Today I’m hiking for myself. I’m not carrying anyone else’s discarded blue plastic poop bags out (Besides mine and my dogs). I’m not picking up anyone else’s trash. I’m certainly not breaking down anyone else’s fire pits. I spend ninety percent of my life entertaining other people and cleaning up the once pristine forest. As a Professional Dirt Walker, this Alpine Adventure Enabler simply needs a Monday off. Today is my day for me. My self-care does not involve picking up other adventurers’ shit. Also, I’m so not in the mood to school strangers on how to behave around dogs.
So yesterday, I totally mocked this lady driving in a Jeep by herself and wearing a facemask. I may have said, ” This is the kind of Jeep owner who never, ever drives her Jeep off-road.” But then I thought about it and I realized I am going tent camping for three nights with the smelliest dog ever. Maybe I need a gas mask for sleeping at night! You know what they say, People in glass houses have the smelliest dogs.
I was not always an expert on how to behave around dogs and I’m still not. But I have a friend who is! The doggo genius Noah. I have learned so much from all these years of friendship with Noah. Everyone should have a friend who knows what they are talking about when it comes to dog behavior and how to behave around dogs. I usually tell strangers, I’m perfectly friendly, also, as long as you stay out of my space. I actually loved the pandemic; I wish people would stay six feet away from me at all times! My rescue dog feels the same.
Dog etiquette for adults
Come on, bro, you are a fifty-year-old man, surely you can adult around other people’s pets, right? Was I saying this recently on a hiking trail or to a family member? You decide. On our recent camping trip to the Eastern Sierra, this old dude literally told me, “Well, you shouldn’t take your dog out in public if you don’t want strangers to pet her!” Listen, bro, nothing is stopping you from going to your local pound and rescuing a pup in need. 3.2 million dogs enter U.S. shelters annually. Don’t blame me for you not having a dog!
He told me and yes, he was joking, but also lurching towards my pup with his arms outstretched, screaming, “I did this whole hike just to pet your dog.” Then get your own damn dog buddy, if you need to seek the love of a canine that badly!
I then had a group of teenage bro’s who literally swarmed my dog as they were passing us and they all tried to gang pet her (Is that PC? Can I say that?) And then one of them told me, “Thank you for your service.” I’m assuming because I was wearing my camo Saratoga Springs hat. Dude. Bro. I know you are literally still a man-child, and it’s a lovely sentiment to hand out, but not every person wearing camo is in the Armed Forces.
Dogs don’t come with instructions
Let’s just get this out of the way: Not every dog wants to be your bestie, Sally. I don’t care how much your aunt’s Pomeranian loves you or that your spirit animal is apparently “Golden Retriever Energy.” If you treat every strange dog like it’s your long-lost therapy animal, don’t be shocked when you get a side of teeth with your unsolicited affection.
I truly understand not knowing how to behave around dogs, as when I was young, I was a cat person. I didn’t understand dogs. I didn’t know some dogs don’t like to be petted. I was bitten twice in my early twenties by two different dogs, both named Lucy. Both of those dog bites could have been avoided if I had just not reached out to pet a strange dog I did not know.
Don’t Stare, Don’t Touch, Don’t Be Weird
This isn’t a middle school gym class. Eye contact with a strange dog isn’t confidence—it’s a threat. Many rescue dogs (you know, the kind that were literally abused by garbage humans) see direct eye contact as a red flag, like a “Hey, this person might be the next person to toss me in a dumpster” kind of vibe.
Here’s what you do: Ignore the dog. I know, shocking. IGNORE IT. Let the dog make the first move, like it’s a Victorian-era dating ritual.
No touchy!
Think every dog wants to be your best friend? Think again. Learn how to act like a functioning adult around dogs you don’t know—before someone loses a finger. How to behave around dogs is more than just keeping your hands to yourself.
No, do not stick your hand out for the dog to sniff. I don’t know where this myth came from—probably some boomer-era PSA starring a golden retriever and a kid in jorts—but it’s wrong. Totally, dangerously wrong. To a traumatized or cautious dog, that’s like someone running up to you with a high-five and a tax audit at the same time. It’s not an invitation, it’s a threat.
I’ve explained this to my dad at least twenty times. And yet? Every visit: here comes the outstretched hand of doom like he’s auditioning to be bitten in the sequel to Marley & Me.
How to teach kids to be around dogs safely
When I was a kid, I may not have been a dog person but I grew up in a mountain neighborhood where all the dogs ran loose; it was a mountain thing. It just so happened that all these dogs were friendly. My uncle also bred massive-sized mastiffs. My first dog memory was wrestling with the huge puppies. I remember they were such gentle giants, I could put my own hand in their giant mouths. They would just play, not bite. But that is not every dog!
Children are adorable, sure. But when it comes to dogs they don’t know? They are chaos goblins with no survival instincts.
Here’s how you raise a not-bitten child:
Step One: Tell them to pretend the dog is invisible.
Step Two: Repeat Step One.
Step Three: Remind t
hem that running toward a dog is not an Olympic sport, it’s an express train to the ER.
Step Four: Drill into their heads that just because a dog is cute doesn’t mean it wants their sticky fruit snack hands in its face.
You don’t want your kid to be “that kid” whose parents end up suing the rescue dog’s owner because little Brayden tried to hug a snarling pit-lab mix like it was a Build-a-Bear.
Adopt. Don’t shop.
Every year, millions of dogs are surrendered or euthanized in shelters, many just because they had one negative reaction to a clueless human’s bad behavior. Dogs get labeled “aggressive” when 
really, they were scared, cornered, or defending themselves from Todd’s jazz hands.
