Whilst all dogs are different and many enjoy doing different activities, there are specific things you can do and ways in which you can act in order to persuade dogs to like you. This may take a bit of experimenting as, just like humans, dogs will have different preferences. But some mannerisms, such as being calm and caring, will never be disregarded. You need to be very careful when interacting with nervous dogs and be aware of when to stop attempting to interact – giving the dog space is very important. Building trust is a very gradual thing and, if rushed, a bonding session could suddenly become a very dangerous situation.
Table of contents
- 1 – Consistency is key.
- 2 – Learn to understand canine behaviour.
- 3 – Play with them if they enjoy being played with.
- 4 – Respect the dog; remember, not all pets enjoy being cuddled or fussed.
- 5 – Make your behaviour dog friendly.
- 6 – Rewarding good behaviour is a great way for dogs to learn what kind of behaviour it is that you want them to display.
- 7 – Greetings are important.
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Making your own dog like you and making someone else’s dog like you require very different skills. But both require patience. Your own dog will gradually get to know you better and your relationship will build as you learn more and more about each other. With dogs you have never met before, or rarely see, you need to be much more alert and understanding of their behaviour. No interaction should be rushed. You must respect their behaviour and react to their warning signs of fear or anxiousness.
1 – Consistency is key.
If you are living with a dog, play a key role in their routine. Pets like routine, so keeping their playtime, feeding time and walk time similar each day is important. Being reliable is very important for your pet and every regular event in their day is something they look forward to.
Maintain a specific, constant tone of voice around them. Many pets do not like shouting or screaming. If they have been mistreated, loud, sudden noises may remind them of previous negative situations. Pets have very good memory and have the ability to read human behaviour well. Avoid displaying angry, aggressive behaviour in front of your pet.
2 – Learn to understand canine behaviour.
Recognising the different behaviours which show discomfort and anxiety are vital. If a dog shows any of the signs below, stop doing what you are doing and give the dog space. You should never punish a dog for showing these signs. These behaviours are warning signs and we must react to them and stop provoking this behaviour from progressing into aggression.
Dog behaviour to look out for:
Dogs licking their lips, growling, barking, snarling, laying over onto their backs, tucking their tail between their legs, panting, avoiding eye contact.
Signs a dog is happy and trusting include:
Happily taking food from you, walking up to you, wagging tail, alert ears
3 – Play with them if they enjoy being played with.
The latter aspect of this point is vital, as playing with a dog who does not want to be played with may result in aggression and pets becoming wound up. Getting to know a dog and learning about their history before attempting to play with them is important. Playing games with a set end or goal is important. Playing with a laser can become very aggravating, for example, because they will never catch the prey.
Compare this to something like fetch or a tug of war, the end of the game is clear. Playing with hard toys can be a good way to knock plaque off your dog’s teeth whilst also building trust in a friendly environment making the scenario positive. Different dogs will have different temperaments and some dogs may behave more aggressively to certain genders or ages of people.
4 – Respect the dog; remember, not all pets enjoy being cuddled or fussed.
Dogs can like you without showing signs of affection towards you, the exact same way humans can. There are many different ways of showing affection and often a dog’s breed will play a key role in how they articulate love. Some dogs may show it by guarding you, sitting by you, sitting near the door on watch, bringing you toys or simply acting more relaxed in your presence. Knowing how to act around these types of dogs is important.
5 – Make your behaviour dog friendly.
Do not look dogs directly in the eye, this is intimidating to many dogs and could escalate any anxious feelings into aggressive actions. Allow dogs to approach you first. This puts them in control of the situation. Once the dog does approach you, allow them to sniff you keeping your hands by your side. This helps the dog to feel as though they are in control and your stance is in no way threatening. You should always make sure you have your knees off the floor so that if you do need to move away from them quickly, you are able to.
6 – Rewarding good behaviour is a great way for dogs to learn what kind of behaviour it is that you want them to display.
Positive reinforcement has been shown to be much more successful in achieving a specific behaviour compared to punishing behaviour you do not want to see. You can reward the dog by giving them some fuss following positive behaviour. The rewards could also include giving treats, love and attention. Clicker training could be used alongside positive reinforcement training.
7 – Greetings are important.
When you first greet a dog, you are both assessing each other’s behaviour to see how to act and react. Often dogs will mimic a similar behaviour to you upon greeting, for example, if you enter a room very excited and looking for attention, the dog will probably come and greet you, seeking love and affection from you too. Understanding that to a nervous dog, a bubbly, grand entrance into their space may feel very intrusive and you should refrain from displaying this type of behaviour.
To conclude, each dog needs to be treated according to their personality and preferences. Learning how to analyse their behaviour and giving yourself enough time to do this is important.
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