• bratwurstest@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    7 days ago

    I always put my hand down, palm up, for a unknown dog to sniff first. If a dog is not very nice, or maybe too anxious at the moment for petting, they’ll mostly ignore it.

    • piskertariot@lemmy.world
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      7 days ago

      That’s the same behaviour people with food use. So its not sniffing you, it’s sniffing for the missing treat.

      Palm down.

      • rhythmisaprancer@quokk.au
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        7 days ago

        Ya, part of the reason palm down is important is that if a dog does bite, it is structurally easier for us to turn around and away. But at that point it’s just nasty stuff and nobody wants that. We want happy dogs! So far I’ve only been bitten twice and and no skin was broken (small dogs).