this is actually a good idea and I hope that it takes off.
This is excellent. In the horse community, you tie a ribbon in your horse’s tail to indicate a need for space, and I’ve always thought it was something that would be beneficial in the dog world as well.
I am working on getting my dog better socialized with other dogs; she’s great with people, but other dogs frighten her. She’ll chase squirrels and birds, but dogs and cats freak her out. If they get too close or, god forbid, try to sniff her butt, she barks at them. I can’t decide if I should tie a yellow ribbon to her leash to warn about her timidity, or just keep trucking along the streets of NY until she gets used to being approached by other dogs. She’s never had an incident, and doesn’t growl or get aggressive beyond the warning bark (and I’ve seen her tolerate a dog insistant on sticking his face in her butt), but I worry. I generally just explain “She’s shy” and move on if it looks like it isn’t going to happen.
Sigh.
