Consent tests

Not all dogs want to be petted at any given time. Many humans think all dogs want to do is be petted. We give consent to humans to touch us but don’t often think about our dogs

How to know your dog likes to be petted

·     They approach you and initiate by moving into your space

·     They put their head or body under your hand or against you

·     They pull your hand towards them with their paw

·     Facial muscles are relaxed

·     Eyes get droopy

·     They flop their body down around you like a rag doll near or onto you

Dogs who don’t want to be petted

·     They move their head away when you put your hands near

·     They move away

·     They look away

·     They walk away

·     They shrink back from you, or your hand

·     They yawn

·     They scratch themselves

·     They lip lick

·     They lift a paw (into their body not towards you)

·     Show whale eye

·     Growl or snap

Steps

1.    One way to see if a dog wants to continue and enjoys the activity is to stop the activity and see if they want to restart it. This is called a consent test

2.    When your dog is relaxed set up somewhere comfortable, like on the ground, at their level or in a chair (you)

3.    Don’t trap your dog

4.    Pet your dog where you think they like it the best like the chest or shoulder. Do it for 3 seconds, stop and see if they say YES or NO. If they say no. by showing the above body language stop immediately, do not continue, if they say YES continue.

5.    No food is needed for this

Other ways you can use Consent Tests

• Place a few of your dog's toys in front of them and see which toy they choose
• Provide your dog with 3 different types of treats and see which one they like the most
• When a new person greets your dog, as they approach your dog count to 3 and see if your dog wants to interact with the person or not. If not, kindly say no to the person or make up an excuse to get away like "Oh I am sorry but I have to go home by x time for a zoom work call"