As we have learned, dogs are instinctual, and their reality is formed by their senses; a dog’s strongest sense is her sense of smell, followed by sight, then hearing, and this follows the order in which these senses develop in a puppy. Dogs learn the most about the world through their nose. We have also learned that humans approach the world through sight first and smell last, which makes it very easy for us to forget this principle. However, this is one of the most important things to remember in all of your dealings with any dogs, whether or not they are in your own pack.
Humans and dogs have shared space for so long—10,000 or possibly 20,000 years—that it is almost second nature for humans to greet new dogs the same way they do other people. I’m sure most of you have done it. You visit a friend’s house and meet his new dog for the first time, and you greet the dog with a big hello and a pat on the head the second you’re in the door. Maybe you even lean over to let her lick your face. After all, it would be rude to just ignore the dog, wouldn’t it?
Actually, no. If you ignore a new dog at first, you’re not being rude. Instead, you’re being considerate of her needs. After all, you’re a new person, and that can be intimidating to a dog. When you first enter her territory, she doesn’t know whether you’re a friend or an enemy. A well-balanced dog will look to her Pack Leader for clues and act accordingly. At the same time, she will try to figure you out through her senses—through Nose, Eyes, Ears, in that order.
The first thing she is likely to do is sniff the feet of a new human she encounters. By doing this, the dog is learning your scent and sensing your energy. While the dog is checking you out, practicing “No Touch, No Talk, No Eye Contact” will make sure the meeting goes smoothly. This practice respects the way the dog perceives the world, as well as respects her space, and it gives her time to explore you first It is very important to remember and use this Core Principle, as it affects almost every interaction you will have with your dog—from the first time you meet to your daily comings and goings at home. But take a moment to observe your dog on the walk—see what she responds to. How does an interesting smell affect her body and energy? What kinds of sights and sounds engage her? You will learn so much about your dog just through this careful observation—and the more you know about your dog and how she sees the world, the better Pack Leader you can be for her.
