NMHP Forum - How do I approach a loose dog?

Question from Julie:
What is the best way to approach a lost dog? How can I tell if it is friendly or will bite if I try to help? I recently tried to get close to a wandering dog. He appeared to have a collar on and I was hoping to try and call any number I could find. The dog was so involved in sniffing the ground, he did not pay attention as I called to him. Once I got close, he did let me briefly pet him but by the time I realized he was friendly he ran away. How can I handle this better next time?

Answer from Kat:
Your initial approach should be to kneel, pat your leg, and call the dog using a happy "come-here-bay-beee" tone in your voice. The dog will probably do one of three things - come wiggling up to you, freeze and look concerned or defensive, or bolt off to move away from you. If the dog comes to you, then you are set. If the dog bolts and runs off, then you will have a difficult time catching it and you might actually exacerbate the problem and cause the dog to run right out into traffic - so depending upon the terrain, it might be best to back off if the dog bolts. But if the dog freezes and looks concerned while watching you, then you can work slowly to gain its confidence. To do this, you must present yourself in a non-threatening manner and give the dog a reason to want to approach you.

To learn how to present yourself in a non-threatening manner, I strongly suggest that you read the book and/or purchase the video Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas (visit http://www.TuridRugaas.com). Turid has studied how dogs communicate with each other, in particular how they calm each other down when afraid or nervous. Things like yawning and making an in-direct approach and how to simulate like you are sniffing the ground (which will evoke curiosity and acceptance from a dog that is watching you) are vital skills for you to learn. Besides, the video is fascinating and I think that anyone who encounters a stray dog should have this valuable training.

To give the dog a reason to want to approach you, I strongly recommend having odiferous dog treats (dried liver, etc.) in your car at all times. This will only work some of the time - but it always good to give it a try. Sometimes the dog will panic from the action of your swinging your arm in the air, so turn around and toss the treat over your shoulder so the dog can't see your hand movement. Of course, if you have access to a wiggly friendly dog that you can put onto a long leash, you can use that dog as a "magnet" to attract and distract the dog. But this would require quick action on your part - if you run into the house to get your dog, you might come out to find that the loose dog is already a block away! And finally, I strongly suggest that you keep a Snappy Snare (65" vinyl - not the stainless steel) handy - maybe in your car. Snappy Snares are a flexible device that will enable you to capture a loose dog if you can get close enough to it. You can purchase Snappy Snares from ACES at http://www.animal-care.com or from Campbell Pet Company at http://www.campbellpet.com

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Posted on SHARE Yahoo group June 10, 2005