Yellow - reactive?

[Unluckycat1]

Are yellow dog accessories code for 'this dog needs space' (or 'reactive' etc)? If you saw a dog in a yellow harness would you avoid it?

I'm about to order a harness and like the fluorescent yellow one best because it will be the most visible in low light/the dark. The field we will use a lot for walks has a bike path going through it (when I ride my bike through it at dusk I'm so glad when dogs are easy to see). I suppose there are other (possibly better) ways to make them bright though, like lights, if yellow has an established role.

Yellow is for nervous, red is for reactive / potentially aggressive I think.

White is for blind, I have that for my dog and it's printed on the harness and lead too.

I wouldn't worry and order what you like. I've seen a nervous dog in yellow, but with nervous dog printed on the lead so it's really obvious.
Apparently all the colours have a meaning but most people choose the colour that they like.

Yes, it tends to mean this dog needs space.

However, I am not sure many people recognise it as such and there is no harm having one if that fits your situation best. Far better to be safe than worry about the colour code, imo.

Plus, actually it can be quite useful to have people avoid your dog

It can, but in reality a lot of people choose yellow because it's a nice bright colour and nothing more, so the meaning is lost.

I'd back it up with a bit of additional signage - not "nervous" as it's very non specific and doesn't tell people what not to do. A more specific instruction, like "please keep dogs away". Saint Roch has a good range.

In real life I tend to walk in busy areas that reactive dog owners usually avoid. If I see someone in yellow garb I do spend more time sussing them out, but if they're walking straight towards me and DDog then I assume they're ok with a meeting. If they look like they're trying to avoid us, I avoid them.

Thank you all! I didn't know about red or white but will keep them in mind. I think as she's a pup who will probably grown out of this harness (and the days are getting longer) that I'll not get the fluorescent yellow yet and I'll get a feel for the dog walking situation round here before I decide. If lots of people are using yellow as code maybe we'll upgrade to lights instead :)

Being honest a yellow harness on its own may not be enough as people may have it as easier to see dog especially bad weather or dark

Granted if yours is on lead then mine would go back on anyway
But if was on a path and could see it on a coat or the words then would try give you more room

I wouldn't assume it's widely known code.

My patient, never-so-much-as-blinked-at-a-fly boy has a red harness. That I'm parading him on walks as an aggressive dog is news to me!

Labels and muzzles are more reliable indicators.

Worthwhile knowing that yellow is one of the few colours dogs can see so I'm not sure its the best choice for a reactive one tbh.

Oh yes, the colours need to be labelled too, just having a red / yellow / blue / pink whatever harness doesnt mean anything!

Yellow is for needing space but it would be used more for lead flags and banners, dog warning vests. I am not sure if anyone would see a yellow dog harness and think they have to stay away. It is a great colour for being seen. I would do what is safest.

There's a pup near me who has a bright yellow and red jacket, a sort of striped high viz yellow and red lead and the word "reactive" on a patch on the jacket. Definitely easy to understand from a distance and really clear.

Like you, mine have yellow leads etc as they show up. There isn't an agreed code even if some people say there is. A friend's soppy dog wears red as it looks stunning with his coat colour. White leads get filthy. Buy what you like!

Yes I think these types of collars, leads and harnesses are becoming more common. Our dog has a green one with “friendly” written on it as I do the right thing and recall him when another dog comes by but then the other person thinks he can’t be near other dogs so does the same and they both miss out on a good play!

Yes I would assume nervous if anything yellow. I did cross the road once though when seeing yellow and the owner said the dog was friendly and they just liked the yellow lead! But I'd rather get it wrong that way around.

I am not convinced on the colour.

I have red and he is not aggressive.

I have seen yellow and it's clear the dog is not reactive as off lead and happy to ignore everyone.

I tend to stick with the view that on lead I put mine on lead and give them space unless the owner shouts over that it's fine.

So no I don't think that colours make much of a difference but yes writing to say give them space is more effective.

Mine has a rainbow coloured Perfect Fit harness... but she's not LGBT ( as far as I know

However she IS selectively reactive... much better than she used to be, but I did have a yellow harness and no one took any notice (she's very hairy tho so hard to see)

We had a yellow collar that said nervous on it for our previous dog.

If it helps, neither the colour nor the writing on the collar made a blind bit of difference 🙄

Mine has the same rainbow harness, because he is fond of humping the boys and never bothers with the girls

I can confirm it is not a well known code.
I've only read about the colours on MN and haven't noticed them in real life (they probably exist locally but I haven't noticed and wouldn't pay much attention), plus I can never remember which colour is for what issues.
I think this 'rule' would need a lot of advertising so that we learn about it.