Law of Dog

I would like to pose a question to you: if you saw a cute kid on the street, would you go up to that child, completely bypassing the parent, reach out your hand, touch them and say HELLO in a really cute voice? It doesn’t take a rocket science to answer this one–of course you wouldn’t! Because, let’s face it, you would be arrested–basically. Now, keep this rather dramatic yet honest scenario in mind as I proceed.

This afternoon I was sitting in a rest stop parking lot with my baby in my lap and my dog next to me in a down. We were enjoying watching people and dogs pass us by–taking in the sites and sounds of the otherwise mundane Delaware Information Center and rest area. At one point, a woman comes out of her car with her dog, and I clearly hear her ask her dog in the squeakiest of voices ‘oh Fluffy do you want to say Hi to the doggie (aka my dog)?’ So let’s first address the fact that she is asking the dog–got that? Ok. So now, with a 6 week old baby in my lap and my dog minding his own manners in a down next to me, I have a squeaky woman and her dog approaching me to say Hi. Let me pause to tell you how setting the tone for an interaction means everything to a dog; when you talk to your dog in a hyper tone, you get them excited–this in turn is the energy that they bring with them to an interaction–excitement–instead of calm and balanced. Now, you are approaching  strangers; but you don’t see me, you just see ‘another doggie!’ A dog who is nice and calm. See where I’m going with this? Now, the best way to create a good situation from a poorly managed one, is to step forward, speak up, and advocate. While what you are about to do is pissing me off, I have to remain calm for my dog–and newborn on my lap. So I say with a smile as they approach ‘No, not on leash–he gets tense on leash.'(on leash greetings can also set the wrong tone for a howdy-do, coupled with excitable energy coming from the other end of the leash–you are asking for trouble). Well, what does this ‘dog lover’ do? She says, in response to my polite version of ‘please go away’– ‘Oh it’s ok.’ And proceeds to have her dog invade my calm dogs space so he can say…hi. Now, this didn’t end horribly because in the end, my guy let this dog know he was uncomfortable and the other dog was like ok no problem dude. But, let’s go back to my original analogy. You completely disregard the ‘parent’ to give yourself and your doggie the instant gratification of a hello! In human world, this would result in a severe consequence. In dog world, without proper handling, it can result in a different yet equally severe consequence. Both situations involve disrespect and a complete invasion of space coupled with touching something that isn’t yours to touch (or your dogs). We are able to wrap our head around this concept in the human world more or less. But when it comes to the dog world, not so much. Not only are you putting my dog at a disadvantage, but your own dog as well. And you call yourself a dog lover? You understand the law of human–now take a moment to learn about the law of dog. Learn how your actions effect yours, and other dogs. And ask before interacting–and listen to what the person, and the dog are telling you! Do all that and yes, you are indeed a dog lover!