Whether you’re a dog lover or not, dealing with a unfamiliar dog can make you uneasy. Having a friend’s dog jumping on you and/or licking your face is never fun, but what can you do about it? If you mention it, it may cause tension in the friendship, but if you don’t mention it, how will they know there is a problem? These are a few of my tips you should keep in mind when visiting a friend with a dog.
Jumping and licking:
Even the most well-behaved dog gets excited when visitors arrive and may jump on and/or lick visitors. This can be both frightening and off-putting, but it’s something you should expect when visiting a friend with a dog. Even though it may be nerve racking and maybe even a little disgusting, the best thing you can do is try to ignore it. Do whatever you can to divert the dog’s attention to something else, and if you’re lucky your friend may notice your discomfort and take action to stop the behavior. If all else fails, you should try to sit in a chair where the dog can’t join you.
Dog hair:
A shedding dog is a nuisance for everyone involved. There isn’t anything anyone can do about it, it’s nature. The chances of visiting a friend that has a dog and leaving hair free are very slim. Most dog owners do their best to clean up the hair, but it’s nearly impossible to get it all. As annoying as this may be, it’s just something you will have to deal with. You should avoid wearing your nice clothes on visits, and if you have plans after visiting your friend, make sure you leave enough time to go home and change clothes.
Don’t make a fuss:
To you it may be just another dog, and may even be a nuisance, but to your friend it’s something much more important. Dogs today aren’t just pets, they are members of the family. Making a fuss over something that your friend’s dog did or didn’t do, could cause a real riff in your friendship. It could even be something that ends your friendship for good.
If you have deployed all preventive measures, and still find yourself unable to live with the dog’s behavior, you may have to bring it up to your friend. However, you should approach the topic with caution, you don’t want to upset your friend. Remember he/she is probably aware of the issue and may feel helpless to stop it.
More from Threesia:
Hidden Dangers for Your Dog at Public Parks
Dog Obesity — Obesity Isn’t Only a Human Problem
What You Can Do to Help Stop Puppy Mills