Recently I watched YouTubers Jenna Marbles and Julien Solomita's podcast, and they discussed things that were controversial or are pet peeves of theirs, called "Don't Even Get Me Started." They talked about how people ignorantly approach their dog Marbles at the dog park, who gets really nervous and anxious around strangers.
The two have dealt with a woman who felt it was necessary to keep making kissing noise and kept trying to pet Marbles, even though he was giving off signs to her that he did not want that. He kept barking, growling and backing away because he was nervous, but the woman still did not take the hint.
Marbles did not bite her of course, but there are dogs who could easily bite strangers if they are feeling threatened. You would think even settings like a dog park that dog owners would know how to proper approach a stranger's dog.
You should not just go up to a random dog and try to pet it, because you do not know how the dog is going to react. Even the most well behaved dogs can get scared and lash out. The proper way to approach a stranger's dog is first, and most importantly, ask them if you can pet their dog. Do not just pet a dog without asking. It is someone else's animal, and you are not just allowed to touch them.
Once you are granted permission to pet the animal, do not make loud noises and scare it. Try to use a gentle voice, and gently put your hand out for the animal to sniff. Allowing them to sniff you and get comfortable with you is so crucial. Making huge gestures and loud noises is an easy way to upset any animal, especially a dog.
Even if you are in a setting like a dog park, where a dog might come up to you, you still need to be careful. Let them sniff you and watch their body language. If a dog is barking, backing away and its hair is standing up, you should definitely not try to pet or approach it.
It is a simple thing to learn, and yet some people are still ignorant about it. You need to teach your kids how to approach animals as well, because they could get even more harmed if an animal decides to lash out at them. Kids are naturally louder and make more sudden gestures, so teaching them at a young age is good.
But yet, adults cannot even seem to grasp that concept. Recently in the news a man was bothering a buffalo in Yellowstone National Park, and was arrested for it. The fact that he actually felt the need to harass a wild animal is just as bad as approaching someone's domesticated pet.
Animals will clearly give you warning signs, and they do not mean to be aggressive or seem that way, but you are in their personal space. How would like to be touched by some stranger without your permission? Some animals get a bad reputation because they lash out, but it is the people behind the aggression.
So please respect an animal's boundaries, because even if they do not have a voice, they deserve to be treated right.
