No matter how small and cute a dog may be, we should all be wary of crossing boundaries when it comes to showing them affection – particularly when it comes to someone else’s pet.
Dog trainer Adam Spivey, who founded Southend Dog Training school in Essex, has taken to TikTok to explain we mustn’t stroke canines that are stragners to us in one particular area of their body. Doing so risks an angry response.
“The dog always needs to see the hand coming and you’ll see if it [the hand] is down low then it’s non-threatening,” expert Adam began in an instructional video. Over the top is a different story, however, as he showcases in his clip, pointing out that his pooch companion can’t see his hand.
“Also, [stroking] from behind you can startle the dog,” he added. “So always underneath and remember – you shouldn’t be stroking anybody’s dog unless the owner has given you permission.
Adam closed: “Always follow the owner’s instructions, because they know better than you.”
“I always tell people this when they are petting my pups – ask them how they’d like someone reaching behind their heads,” one TikTok user penned in response. A second praised: “Yes I always ask the owner. I will now go underneath. Thank you, great advice.”
A third person recalled a bad experience with their pet, commenting: “My dog siezed because some guy just randomly walked up to my dog after being at the clubs in town and touched him, so he nipped him as a warning.” While a fourth fumed: “So many people these days don’t understand the principle of asking.”
Adam offered additional stroking advice in a separate video, meanwhile. “Just because a dog approaches you, it doesn’t mean it wants stroking,” he explained.
Adam continued: “It is simply investigating you, through smell and you must let the dog finish sniffing before attempting to interact with a dog you don’t know. If it walks away after it’s just not that into you, but now you know.”
He reaffirmed: “Stop stroking strange dogs on the top of their heads.” It prompted a TikTok user to curse: “I keep saying this about my dog. He wants to investigate and sniff but doesn’t want to be bothered with touch and people take it so personally.”
A second hit out: “It’s a constant conversation I have with people. Don’t pat/approach my dog.” Whilst a third person shared: “My Bully XL is very careful with strangers and she wants to smell and be sure that they are good people. I don’t let strangers touch her if someone ‘new’ comes home to us or I meet an old friend outside that she’s never met before.
“Some dogs are just very careful and don’t trust others. And that is something we have to respect and accept.”
