If your dog meets the criteria below, you should actively prevent others from petting or approaching it.
Shy, anxious, nervous, reactive, barky, snappy dogs should always be protected by being approached by other people (especially kids) and other dogs and dog walkers.
To do so, you can use visual messages to ask people for space, not petting your dog, and tell them your dog is shy and anxious. In this article, I will give you different options that can help reduce unwanted interactions.
Patches & tags with DO NOT PET
This is not a 100% guarantee that nobody will touch your dog (some people miss the sigh), but a bright harness and a bright patch reduced the issue for my dog, who likes to roast like this on the beach or in public spaces but gets startled and triggered when strangers wake her up or approach her.
Do not pet or do not touch signs, which come in different forms. The most crucial part is choosing one that is high contrast, has a concise message, and is straightforward to read (no one would read a complicated sign).
The signs must be easily spotted, so if you need to use more than one, do it!
Where to buy:
– the yellow hanging tag.
– black DO NOT PET patch
– red bandana please do not pet
– yellow no hands oval patch
– red patch “stop do not pet”
– yellow round patch “please don’t pet”
Leash sleeve with GIVE SPACE signage
Large leash sleeve with custom signage like “no kids” or a standard ones like “give us space”. Make sure it is easily visible (some sleeves on Amazon are too narrow and hard to read).
Ideally, order a custom one, for example, from this Etsy store. (I am not affiliated with this store, but they seem to have good signs and great reviews)
Where to buy
– yellow leash sleeve with signs “do not pet”
– green leash sleeves “i am shy” “do not pet”
– leash sleeve “need space” / “not friendly” / reactive
– “nervous pet” leash sleeve
– red leash sleeve “need space”
Collars and leashes with imprinted NERVOUS DOG sign
This can be hit or miss. Not many people would pay attention to what a leash or collar says. I would suggest other options, but I would still mention this one.
The collars/leashes above are from https://myanxiousdog.co.uk, but you can find them in other places, too.
Where to buy:
– Nervous dog leash
– DO NOT PET leash & collar
– Nervous dog collar
– I BITE dog collar
Yellow NERVOUS DOG vest
Vests would probably have the best visibility compared to patches, tags, and leash signage. That might be your best bet if you want to prevent people from approaching you.
Where to buy:
– PLEASE GIVE ME SPACE vest
– IGNORE ME vest
– red vest DO NOT APPROACH
Always advocate for your dog.
Last but not least, advocate for your dog. Don’t be ashamed or uncomfortable assertively asking people not to approach or touch you.
The good news is that the more you do it, the better your dog’s welfare will be, and the easier it will be for you to pass on this unpleasant message to others.
Few tips:
- Use your hand (open palm facing the person) to show them that they are not allowed to approach non-verbally
- Decide in advance what exactly you will say. Choose a concise phrase; don’t go into a long explanation.
- Ideally, choose something that will make people want to retreat, for example: “My dog bites; please don’t approach” or “My dog doesn’t like people, don’t pet her”
- Practice saying it loud, quickly, and clearly. This will build muscle memory, and you will not stumble or feel shy about saying it.
- Prevent things from happening in the first place: If you see somebody approaching you, turn around and quickly walk away; most people would not pursue you when they see you back. But if you face them, they might consider you are inviting the approach.
- Don’t worry about what people will think of you or your dog, and don’t worry about being a ruse; it doesn’t matter. What matters is keeping your dog calm.
- If your dog is uncomfortable, take them out of the situation: walk away, take them to a different room, etc
Yellow Dog Project
There is a great niche initiative (I wish it grew bigger) to mark shy/anxious/nervous dogs with a yellow leash or yellow ribbon. SO other pet guardians will instantly know this dog should not be approached. Putting a yellow leash on your dog right now will not make a big difference, but it will benefit the initiative to grow. Eventually, it will be something widely recognized. So try it!
The Yellow Dog Project initiative, started by dog trainer Tara Palardy in June 2012, is now used in more than 40 countries, including some parts of Canada. Read more.
