TAKE!
* ALWAYS "let sleeping dogs lay"*
* Proper DOG greetings are polite and tend to be circular in nature. Not head on! Again let or invite a dog to come to you.. permit them to sniff and explore before reaching toward them.They'll be impressed you know about that!
* In order to be SAFE, children can and must learn to understand and respect DOG language.
* Like most living things dogs crave harmony and balance and they will react to chaotic situations, loud noises, screaming, fighting, wild and raucous behavior even if its all in fun.
* Dogs are generally uncomfortable with Hugging .. theres been a lot of arguing back and forth .. pro and con on this hugging thing! Fact is the basic rule is that MOST dogs do not like it and pretty much all dogs not already in a trusting relationship with the hugging human strongly dislike and fear HUGGING! YES there are natural huggers in the canine world but they are more the exception than the rule. So play it safe, respect the canine point of view and err always on the side of less is more!
We even have the "DARE TO BE AWARE CHALLENGE"!! also known as the "3 second rule" at our place- its an easy way to find out how much your dog is or is not enjoying your touch, massage ,petting.. HERE IT IS ...Love on your dog for 3 seconds- stop- wait- and watch.. does your dog seek your hand for more ...or not.. does your dog chose to get up and put himself at a distance or wiggle in closer to you?
* You can easily learn the basic language of DOGS and it will not only enrich your lives it will keep everyone, including your dog SAFE!
* Keep your energy calm - as in "I've got this" - especially in highly emotional situations
* Dogs are magnificent companions who require the ability to communicate easily with their humans. Its on us to learn how to do that.
* Dogs need to believe there's always a trustworthy, kind and capable leader in charge.
* ALWAYS call a dog to come to you. OK to entice and then reward
* Always GIVE dogs plenty of personal space.. from people, other dogs and an ability to remove themselves from a situation they want to get away from.
* Always pay attention to a growl - the dog is urgently saying I am uncomfortable with how close you are & never punish a growl
* ALWAYS TRADE .. DON'T TAKE!
* ALWAYS "let sleeping dogs lay"*
* Proper DOG greetings are polite and tend to be circular in nature. Not head on! Again let or invite a dog to come to you.. permit them to sniff and explore before reaching toward them.They'll be impressed you know about that!
* In order to be SAFE, children can and must learn to understand and respect DOG language.
* Like most living things dogs crave harmony and balance and they will react to chaotic situations, loud noises, screaming, fighting, wild and raucous behavior even if its all in fun.
* Dogs are generally uncomfortable with Hugging .. theres been a lot of arguing back and forth .. pro and con on this hugging thing! Fact is the basic rule is that MOST dogs do not like it and pretty much all dogs not already in a trusting relationship with the hugging human strongly dislike and fear HUGGING! YES there are natural huggers in the canine world but they are more the exception than the rule. So play it safe, respect the canine point of view and err always on the side of less is more!
We even have the "DARE TO BE AWARE CHALLENGE"!! also known as the "3 second rule" at our place- its an easy way to find out how much your dog is or is not enjoying your touch, massage ,petting.. HERE IT IS ...Love on your dog for 3 seconds- stop- wait- and watch.. does your dog seek your hand for more ...or not.. does your dog chose to get up and put himself at a distance or wiggle in closer to you?
1. Learn Your Dog's Native Language. Dogs communicate in body language signals that take place in context. Some cues are very subtle like lip licking or suddenly smelling the ground when something scary comes into view. Others are super obvious like growling or flipping over on their back. Dog body language seems difficult for some people to understand because we tend to put human emotions onto our animals which ends up being incorrect interpretation whats actually taking place, also known as anthropomorphism. Their language is pretty simple to understand and FUN once you know what to look for! Bonus, you get to tell your friends that you can "speak dog" and help them understand, too!