If you’re desperate to pet something furry, here’s a wild idea: go to your local shelter, adopt a misunderstood pup, and put in the work to help them trust you again. You can pet them all you want—In your own home.
You wouldn’t grope someone at the airport (I mean, I hope you wouldn’t), so don’t ambush a dog with unwanted touching either. Ask the owner. Read the dog’s body language. And if you don’t know how to do that? Google it before you end up Googling “do rabies shots hurt.”
Dog Etiquette & Trail Safety FAQ
Is it safe to stick your hand out for a strange dog to sniff?
No, this is a dangerous and incredibly common myth. While boomer-era PSAs taught people to offer an outstretched hand of doom, to a cautious, anxious, or traumatized rescue dog, that hand looks like an incoming threat or a space invasion. Reaching directly into a strange dog’s personal bubble can easily trigger a defensive bite. Keep your hands to yourself and let the dog initiate interaction if it feels safe.
How should adults behave when encountering an unfamiliar dog on a hiking trail?
The absolute best thing you can do as a functioning adult is to ignore the dog completely. Do not lurch toward them with outstretched arms, do not gang-pet them in groups, and never assume a dog is public property just because it’s out on a public trail. Always respect the handler’s boundaries, read the dog’s body language, and ask for permission before assuming every pup wants to be your long-lost therapy animal.
Why do some rescue dogs react negatively to direct eye contact from strangers?
In the canine world, direct and prolonged eye contact isn’t a sign of confidence—it is an explicit challenge or threat. For dogs that have been previously abused, cornered, or neglected by garbage humans, staring sets off major red flags. To avoid making a nervous pet defensive, drop your gaze, look away, and give them plenty of physical space to pass by safely.
What are the most important rules for teaching children how to behave around dogs safely?
Kids can easily act like chaos goblins without survival instincts around pets. To protect them from a traumatic dog bite encounter, drill these safety steps into their heads:
- Pretend the dog is invisible: Teach them to ignore the dog and pass by calmly.
- No sprinting or screaming: Running toward a dog isn’t an Olympic sport; it can kick-start a dog’s prey drive or terrify them into a defensive state.
- Keep hands clear: Remind them that just because a canine looks incredibly cute or fluffy doesn’t mean it wants sticky hands shoved into its face for an uninvited hug.
How many dogs enter United States animal shelters every year?
An estimated 3.2 million dogs enter shelters across the United States on an annual basis. Unfortunately, completely innocent dogs often end up surrendered or labeled as aggressive simply because they were cornered, scared, or reacting defensively to a clueless human’s bad boundaries. If you are desperate for canine affection, consider adopting a shelter animal and putting in the work to build a real relationship at home.
Comments
Bwahahaha! I’m at the opposite end of the spectrum. I was a bit traumatized as a kid when my older sister was bit in the face by my aunt’s dog and I was much too little to know it was my sister’s fault and that she would be just fine after her ER trip to get stitches. Ever since I have been petrified of dogs. So I am at the point where I am so sick of hikers who claim their dog is friendly as said dog tries to jump on me, sniff my crotch, or otherwise invade my personal space– even better when they bark or look like they want to bite my head off instead. If you can’t keep your dog near you please keep it on a leash! I’m sorry your poor dog is so overwhelmed with attention. That has to be so overwhelming for him (her?).
Author
Oh yeah, I’ve had friends before who are terrified of dogs so we are very respectful of other hikers who do not want dogs in their faces and there are so many dog owners who simply ignore the fact that not everybody wants a dog all over them. I think coming from a none dog lifestyle, I tend to get that more then a lot of other dog owners.
We have 2 dogs – one is super chill and friendly, my older rescue has lots of trauma so lots of anxiety and is a little reactive IF people he doesn’t know touch him. When people walk up to us know, we say “he is not friendly” – he actually is but random strangers touching him freaks him out and he has sometimes growled a bit. I never ever approach someone elses dog, even if they are off leash and run to me, I avoid touching them. It just feels safer for everyone.
Author
I so agree! Experiencing life with a dog with anxiety has changed me as a pet owner.
We do a lot of hikes and one will always find people with dogs on the paths. I try to stay clear or dogs at all times, unless the owner comes up to me and say it’s OK to pet. Even then, I am not very comfortable with it.
Thank you for linking to SSPS 371. See you again Monday
Congratulations, me again, popping in to let you know that your post will be featured this Monday at SSPS 372. Thanks for sharing.
Author
Thanks for the feature!
Great post! This is such an important topic. People need to be more mindful of how they approach dogs and understand that not every dog wants to be petted, especially rescue dogs. Thanks for the helpful guide and for advocating for dog adoption!
Author
Thanks for the great comment! Yes, recue dogs can have their quirks and more people need to be aware.
Thank you for sharing this post with us this week. I currently own three dogs, one of whom is a 100-pound German Shepherd who is gorgeous and gets lots of attention when we take him out. Unfortunately, not everyone understands he is a “working” dog who thinks his job is to protect us. We always tell people he is not aggressive but protective, so ignore him and talk to us first so he will relax. I agree that people need to be more sensitive to a dog’s need for space. And as the dog’s owner, we need to be their voice to let others know it is not okay to approach them. Thanks again, and this post will be a feature this week. #HomeMattersParty
Author
Thank you very much for the lovely comment. And yes, it’s really frustrating, especially when it comes from other dog owners, and they don’t know how to act around other people’s dogs. I think it would be amazing if my dog loved other people and wanted to be snuggled by everybody, but she’s just not that kind of dog. And thank you for the feature of this week,I trulyappreciate that.