It made
for a lot of cute jokes about being "biting
mad" over everything from his master's imminent
departure to liberal media bias. But there's nothing
funny about the bite that Barney, President George W.
Bush's Scottish terrier, gave a Reuters reporter
recently.
Had
Barney been a Rottweiler or - heaven forfend! - a pit
bull, nobody would be laughing.
(And it
turns out Barney is an unrepentant recidivist: In
September, he chomped Boston Celtics PR rep Heather
Walker when the team visited the White House, and
there is a standing order that tour-takers are not
permitted in the Rose Garden if Barney is meandering
outside. Ankles, watch out!)
Barney
took responsibility for the Reuters incident, issuing
an apology to political reporter Joe Decker on his own
letterhead.
The
First Dog's transgressions seem a timely prompt for
some dog-greeting tips:
Get
permission
Decker
did ask Barney's handler if he could pet the dog, but
many passersby do not. The verbal exchange also lets
the dog know that his owner knows and accepts you, and
so he should, too.
But
actually wait to hear the answer: No means no.
Approach
obliquely
In
polite canine society, approaching head-on is a
serious faux pas, and one that can trigger
defensiveness. Instead, approach from an angle, always
making sure, though, that the dog can see you.
No
staring contests
Similarly,
making direct eye contact - and, worse, maintaining it
- communicates a significant challenge in canine body
language. Instead, use signals that communicate calm
and friendliness: eye-blinking, offering your profile
(more of that oblique stuff), even yawning. Don't hold
your breath.
Learn
to read a dog
Though
seemingly subtle to humans, canine body language
expresses precisely what a dog is feeling. A wagging
body, loose lips, relaxed ears and "soft"
eyes mean "come hither." In turn, a tensed
body, braced legs, stiffly wagging tail and flattened
ears are not welcoming.
No
aerial assaults
"Never,
ever swoop down over a dog. No dog, no matter its
size, likes that," admonishes Darlene Arden,
author of "Rover, Get Off Her Leg: Pet Etiquette
for the Dog who Pees on Your Rug, Steals the Roast and
Poops in Improper Places" (Health Communications,
$14.95). Indeed, Decker's approach to Barney was
lightning fast and, from the dog's perspective,
totally unanticipated.
No head
pats
"Never
immediately bring your hand down on the dog's
head," Arden warns. "From the dog's
perspective, this looks like he's about to be hit or
have something land on him. And he is going to have
something land on him - your hand!"
Be
underhanded
The
safest and least provocative "hello" you can
give a dog is offering your knuckles to sniff, with a
closed fist, "so you don't risk losing
fingers," Arden recommends.
After
the dog has sniffed your knuckles, "you can start
to slowly scratch the dog under the chin," she
continues. "Be gentle and move slowly. If the dog
accepts this, then you can slowly move your hand
around to scratch behind the ears."
Slow
and steady
Dogs do
not like quick, jerky movements. Try to approximate
the fluid movements of your hands underwater. Be
gentle, but not hesitant or unsure: This is just as
worrying to an insecure dog.
No
kidding
Small
children, with their sharp, birdlike movements, can be
unsettling to dogs; watch the canine body language
carefully. Also, be prepared to quickly pre-empt any
hugging or hanging around the neck: Though this is a
natural expression of affection for humans, it is a
common aggression trigger in dogs.
Think
calm
This is
tough to do if you are nervous, but dogs can pick up
on your body English, breathing patterns, even the
pheromones you emit, and respond accordingly. If you
are not comfortable with the idea of petting a dog -
any dog - then don't.
___
On
track toward outdoor safety
It's
hunting season, and you just never know. You can keep
your pooch visible - and safe - when camping, hiking
or jogging with Ruff Wear's new Track Jacket.
Lightweight and blaze orange, the water-resistant
jacket has reflective trim, and a light loop that can
be used to clip on a safety light (such as Ruff Wear's
$12.95 Beacon). Available for $29.95 from ruffwear.com
or call 888-783-3932 or 541-388-1821.
Arrivederci,
aroma
Ah, the
wafting smell of ripened Doritos. Whatever you liken
that familiar less-than-fresh doggy odor to, the
reality is that it clings - to furniture, rugs and dog
beds. Febreze spritzes aside, one option is an
antimicrobial bed. Petmate's large Microban pet bed
has terrycloth and suede styling, and built-in
microbe-resistance that defies even the washing
machine. There are two versions available for around
$50 at Amazon.com.