It seems simple enough. Your sensitive dog needs space.

You do what you can to minimize interaction with other people and/or dogs; walking your dog at “non-peak” hours, avoiding crowds, paying attention to your surroundings.

But every once in a while, you just can’t avoid it. Some unleashed dog comes loping in your direction with the owner, off in the distance, yelling “Don’t worry, he’s friendly!” Or you encounter a child whose parent insists that the child says “Hi!” to the doggy.

You can say no

Our society isn’t receptive to “no.” People want what they want when they want it – and permission denied is often seen as rude, or arrogant, or impolite. Years ago a friend related the story of her three-year-old niece, given a special birthday treat, who refused to share when an adult, male relative asked. My friend was outraged – saying “We were always taught to share!”

Yes – but!

Sharing is fine – if it’s our choice. I remember when we were children, our mother told us to put away any toys we didn’t want to share before our friends arrived. It was our stuff, and the decision was ours.

Since our dogs can’t choose, it’s up to us to make sure their interactions with the world around us are positive and healthy. If for some reason your dog needs some space – you’re entitled to say “No.”

Yellow ribbon notice

It’s been challenging to signal that choice from a distance, until recently. Around the world, a yellow ribbon (or bandana) on the leash (or the dog) is a sign that the dog needs some space. There are a variety of reasons – aggression isn’t the only possibility. It could be that the dog is old or frail. Or it could be recovering from an accident or injury. It could be a bitch in heat. Fearful dogs need space. So do dogs that have come from shelters or rescues.

If you see a dog with a yellow ribbon, take the opportunity to inform those around you what it’s about. It’s about giving everyone the opportunity to do right by their dogs.

Use it if you need it

Once tied onto a leash, the yellow ribbon isn’t necessarily there forever. It could be the dog will recover, or become more confident over time. In dog training, we always say that distance is our friend. If a dog has difficulty handling noise, or motion, or other distractions, we move away to a more comfortable distance and take the time to adjust incrementally.

There’s an Akita that lives in the neighborhood close to our shop. He’s a big, friendly dog. He even knows which pocket Hope keeps treats in. He loves people. But he’s had bad experiences with other dogs and doesn’t do well. Having a yellow ribbon on his leash allows his owner, a young mother often pushing a stroller as she walks, the opportunity to avoid interaction. It lets her give her dog some space.

Spread the word

To encourage widespread use of the yellow ribbon, Gulahund has developed fliers and posters that are free to reproduce and distribute. We’re going to be sharing them with all the veterinarian’s offices in the area, as well as groomers, dog walkers, and shelters. You can find it on their website: http://gulahund.se/

Some people may hesitate about using the yellow ribbon – people not wanting their dogs to be labelled aggressive for no reason. We understand the concern, but we’d rather promote “yellow-ribbon space” than worry about what other people think. Do what’s best for you and your dog. Dare to say “no!”