How many of you see a cute dog passing by and are immediately drawn towards him? You find yourself getting closer and closer until you are right next to this doggo. As you extend your hand in an attempt to pat just a little bit of this doggo's super impressive coat of awwdorable floof, his owner stops you right there. "Excuse me, I would really appreciate if you consulted my first before petting my dog. He can be very anxious and does not always respond well to strangers."
And you're like, oh sh*t, he's so right. This brings us to today's viral reddit discussion: Parents should encourage their children to ask permission from dog owners before petting their dogs. It's just a basic courtesy. Most of the time the answer will be yes! OP says: "On a serious note, it teaches a lot about consent, boundaries, and bodily autonomy. And I appreciate it." The honest truth is, no one knows a doggo better than his owner. And you never know how a doggo will respond to your attention! We agree with OP here and always encourage people to follow this simple courtesy! It goes a long way and dog owners truly appreciate it so much.
We hear ya, OP and we are here to amplify your voice a bit, so even the peeps in the back can hear you loud and clear. It's just a matter of simple courtesies and respect! ASK PERMISSION. Most of the time the answer will be yes, and even when it's not, it's usually for a very good reason.
Another reason it is so important to ask permission, no one knows a doggo better than their owner. Their owner will be able to tell you if their doggo is prone to jumping, anxiety, or is just plain old shy.
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