Dogs like humans have their own personalities. Meet and greets should never occur with dogs coming face on with each other. Some dogs can become over-aroused and overexcited with meeting face on like this. For some dog’s this can be intimidating and quite frankly, rude. Take some time walking side by side with the other owner and their dog allowing some space between the dogs whilst keeping the leads as loose as possible. Create an easy escape if needed. This stops them from getting tangled up and creating an issue. Learn more below about the three second rule.
Petting
Pet a dog for no more than three seconds, then stop if the dog moves away, shakes off, or nudges you. If the dog continues, it might be a sign of enjoyment, such as vocalizing, licking its lips, or rolling over. However, it could also be a sign of appeasement, so you can try removing your hand and starting again
Greeting
When introducing two dogs, limit the greeting to three seconds. If either dog shows signs of discomfort, such as moving away, turn and walk away. You can also use this time to determine if the dogs are comfortable playing together or tolerating each other. After the interaction, let the dogs process it and wait until they’re distracted before bringing them back together
If you need help with your dog in public or want to work on leash and greeting skills please check out our contact page and I would be happy to help. As a professional dog trainer I do not encourage on leash greetings as dogs can act completely different on leash then off. Make sure to really understand your dogs wants and needs before putting them into a situation they are not comfortable with,