So why is this important? The best thing you can do for your dog is support them fully throughout their entire lives, no matter what behaviors or situations pop up. Seems simple.. and you might be thinking to yourself "But of course I already do that, I love my dog(s) more then anything in this world!!" and no doubt that is true BUT how can you support them fully without understanding what they are communicating? That leads us to rule number 2 below!
2. Avoid confrontational body language. Respect how dogs communicate - what is confrontational body language? Why does a dog perceive this at confrontational? Eye contact, shoulders curled, bending over, hovering, hugging, extended touch, your face in their face, kissing the face.
Tie into confrontational
2. Is the dog you're interacting with trapped? Four sides - square method
3. Three second pet rule. Gains trust, allows dog to move away
4. Chin up shoulders back. Create an open and inviting space to allow the dog to move in and out.
5. Let a sleeping dog lie -- while eating, chewing bone, the couch, coffee table.
6. Sticky Situations
7.
So why is this important? The best thing you can do for your dog is support them fully throughout their entire lives, no matter what behaviors or situations pop up. Seems simple.. and you might be thinking to yourself "But of course I already do that, I love my dog(s) more then anything in this world!!" and no doubt that is true BUT how can you support them fully without understanding what they are communicating? That leads us to rule number 2 below!
2. Avoid confrontational body language. Respect how dogs communicate - what is confrontational body language? Why does a dog perceive this at confrontational? Eye contact, shoulders curled, bending over, hovering, hugging, extended touch, your face in their face, kissing the face.
Tie into confrontational
2. Is the dog you're interacting with trapped? Four sides - square method
3. Three second pet rule. Gains trust, allows dog to move away
4. Chin up shoulders back. Create an open and inviting space to allow the dog to move in and out.
5. Let a sleeping dog lie -- while eating, chewing bone, the couch, coffee table.
6. Sticky Situations
7.
The Family Dog
The Family Dog sometimes it is difficult for children to understand that the family dog may not always welcome their attention. It may seem hard to believe, but most bites to children are by the family dog or other dogs known to the child. Kids (and parents) assume that because the dog knows, likes or loves them that it won't bite them. Dogs don't think this way. A dog may snap or bite in annoyance because the child is bothering it in that moment, whether the dog loves the child or not.
Here is an example with which most kids can identify...
When you are home at night watching TV or reading a bedtime story you might like to sit on your Mom or Dad's knee or have them whisper "I love you" in your ear. However if you are out on the soccer field or at school with your friends or acting in the school play you might not want to sit on a parent's lap or have them run out in the middle of the game or the play to whisper in your ear. It's the same for dogs. If they are busy doing something, or interested in another dog or a squirrel, or they are tired they may not want to have attention from you that they might enjoy at other times.
A dog may indicate that it wants to be left alone by leaving the room, showing a half moon eye, yawning or licking its chops when the kids are bothering it for weeks, months or even years before finally getting to the point that it feels it has no choice but to bite. Parents often tell us that the dog bit without warning, but there is always a warning. Many people simply do not recognize the warning signs, even though the dog has been exhibiting these for weeks, months or even years.
We are not saying that all signs of anxiety that we describe on the body language page indicate an impending bite. What we are saying is that the dog will tell you if it is uncomfortable in a situation with a child (or with you). As a parent and/or dog owner it is up to you to educate yourself and your children so that you all know what the dog might be feeling. Dogs give us a lot of love and joy and we know that you want your dog to be happy and to have a great relationship with the family. Learning about dog body language and emotion and developing empathy for dogs is a great way to help improve the relationship with your dog.
Read an excellent article about whether dogs bite "out of the blue". Realize that even the nicest dog can be pushed to the point of biting if multiple stressors come into play. Read an article that explains how this can happen.
