{"id":14444,"date":"2024-08-06T08:32:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-06T15:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/osfbl01.justfoodfordogs.com\/?p=14444"},"modified":"2025-10-23T09:17:53","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T16:17:53","slug":"how-to-pet-a-dog-the-right-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/how-to-pet-a-dog-the-right-way","title":{"rendered":"How to Pet a Dog the Right Way"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Like most loving pet parents, you love petting your own dog and probably love meeting other dogs. There\u2019s good reason to love petting dogs since research shows<\/a> that interacting with a dog stimulates your brain!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why it\u2019s natural to want to reach out and pet even an unfamiliar dog. But it\u2019s important to understand a dog\u2019s body language in order to know if the dog feels like being petted. After all, some shy dogs feel anxious<\/a> with attention from a stranger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also important to remember that what your dog likes isn\u2019t necessarily what every<\/em> dog likes when it comes to petting. So, let\u2019s discuss a little bit about dog behavior and body language. We’ll address how to pet a dog the right way (yes, there is a right<\/em> way) and what you shouldn\u2019t<\/span> do when meeting a new dog for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Should You Know How to Pet a Dog?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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You might think that petting a dog is a straightforward process, one that gives you plenty of tail wags in return for your attention. But there\u2019s more to it than that. Not all dogs appreciate petting, particularly when they don\u2019t know you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is actually an appropriate way to approach a new dog, and it requires paying attention to signals coming from the dog. The dog will indicate if they are stressed or experiencing discomfort. This is also important to be aware of when petting familiar dogs since they might be having a bad day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You love your own best friend, and you use petting to show him plenty of love and affection, but even your own doggy won\u2019t find petting pleasant under some circumstances. That\u2019s why you need to understand a little bit about a dog\u2019s body language and be respectful<\/strong> of any signs of discomfort that might indicate you should back off for a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s particularly important that you watch for signs of aggression from an unfamiliar dog that shows they are not a particularly friendly dog or perhaps they\u2019re just not in the mood at the moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also vital that you pass this kind of information on to children<\/strong> so that they understand how, and where to pet dogs and when they should wait to interact with their furry friends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Do You Need to Know About the Dog\/Human Relationship?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Research into how ancestral wolves<\/a> evolved into domesticated dogs demonstrates the strength of the dog\/human bond. The bond was first formed as the result of a kind of mutualism in which wolves following and scavenging nomadic hunter-gatherer camps alerted the humans to other potentially dangerous intruders (human or animal).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Humans used that and the ability of the wolves to track prey to their advantage. Soon, they began dog training and exercising control over the breeding of wolves to make them less dangerous and more controllable. That eventually produced domesticated dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the next phase of dog evolution, humans began to exercise even more control over the breeding tendencies of their canine friends to develop distinct dog breeds. One of the things that made this easier and strengthened the dog\/human bond was that both humans and dogs process social information and body postures<\/a> in very similar ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why dogs can perceive certain information from your face and your body language, and it\u2019s also why you use their body language and facial expressions to understand their emotions. So, if you can’t read your dog’s face, what are they saying?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does a Dog\u2019s Body Language Indicate about His Emotions?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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For dog-to-dog and dog-to-human communication, body language is everything<\/a>. Let\u2019s take a look at some of the common indicators of emotions that you should be aware of in your dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tail-Wagging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is one of the most obvious body signals, and it\u2019s also one of the most commonly misinterpreted by humans. Tail-wagging simply indicates that a dog is aroused, but you have to look a little deeper to understand just how he is aroused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s actually the speed and direction of the wag in combination with the position of the tail that indicates whether the dog feels happiness, excitement, frustration, or aggression. In simple terms, the faster the tail wags, the more aroused the dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve seen those slow, side-to-side wags that move the whole body, right? That indicates your dog is relaxed. A fast, stiff, twitchy wag indicates more arousal and could mean aggression, as seen in guard dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research also shows<\/a> that the direction of the wag is important too. If your dog\u2019s tail is wagging to the right, that indicates a more positive emotion, while left means negative. The helicopter tail wag where the dog\u2019s tail goes in circles is unquestionably happiness, and that\u2019s probably what you see when you\u2019re being greeted by your dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, the position of the tail relative to the ground is important as well. The higher the tail, the more assertive the dog is being. A lowered tail, or one tucked between the legs, indicates fear or stress. A tail held high, like a flag, indicates confidence and perhaps even aggression, while a relaxed dog holds their tail in a more neutral position, although that sometimes depends on the breed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raised Hackles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This definitely indicates arousal, though not always in a negative way. Your dog might simply be intensely interested in something, though it can mean aggression. Sometimes, it\u2019s also involuntary in a way similar to goosebumps in people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cowering<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dogs that cower, hunched to the ground, are indicating fear or stress. They are trying to make themselves look smaller to show that they mean no harm. This sometimes results in them turning over on their back, which you might interpret as soliciting a belly rub, and it can be if your dog is relaxed. In other cases, however, it\u2019s a submissive gesture that may be accompanied by urination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weight Shifted Forward<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is an indication of interest, but it can also be an offensive or aggressive gesture. If it\u2019s combined with a twitchy tail wag, it\u2019s likely aggressive as the dog is attempting to look larger and more threatening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Play Bow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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This