Be Aware of Yellow Ribbons on Leashes

Some dogs are nervous around dogs or people.  Sometimes their anxiety is obvious because they growl or lunge.  But other dogs' signals are more subtle and easily missed, and then people and dogs "invade" the nervous dog's space, inciting even more anxiety in the already nervous dog.

A yellow ribbon signifies that this particular dog, whether you realize it or not, is one who "needs space."

So when you see one, stay a few feet away.  Don't let your dog or your child rush in to say hi.  Ask the owner, if you like, what they are working on, because most likely they are under the guidance of a trainer, or they would not have known about the yellow ribbon.  Or smile politely and go on your way.  Giving them the space they need is giving the dog a gift and getting the that much closer to feeling comfortable in public.

Whether these dogs are safe to have in public or not is the subject for another post with a lot more detail, but for now, I just want you to know about the significance of the yellow ribbon.  

Here is a link to more details:

http://theilovedogssite.com/do-you-know-what-a-yellow-ribbon-tied-on-a-dogs-collar-means/