10/23/2026
MIND YOUR MANNERS!
The safe, respectful, polite way to interact with a dog.
Imagine a stranger walking up to you, invading your personal space, touching you without consent or maybe cornering or restraining you so you can’t get away.
Would you feel threatened? Would you feel safe? Would you accept this without reacting?
You try to communicate your discomfort, but the person ignores you and continues to touch you, leaving you no choice but to defend yourself.
This is perfectly understandable when it comes to people, but somehow, we often don’t understand that dogs have the same need for space, choice, consent and safety.
Dogs are frequently approached, touched and crowded by people without being given a choice. Their body language signals of stress are not understood or simply ignored.
Then, when a dog growls, snaps or reacts defensively, we act surprised.
One of my own dogs is particularly sensitive to unfamiliar people. If we have visitors, I always ask that they give her space and avoid trying to interact with her.
She needs to make the decision that she feels comfortable enough to approach and interact.
So often, my request is ignored. Sometimes resulting in a reactive response from my dog. The person is then genuinely shocked - What's wrong with your dog? Why is she so aggressive!
The real question should be - why wasn't her need for space respected?
Her personal space had been invaded, she had not been given the opportunity to feel safe or choose to engage. When her body language didn’t work to keep the person at a distance, her behaviour escalated.
We expect people to respect our personal boundaries. We expect to have a say in who touches us, when and where they touch us and if it’s acceptable. Why should it be different for dogs?
Dogs are not public property. They are sentient individuals with their own preferences, fears, boundaries and ways of communicating.
Being friendly, familiar or well-behaved does not mean a dog is freely available for anyone to touch.
Feeling safe is rooted in choice, in consent and the right to say no and we need to respect that.
