This is the dog article for people who don’t like dogs, or are afraid of dogs, or just don’t want to be bothered by a dog at the moment. Arlington and the greater Washington, D.C. metro area is very dog-friendly. Just walking around town or navigating a walk to the Metro without coming into contact with a dog can be a challenge. These suggestions will help you communicate to dogs (and their humans) that you are not interested in saying hello.
No eye contact
The most important thing to know if you do not want to interact with a dog is: do not make eye contact with the dog. To a well-socialized dog, eye contact dog is an invitation to say “Hi.” Your best best is to look up and away or to look past the dog. This communicates to the dog that you are not interested in an interaction. It does not guarantee that the dog won’t still be interested in you, but it does sendsa clear signal that you are not interested in them.
Stand still, turn away slowly
Another effective way to deal with unwanted interaction is to stand still. If you are afraid of dogs, this can be especially hard, because our bodies are genetically programmed to yell and run away as an appropriate response to fear.
Unfortunately, yelling and running away is the very best ways to draw a dog’s attention and interest. If you are in a situation where a dog is very close, look away from the dog, turn slowly, take a deep breath, and slowly move away.
Advocate for yourself clearly
I would also encourage people who are afraid of dogs to be a strong advocate for themselves. If a dog is approaching, clearly state to the owner of the dog that you are not interested in interacting. This can be a simple as saying, “Excuse me, I’m afraid of dogs,” or “pardon me, please pull your dog back,” or even a loud but simple “No, thank you.” Most dog people do not want to subject non-dog people to their pups affections either.
It is very easy for dog owners to forget that not everyone loves dogs. Dog owners need to remember that not everyone wants to say hello to your gorgeous pup and to try and remember to respect everyone’s space. Common courtesy and communication can go a long way in making sure that dog and non-dog people can all get along.
Originally published on ArlNow.com, October 2014.
