Why you should approach a dog from the side, not head-on: a common mistake people make
Seeing a cute and playful dog on the street or at a party, many people cannot deny themselves the pleasure of petting or even hugging the pet.
But the attempt is not always successful. Another possible scenario is that a person approaches a dog, and the dog… starts barking loudly. Or even tries to attack.
Why does this happen? For what reason does an animal that was initially calm and willing to interact suddenly start behaving aggressively?
Most likely, the person approached the pet from the wrong side.
How to Approach a Dog Properly
It is advisable to approach an unfamiliar dog from the side. In this case, the four-legged friend will remain calm and will not see any threat.
But if you start approaching the dog head-on and also look the pet straight in the eyes, the animal may perceive what is happening as a dangerous situation.
It is possible that the dog will come to the conclusion that the person is ready to attack him. In such a situation, the pet may "activate" a defensive reaction.
Therefore, it is better not to take risks and find a way to approach the dog from the side.
And it is important to remember that you should be careful with unfamiliar animals. If you see a dog without an owner on the street, it is better not to approach it at all.
If the dog has an owner, then first you need to ask the latter for permission to pet the pet.