is an easy dog body language gesture to interpret. It\u2019s the one where the dog puts his chest to the ground and his rump in the air. Pups do this to initiat<\/a>e play<\/a> with other dogs and people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Paw Raise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is another frequently misunderstood signal. In pointers, like the English Setter, it indicates nearby prey, but outside of that, it typically indicates uncertainty and even insecurity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Facial Movements: Yawning, Lip-Licking, and More<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While your dog might appear to have similar facial expressions to yours, he\u2019s not using them in the same way. For example, you yawn when you\u2019re tired or bored, but when a dog yawns, he’s feeling stressed. It\u2019s one way to calm themselves down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lip-licking is another commonly misinterpreted signal in dog body language. Dogs will lick their lips after eating a meal they liked, but they also do it when they feel anxious. Sometimes, we humans like to think that means the dog wants to lick our face, but it\u2019s actually a sign of discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps the most confusing dog body language signal is smiling. It looks so cute, but it can actually be a warning. Your dog may be showing off his impressive weapons\u2014his teeth. This is particularly true when it\u2019s accompanied by growling, and the corners of his lips form a C-shape with the front teeth and canines fully displayed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, however, smiling is a submissive gesture, also known as the submissive grin. With this type of smile, your dog’ usually only shows his front teeth, not the canines. He will also typically have a loose, wiggly body posture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eye Contact<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Finally, there are your dog\u2019s eyes that can indicate his emotions and intentions. Soft eyes, which have relaxed lids and can appear like squinting, indicate happiness or calmness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hard eyes that seem very cold indicate a negative state of mind. You often see this when your dog is intently staring at something for a long time. That\u2019s typically a threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eye contact is another way dogs can show intent and emotions. A hard stare is often an indicator of aggression, whereas looking away signals submission. Stressed dogs avoid eye contact, while happy, calm dogs often squint at the object of their affection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, the whites of the eyes are another emotional signal. When you see the whites of the eyes, something known as whale-eye, that means your dog is feeling stressed. When you pet your dog on the head, you might see this indicator of discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to remember that these signals of dog body language don\u2019t happen in a vacuum, and understanding them is an important part of predicting a dog\u2019s behavior. To really know what your dog is saying, you have to look at the entire package<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You want to do that whenever you approach a new dog and try to pet it, but you also want to be aware of it when you introduce a new dog to your home<\/a> and when interacting with your best friend since you don\u2019t want him to be uncomfortable either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Should You Interact with New Dogs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first thing to think about when approaching a new dog is that the dog doesn\u2019t know your intentions, so you want to be respectful and do your best to show him you mean no harm. Of course, you should ask permission from the dog\u2019s owner before attempting to pet him. The dog owner might know of certain behavioral problems, or they might be stressed themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s tempting to reach out and pet service dogs, for example, but they\u2019re actually working. So, you need to check before reaching out to say hi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019re given permission to pet, here are a few things to do so that the dog feels comfortable and welcomes your attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Approach Slowly and Get Down<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Let the dog approach you.<\/strong> Present yourself to the dog in a nonthreatening posture. That means getting down to his level and presenting your side to him rather than facing him straight on. Then, see if he comes to you. If he doesn\u2019t, approach him slowly and wait for him to initiate physical contact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Take Your Time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Getting to know someone takes a little time. The same is true for an unfamiliar dog. He doesn\u2019t know your body movements and gestures like your own dog does, so take a little time to introduce yourself. If the dog seems relaxed and comfortable, pet them for a few seconds, but don\u2019t make any sudden movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Don\u2019t Reach Over a Dog\u2019s Head<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s the first thing many people do when interacting with an unfamiliar dog. They reach down and try to pet them on the top of their head. This is an intimidating gesture that can easily make the dog uncomfortable, especially when you\u2019re meeting him for the first time. Instead, present the back of your hand under his chin for him to smell. Dogs learn about the world at large through their sense of smell, so letting a dog sniff you<\/a> is a way for him to get to know you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Avoid Direct Eye Contact<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Direct eye contact is a challenge to a dog, just like it is for most other animals, so don\u2019t do it. You can glance at him but then look away. If you see his tail wagging loosely, that likely means he\u2019s curious and wants to interact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Watch the Dog\u2019s Reactions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is where the body language we discussed earlier comes in handy. Watch the signals the dog is giving you. If he seems uncomfortable or disinterested, don\u2019t push it. If, on the other hand, he moves closer and solicits interaction, then you can dole out the love. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Use Your Petting Manners<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Gauge your dog’s preferences. The speed and intensity of your petting can be crucial for meeting new dogs. As mentioned, never go for the top of the dog\u2019s head, but don’t rub his coat in the opposite direction of his fur or make sudden moves. That can make him feel threatened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, begin by petting him gently and slowly on his chest, under his chin, or in other areas he considers neutral. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the dog rolls over, remember that can mean discomfort and submission, so let him know you\u2019re not a threat with gentle petting and a calm, reassuring voice. Should his body language indicate the dog feels more comfortable, you might gently rub his belly and watch his reaction. If he seems to enjoy the belly rub, you can carry on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where are the Best Petting Spots?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Of course, dogs are individuals, too, so it can vary, but in general, there are some neutral areas that don\u2019t feel threatening since they\u2019re not particularly vulnerable. Here are the best places for pets that are neutral spots where dogs are OK with being pet:<\/p>\n\n\n\n