15.11.25 Dog Behaviour. How to get dogs to like you. You know those people, the ones that don’t seem to give a bar about dogs but dogs fawn all over them, there’s definitely something to it.

I’m at the other end of the spectrum as far as passion for dogs but I’ve learnt a thing or two and I don’t know how many clients have said to me, ‘Wow, such and such doesn’t normally like strangers’ when their dogs have sidled up to me.

Let’s look at this further -

For me, I’m standing up and side on to the dog (here I'm not risking being bold over and I'm in a position of authority too) whilst giving them space - they then have more of an ability to move away if they feel the need.

I’m as still as possible (those who know me, know that I’m quite animated - talking with my hands normally, so this takes some restraint).

I do not make eye contact (for quite a while actually). I focus on the owner or another point I have chosen. With this, I am neither a threat nor a push over.

I allow the dog to decide to sniff me first (if they want to at all). I never EVER offer the back of my hand (as seems to be a common practice). You never really know a dogs past at this point and they could have been hit with a hand. You are encroaching into the dogs space also.

Finally as mentioned, dogs just ‘hang with me’ at their owners home. The last signal as part of this, was them coming up and nudging me for a pat. I was accepted, Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant and Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend. For more dog behavioural and training tips, advice and suggestions, why not check out my book in association with HarperCollins ‘Big Dog, Small Dog - Make your dog happier by being understood’ thank you 🐾 08.11.25

Dog Behaviour. Dog Training. The treatment of the large breed pup versus the smaller breed pup.

I've found over the years in this consultancy, that larger breed pups are held to a different standard than the equivalent aged smaller dogs. (As a side note, this absolutely happens with taller young children growing up too - I was once asked "How is school going for him?" about our 3-year old boy at the time).

The bigger breed dogs typically reach social maturity much later than their smaller counterparts - with a large breed dog perhaps not reaching this developmental milestone till around 4 years of age!

I feel we see big dogs and lump them together with a high standard of behaviour expected, when really, we could be looking at a young individual - certainly in the social sense and the bar may be set to high for this youthful individual. This impacts our tolerance and patience with their training and so subsequently training progress.

If you can, query deeper, if you have a larger breed dog, check in with yourself, is your dog still a pup (requiring understanding) in their big, gorgeous body? Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant & Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend. For more dog behavioural and training tips, advice and suggestions, why not check out my book in association with HarperCollins ‘Big Dog, Small Dog - Make your dog happier by being understood’ thank you 🐾