Q&A for How to Look Friendly to Dogs

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Question

How can I make a dog comfortable around me?

Elisabeth Weiss
Professional Dog Trainer
Elisabeth Weiss is a Professional Dog Trainer and owner of Dog Relations NYC, a dog training service in New York, New York. Elisabeth relies on science-based, force-free, and reward-based techniques. Elisabeth offers behavior training, puppy manners, body awareness and injury prevention, diet, exercise and dog nutrition services. Her work has been featured in New York Magazine and on the Dog Save the People podcast. She also trained all the dogs in the movie "Heart of a Dog" by Laurie Anderson that features Elisabeth's journey with Laurie Anderson's and Lou Reed's dog Lolabelle and how her passion for playing the keyboards played a significant role in improving her quality of life after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Elisabeth Weiss

Professional Dog Trainer

Expert Answer

Don't impose yourself on the dog —don't touch their head immediately, and don't stare at them. Stay back and let them come to you if they want to, and give them the choice not to interact if they don't want to.

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Question

I saw this dog running out on the road. I told the owner and they have done nothing about it so the dog keeps escaping. I will call the RSPCA but I need to get friendly with the dog to do this. Any advice?

Community Answer

The first thing you don't want to do is call the dog over. If you call it or run to it, the thing they are most likely going to do is run away. Now, most dogs aren't like this, some are nice and go to the nearest person they see, but that happens 30% of the time. If you see the dog walk by, don't look or try to touch the dog. They will most likely bark, but once they know who you are they will start to warm up to you.

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Question

How do I approach a fearful dog to take it outside to go potty? We can pet him but he takes off if we try to pick him up.

Violet Michell

Community Answer

Try and put a harness or lead on the dog. If the dog is not yours, do not try and do anything with it. If it is yours, give it food, and give it plenty of pats. Eventually it will be able to be picked up. Let it into the garden/yard to potty; you should do not have to pick it up or force it to go outside.

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Question

How do I approach a fearful dog to take it outside to go potty? We can pet him but takes off if we try to pick him up.

Community Answer

Do you have any treats? If it's comfortable with you, try to lure him with treats. It may take some time before he trusts you, so be gentle and be prepared for this take a while for him to grow out of his fearfulness.

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