GOOD REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD NOT PAT A DOG ON TOP OF THE HEAD.

Do you like to be patted on the head by a stranger? I'll bet you would cower or cringe. Having someone reach out and pat you on the head, no matter how lovingly, is not something most of us enjoy. It’s annoying at best and sometimes painful. And we really don’t want the hands of strangers reaching towards our face. If someone were to stretch their hand toward your face, I sense your reaction would be to pull your head back and lean away, and get a little tense about the invasion of personal space. Yet most humans think that dogs like being patted on the head. The reality is that while many dogs will put up with this if it’s someone they know and trust, most dogs don’t enjoy it. You may notice that even the loving family dog might lean away slightly when you reach for their face to pet them. Most dogs will let you because you’re the boss, but they don't really like it. It’s a personal space issue for dogs just as much as it is for us. That's why responsible parents should teach their children to gently pet a dog’s back or rear, but don’t pat, and definitely don’t go for the dog's face. If you really want to reward your dog for being wonderful, don’t bang on their head, but give them a rub on their rear end right by the tail. They will be pleased by that.

So many times I see dog looking anxious because a well meaning stranger has lunged at them to give them a pat on the head. To a dog this movement makes them think you are going to harm then so they will either cringe, pull away, snarl or even snap at you.

The best way to approach a dog is to first hold out your hand with an open palm towards the dog's face. This gives them the opportunity to sniff you and decide if you are friend or foe. The dog will respond by wagging and if it likes you, it will give you a little lick.  Then you can tickle it under its chin - they love being touched on the chest - or you can give it a pat -pat on the head or a tickle on the rump. Dogs love it when a human gets down to their level and makes a fuss of them.

I always tell children to let the dog smell their hand first before touching them.  A child who has not been educated in dog handling will rush up to a dog, all guns blazing to try and give it a pat and this action results in a snarl and a nip and parents who screech "Your dog bit my child. Look what it's done. It should be wearing a muzzle! It's a dangerous dog!"

Many times, in crowded places, a child will pull a dog's tail or try and pat it from the back thus startling the dog into a defensive action. Result - kid screams in fright, dog barks, idiot parents start yelling at the dog owner and pandemonium ensues.

So, don't stand over a dog and try and pat them on the head. Stand besides the dog to appear less threatening. If I were a dog (oh! alright bitch then), I would think you were a giant about to step on my head and possibly hurt me.

This 'n that .....................just some little known facts.
Animal names are confusing things. In fact, to foreigners, the English language is confusing. Dragonflies don't breathe fire, I don't know of any Bulldogs, who, hate the colour red, and Ladybirds aren't birds. Some aren't even ladies.  In this age of gender neutral, some are lady men.  Even more confusing is computer-speak. My husband has put me right on the acronym HTML. I always thought it meant "Horse's Tails Make Lemonade." It translates into something very boring. So now you know!

                                    Yaay! cat gets its revenge on two dogs who are hassling it.

                                  That's it for this month's blog. Next one will be in November.

                                                                    Dawn ("")