Dogs don't shake hands like people do, they use their nose to say hello. So, hold your hand in a fist so they can approach and sniff if they choose. Don't thrust your hand at the dog. They can smell you just fine from a distance, and the sudden movement could startle them.
The dog word for “hello” is woof (pronounced wuf, wüf, and sometimes wrüf, depending on breed and regional dialect).
When dogs don't feel able to move away – which they may not when in physical contact with us – they may resort to telling us to back off in less desirable ways. Give dogs a way of “opting in” to social contact by using the “3-second rule” of petting. Pet for no more than three seconds, then stop.
Common greeting behaviours include smiling, licking, leaning, jumping and excessive tail wagging. This means the dog is friendly and excited to greet their owners or visitors. While behaviours like jumping and licking can be entertaining and loving, it's not always welcomed.
Communication. Dogs lick people to communicate but not all licks mean the same thing! Licking can be a sign of greeting. A lick upon your return may be a way of saying, “Hello, I'm super happy you are home!” or “Hey, check out the new hole I've chewed in your slippers!”
Dogs don't shake hands like people do, they use their nose to say hello. So, hold your hand in a fist so they can approach and sniff if they choose. Don't thrust your hand at the dog. They can smell you just fine from a distance, and the sudden movement could startle them.
One of the common ways your dog will try to say sorry is by making “puppy eyes” or tucking its tail between its legs. Avoiding eye contact and lowering their ears are also common ways for dogs to apologize. They also watch for your reaction.
Licking is a natural and instinctive behaviour to dogs. For them it's a way of grooming, bonding, and expressing themselves. Your dog may lick you to say they love you, to get your attention, to help soothe themselves if they're stressed, to show empathy or because you taste good to them!
Dogs have a unique way of saying 'thank you' to their humans from licking, sniffing to cuddling. "Dogs are often called man's best friend for a good reason.
The sniff test for a dog is his way of shaking hands. Before any petting gets underway, let the dog sniff your hand. Hold your hand out flat to the dog and let him approach you. If he gets a sniff and wants to move forward, go ahead and pet him.
When reaching to the pet, do so with a flat hand palm up and reach under the chin or to the side of the neck or shoulder. Reaching over top of a dog's head can be threatening and even the nicest dogs can take offense to a hand on top of their head.
If when you're approaching a dog they start to turn away or look tense, it's very likely that they are not comfortable having you in their space. It's best to stop if the dog displays any signs that they're uncomfortable.
If they miss you more than they can bear, your pooch will offer you a few telltale signs. Chewing on your possessions, crying when you leave, and staring at the door after you've gone are all key indicators.
Nothing tugs at the heartstrings like a dog staring at the door, waiting for their favorite person to come home. Your dog might watch the door after you leave in the hopes that you'll be coming back through it soon.
Social dogs naturally jump up when they greet people. Most dogs are shorter than the people they are greeting and jumping up brings them closer to face level.
Once your dog has calmed down and has their emotions under control, now it's ok to greet! Note that if it takes 20 minutes for your dog to calm down, then you will be ignoring your dog for 20 minutes before you can consider engaging with them.
Rub Your Dog's Ears
Your dog's ears are loaded with nerve endings. When you rub them, they send signals to the brain that do everything from relax your dog to increase her production of endorphins, the feel-good hormone. To rub her ears, start at the base of the ear (closer to the head) and grasp it firmly but gently.
Experts in dog behavior believe that, in general, dogs do not like being embraced. However, every dog has a unique personality. Some may dislike hugs more strongly than others, and some may actually adore them. The closest thing our furry family members do to a hug is something referred to as 'standing over'.