[YorkieTherapy]

Poor Piper may not be shy as you think because what she is experiencing most dogs do not like from strangers. Getting in a dog space, leaning over and petting a dog on the head, getting in their face and hugging are all very intimidating. When meeting a dog for the first time the proper way is to allow the dog to approach first, if they don't people need to learn to leave them alone. If and when a dog welcomes a pet it’s best to approach them on their side. If a person needs to lower themselves bend at the knees without leaning over, pet the body not the head. At any point when a dog backs away or pulls away, people should back off too.

When we first got Penny, she was nervous when strangers approach so I didn’t want people to pet her. I would say, “I’m sorry, she's shy and not good with being petted but we’re working on it.”

Once Penny was ready to receive petting I made sure she was not on the ground where people could lean over. If she was, I'd ask people to wait so i can pick her up. How I hold Penny was important to how we were to avoid what I mentioned above. I held Penny like cradling a football, with one hand underneath her chest, my fingers holding the harness strap across her chest , her upper body along my arm, back legs tucked between my chest and arm. I presented Penny’s side and give people verbal and visual guidance on how to pet her.. “She loves to be petted gently here like this but she doesn’t like her head touched.” While Penny got her pats, I was giving her treats with my free hand and giving calming massages on her chest with my fingers. If someone was being over zealous tried to hold her and take her from my arms I can grip her harness strap, back up, elbow block or use my free hand.