Other People's Dogs and Play Dates
You may not care about maintaining a good relationship with a dog, you just want to keep yourself and your kids safe. Dogs are everywhere and whether you love them, hate them or are indifferent, you and your kids are going to encounter them. It is important even for children who have dogs at home to learn that other people's dogs may not be as nice and tolerant as their own dog. Everyone will benefit from understanding dog body language and knowing when it is best to leave a dog alone, or even to ask the dog's owner to put him away if you are visiting. If you or your child is uncomfortable around a dog, don't be shy! Ask the host to put the dog away. You could say something like this: "That is a lovely dog. I know he is friendly, but we are a bit uncomfortable around dogs. Would you mind putting him in another room or on a leash?".
If your child is going to visit at a playmate's house, ask if they have a dog and whether the dog will be confined when your child visits. If you are going to leave your child in a home daycare where there is a dog, be sure to visit, meet the dog and ensure that the dog will not be a threat to your child. Click here for an article that describes the things you should look for in deciding whether it is safe to leave your child with someone who has a dog.
More Topics Teresa's Bad Rules - dog bite prevention rules
Baby Safety and Preparing the Dog for Life with a Baby
Baby Grows Up- the dog's attitude toward the children can change as they grow up and as the dog grows older
Growling at the Kids- never punish your dog for growling at the kids (strange but true)
Here is an example with which most kids can identify...
When you are home at night watching TV or reading a bedtime story you might like to sit on your Mom or Dad's knee or have them whisper "I love you" in your ear. However if you are out on the soccer field or at school with your friends or acting in the school play you might not want to sit on a parent's lap or have them run out in the middle of the game or the play to whisper in your ear. It's the same for dogs. If they are busy doing something, or interested in another dog or a squirrel, or they are tired they may not want to have attention from you that they might enjoy at other times.
A dog may indicate that it wants to be left alone by leaving the room, showing a half moon eye, yawning or licking its chops when the kids are bothering it for weeks, months or even years before finally getting to the point that it feels it has no choice but to bite. Parents often tell us that the dog bit without warning, but there is always a warning. Many people simply do not recognize the warning signs, even though the dog has been exhibiting these for weeks, months or even years.
We are not saying that all signs of anxiety that we describe on the body language page indicate an impending bite. What we are saying is that the dog will tell you if it is uncomfortable in a situation with a child (or with you). As a parent and/or dog owner it is up to you to educate yourself and your children so that you all know what the dog might be feeling. Dogs give us a lot of love and joy and we know that you want your dog to be happy and to have a great relationship with the family. Learning about dog body language and emotion and developing empathy for dogs is a great way to help improve the relationship with your dog.
Read an excellent article about whether dogs bite "out of the blue". Realize that even the nicest dog can be pushed to the point of biting if multiple stressors come into play. Read an article that explains how this can happen.
Other People's Dogs and Play Dates
You may not care about maintaining a good relationship with a dog, you just want to keep yourself and your kids safe. Dogs are everywhere and whether you love them, hate them or are indifferent, you and your kids are going to encounter them. It is important even for children who have dogs at home to learn that other people's dogs may not be as nice and tolerant as their own dog. Everyone will benefit from understanding dog body language and knowing when it is best to leave a dog alone, or even to ask the dog's owner to put him away if you are visiting. If you or your child is uncomfortable around a dog, don't be shy! Ask the host to put the dog away. You could say something like this: "That is a lovely dog. I know he is friendly, but we are a bit uncomfortable around dogs. Would you mind putting him in another room or on a leash?".
If your child is going to visit at a playmate's house, ask if they have a dog and whether the dog will be confined when your child visits. If you are going to leave your child in a home daycare where there is a dog, be sure to visit, meet the dog and ensure that the dog will not be a threat to your child. Click here for an article that describes the things you should look for in deciding whether it is safe to leave your child with someone who has a dog.
More Topics Teresa's Bad Rules - dog bite prevention rules
Baby Safety and Preparing the Dog for Life with a Baby
Baby Grows Up- the dog's attitude toward the children can change as they grow up and as the dog grows older
Growling at the Kids- never punish your dog for growling at the kids (strange but true)