How to say, “Hello” to a Dog or a Cat

There’s an old-fashioned saying about people who are very shy. It’s this:  “She wouldn’t say “BOO!” to a goose.

How silly is that? Why would you want to scare a goose? Or any pet?

But you might want to say, “Hello, I like you!” to a dog or cat, or to another pet you haven’t met yet, like a bearded dragon or leopard gecko or pet bird.

The GOOD Hello…

For a minute, let’s talk about what happens when you meet a person. Say they’re a new kid at school or in your swimming class.

Here’s the good way to meet someone you don’t already know: You smile and look right at them. “Hi,” you say in a friendly voice. “My name’s Judy (of course, you use your own name). What’s yours?”

Then, you might shake their hand. Or just smile while looking right at them to see if they smile back at you. And then, if they seem friendly, you might suggest doing something together so you can get to know them a bit, because they seem like someone who will become a friend.

“Do you want to get a snack after class?” you might say. Or, “Hey, race you to the end of the pool!”

… and the BAD Hello

OK. Now let’s talk about the not-so-good ways to meet someone new. They smile and say, “Hi,” but you ignore them. Or just walk away. Or immediately try to hug them. Or start giggling.

Or push your hand in their face. Or reach out and pat them on the head. Or try to hit them. Or squeal and jump up and down. Or scream.

If you do any of these things, they are going to think you’re a bit weird. Or seriously weird. They probably won’t want to get to know you better.

But here’s the thing. When meeting a dog or a cat for the first time, that’s exactly what some people (including kids) do – they act weird. Or what a dog or cat thinks is very weird.

Then the dog or cat thinks, “Wow, they’re weird. I don’t think I can trust this human. They might hurt me.”

They decide they don’t want to be friends.

6 things to NEVER do when you meet a dog for the first time

  1. Don’t make eye contact (this means look directly at them). Dogs think this is you challenging them, maybe to a fight. This will either scare them and they will want to run away, or make them want to attack.
  2. Don’t bend down and offer them your hand to sniff. They really don’t want to do this yet.
  3. Don’t try to pick them up.
  4. Don’t pat them on the top of their head. It’s uncomfortable for them (you wouldn’t like it, either).
  5. Don’t try to grab them.
  6. Don’t move suddenly or make any sudden loud noise.

5 things to ALWAYS do when you meet a dog for the first time

  1. Stand so the dog gets a side view of you. This way you look smaller and less threatening than if you stand facing the dog.
  2. Wait for the dog to come over and sniff your shoes or legs. This means he or she wants to know who you are.
  3. When they do come over, if they are smiling and happy it is OK to lightly stroke their back.
  4. Don’t touch a dog when their tail is down low, or they are showing their teeth, or growling.
  5. If it is OK with their owner, you could offer them a dog treat (if you happen to have any in your pocket). Some dog owners like to reward their dogs with a treat or a clicker click when their dogs meet people nicely and for other good behaviour.

If the dog seems too friendly and wants to jump up and lick your hands or kiss you, stand very still with your hands at your sides and pretend you are a tree. If this doesn’t work, turn around so that the dog sees only your back. She or he will understand right away that they don’t get to say “Hello” to you until they remember their manners.

How to say “Hello” to a cat

A lot of what I’ve told you about greeting a puppy or a dog is also true for kittens and cats.

They don’t want to be picked up until they know you.

They really don’t want to be squeezed around the middle, or patted on the head, or have their fur stroked from their tail towards their head (always stroke a pet from head towards their tail) or teased. If you do these things, they could bite. Or scratch you.

When a cat bites it always means, “Stop doing that right now because I don’t like it.”

Some cats are very shy. They will run away and hide whenever there is a ‘new’ person to meet. Leave them alone – they will come back when they’re ready.

Some cats are very friendly and curious about new people in their home. They will walk right over, sniff your feet a bit and might even want to jump in your lap! If they do this, they like you. They want you to pet them gently.

Until a cat likes you that much, don’t look directly at their face, eye-to-eye. Like dogs, cats think this is you challenging them (unless you’re their family and they know they can trust you).

Don’t ever try to touch a cat whose back is arched or who is hissing or whose fur along their spine is standing straight up. These are all signs the cat is about to attack.

Some cats are paw-shy. What this means is they really don’t like anyone touching their paws.

Some “Hello” rules for almost all types of pets

Just like people:

  • No pet likes sudden loud noises.
  • No pet likes people who move suddenly.
  • No pet likes anything that they think might hurt them.
  • They want a chance to see who you are before they say, “Hello.”
  • Most pets do like a gentle rub behind their ears or stroking their sides.
  • Most of these rules are true for all types of furry and feathered pets and for lizards such as bearded dragons, iguanas and leopard geckos. But remember, pets all have their own ideas about making friends. Not all pets want to be friends with everyone.
  • And some just want to be left alone.

One last thing you should always do…

Before you say, “Hello” to any pet, first ask for permission from that pet’s owner. They already know exactly what their pets like and don’t like, starting with that first friendly “Hello!”