ALWAYS ABOUT PREPARATION

The very first thing a person must do is to never approach an unfamiliar Dog as if one already has a relationship with him or her. Dogs have a different culture, so to speak, and the rules of the pack and establishment of power hierarchies are still important (in our house’s case, my mother is the undisputed alpha female – after all, she is the one who cares for all our canine family members).

If you know one of the Dog’s family members, then half your problems are solved; if they see that you are “one of the pack,” then you will eventually be welcomed as another family member, if not immediately so.

However, if you do not know who the owner is or, worse, the unfamiliar Dog is from the streets, then one should be incredibly careful.

CALM INTRODUCTIONS

One should start by simply presenting oneself in a calm, not exactly disinterested, manner, while looking at the canine every now and then.

NO AGGRESSIVE EYE CONTACT

Avoid direct and prolonged eye contact, as this may be a sign of aggression for some Dogs.

SLOWLY BUT SURELY

Use slow movements, as a sudden action can also trigger aggression or fear, which can ruin your chances for befriending. If you do it right, the Dog will slowly approach you and try to start contact.