• Talk to the owner before you go near a dog. Ask if the dog is used to children and make sure the owner is there for your first meeting.
• Do not pat a dog on top of the head. He can't see your hand above him—so he might think you are going to hit him. Touch a dog on his shoulder instead.
• Do not look right in the dog's eyes. Dog's think it is really rude to stare. Staring right at their face makes them think you want to fight with them.
  
• Your own dog is not all dogs. Every dog is different. Don't ever think that "dogs are dogs," and what works with your dog at home will be the same for all dogs.
• Hand signals can be dangerous. Don't try to give a strange dog any commands or use a hand signal you know from your own dog. Most dogs have learned hand signals that tell them what to do—but maybe not the same hand signals that you know for "sit" and "shake."
• Do not reach over a fence to pat a dog—or reach into a crate or into a car window to pat a dog. When a dog is on his own property he wants to protect it, so don't put your hand anywhere near a dog in a car, a kennel or his fenced yard.
• If a dog lifts his lip and shows you his teeth, it means he wants you to go away. Right away. So if any dog ever shows you his teeth, DO what he wants and back off.
• A dog who lies down and shows his tummy to you is showing that he wants to be friends. It means he trusts you. Go ahead and rub his tummy.
• Respect a dog's "personal space." Don't touch or bother a dog when he is eating, sleeping or even peeing!
• Don't surprise a dog. If a dog is resting, don't just come up behind him and pat him. A dog can be shocked by something touching him when he doesn't expect it. Let a dog know you're there by saying something before you touch him or make sure he heard you.