What is a polite dog greeting?
Charlotte Roob
2025-05-20 17:18:13
Count answers: 3
A polite greeting looks like this, it give the dogs space while they learn everything they need to know about each other, but it also means they are more able to get away should something happen to startle them. Dogs greeting other dogs should not look like this face to face greeting with frustration pulling can be intimidating and this can cause a reactive response. If you watch social dogs greeting each other off lead they tend to give each other a bit of space they move in towards each other nose to tail and often circle while sniffing each other. They learn the sex of the dog and it's sexual state, is it entire or neutered, they also learn it's physical state, is it ill or healthy.
Sandra Blick
2025-05-20 16:59:46
Count answers: 3
A calm, confident, respectful dog will not be approaching copious amounts of random dogs for no reason. Not every dog wants to say hi and they need to respect that. Even if your dog is friendly, saying hi to every dog is a big red flag to an impolite greeter. If your dog is insisting on saying hi to every dog they see then they might be friendly, but they are not being polite. Appropriate On-Leash Greeting includes Both dogs consent to the interaction, Short and Sweet, Dogs greet with loose body language, lots of curves through their necks and backs, They initially turn to sniff each other’s butts, If one dog turns or moves away the other dog does not follow, If one dog does not want to interact a polite dog will see this and continue walking without stopping to say hi. Approaching with a loose leash, Walking side by side on a walk. What we should all aim for are appropriate on-leash greetings with other dogs. For some dogs, it is ok for them to say hi to dogs once in a while, Once in awhile means saying hi to only 1 out of every 10-20 dogs.
Danyka Dickens
2025-05-20 16:14:09
Count answers: 3
For many dogs, meeting new people can be all too exciting. This can sometimes manifest in jumping up, licking, mouthing or general hyperactive behaviour. Lots of dogs simply don’t know how to deal with people in this situation, so ideally we want to teach our dogs to greet new people politely, whether in the house or out on the street. Asking for a controlled behaviour such as ‘sit’ is a good alternative to jumping up behaviours. Ask your dog to sit slightly away from the door as the new person enters. Reward your dog for continuing to sit as the new person enters. When your visitor is ready to interact with the dog, you can tell your dog that it is OK to greet them. ‘Say hello’ is a good command to use for this. Give a treat to your visitor and ask them to drop this on the floor as the dog approaches.
Eloise Murphy
2025-05-20 15:19:59
Count answers: 3
A polite dog greeting is not only about avoiding aggressive or inappropriate behaviour, but also about teaching our dogs how to communicate confidently and calmly. When dogs approach each other, a polite greeting should follow a natural curve, rather than a straight line. If your dog charges directly at another dog, it can be perceived as threatening or overwhelming, especially by more nervous dogs. A key sign of a polite greeting is a relaxed, soft body posture. Dogs that approach each other with stiffness or tension may be signalling discomfort, uncertainty, or potential aggression. Ideally, there should be no signs of anxiety—such as a raised head, stiff tail, or hard stare—when they meet. The most polite greeting involves a sequence of sniffs, first they may sniff each other’s faces, which is a way for them to gather information about the other dog’s identity, then they’ll often move to sniff each other’s bottoms. An ideal greeting should last no more than 5-10 seconds—just enough time for the dogs to assess each other before continuing on with their walk. Dogs should remain upright as they approach, this keeps the interaction open and non-threatening, allowing both dogs to feel in control.
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