Should you ask?

[sceneryoverthehill]

... before petting someone's dog?

Yes. Always

Always

Yes absolutely if you don’t know them

Definitely

Of course!

Yes. You ask the owner. And you ask the dog by observing its body language and by allowing it to say no.

Ok thanks just asking as I've had lots of people lost walk over and start petting my dog without ever asking. Tbh it's really getting on my nerves!

Always

Feel free to say no. One of my girls used to be quite nervous of people so I just said she needed to be left alone.

Yes. I always ask if I may meet the dog.

Yes - at the very least they should be asking the dog by letting it come to them and being mindful of body language.

Unfortunately many people ignore that most basic of rules - especially when you have a particularly cute dog.

Mine wears one of these, which has reduced it enormously when he's on lead
https://www.saintroch.co.uk/ask-before-stroking-lead-cover-/-slip-p421.html

Definitely ask and try to block if they don’t.

I have one dog who loves being fussed over. She has been known to literally lie on her back surrounded by children enjoying all the fuss.

My other dog doesn’t like fuss from strangers. So she sits by me. If people come to touch her, I tell them she isn’t as friendly and direct them back to the other one. If they try to insist, I will place her behind my legs and physically block them.

Im not having my dog put down because some asshole doesn’t understand the word no

Another one for yes - my 3 would not harm a fly - but no one knows that. Anyone should ask an owner before approaching a dog IMHO

Yes, but in my experience they don't and fellow dog owners are the worst for it.

See also giving my dogs treats without asking permission 🤬

I walk two who are on restricted diets and several times I've had to stick my hand in the way and stop them from eating stuff that would make them sick.

We tell people who try to touch the dog with out asking they are working dogs and will bite, usually works but I have had the odd lecture about Muzzles, so I explain touch, it will bite don't touch, it won't.

Absolutely yes, you should ask.
I'm a dog walker and it's staggering how many people don't ask and just assume they can touch them.
I'm drilling it into my children that if we see a dog we must ask the owner politely before we approach, so now even my 5 and 2 year old manage to ask before touching. It's really not difficult!

YES!!

O have a long hair dog - the hair is soft and flowing so a lot of people like touching it! 🤬

I always ask before offering a treat and I get looked at like I'm crazy haha!

Really glad you posted this, as I was starting to think I was useless at dog treat feeding etiquette.