Paws and Reflect

Paws and Reflect

How I decide whether to let someone pet my dog

Haley Young's avatar
Haley Young
Aug 29, 2021
∙ Paid
Scout the Australian cattle dog at Intracoastal Brewing Company's dog-friendly patio in Eau Gallie Florida

About a year ago, I wrote an article on why I don’t let strangers pet my dog out in public. A lot of that thought process still stands!

As time has gone on, though, I’m much more likely to allow folks to interact with Scout—and positive interactions with strangers have improved her overall confidence.

Here’s how I decide whether or not to let someone pet my dog and what I do throughout the interaction.

User's avatar

Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of Haley Young.

Or purchase a paid subscription.
© 2025 Haley Young · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture