Using “Do Not Pet” Accessories to Advocate for Our Dog

We’ve gotten quite a few questions about our “do not pet” hat and leash wrap, so I thought I’d compile our thoughts into a full-length blog.

Here’s the how and why being using these accessories to help advocate for our dog’s space while out in public!

First: Why wouldn’t we want someone to pet our dog?

Scout is generally friendly with people — she can be shy but warms up quickly as long as new friends are gentle. That said, we don’t always want her interacting with strangers out in public!

Here is an older article about why we might not want someone petting our dog, and here is a more recent one that talks about how I decide whether or not to allow a greeting.

At a high level:

• People can be unpredictable, and not everyone knows how to interact with dogs in a way that’s not overwhelming. I don’t want to put Scout in a situation where she feels frightened or trapped.
• I also don’t want to set a precedent where my dog thinks she can say hi to everyone she sees out and about. That could lead to her being disruptive in public or even developing frustration-based leash reactivity.
• One way to build faith in handler — trust that I will take care of situations — is to advocate for my dog’s personal space across the board. This was a big part of working through her fear-based dog reactivity!
• In particular, I don’t allow anyone to touch Scout when she is under a command (like place or a down stay). If I’m asking her to work for me, we have an agreement that I will also protect her space.
• I’m generally happy to let someone say hi if my dog is also interested, but most of all I don’t want anyone touching her without permission.
• Sometimes I’m just not feeling all that social myself. My dog isn’t public property, and there’s no shame in saying “no” if I’m not up for chatting!

What “do not pet” accessories do we have?

We currently own two main “do not pet” accessories.

(I’m not affiliated with either of these brands, just a big personal fan. You can get more of our favorite product recommendations in this article, if you’re curious!)

“Do not pet” hat

Our first “do not pet” piece is a baseball cap from True Loyalty MN. We got it when we’d had Scout for about a year, and I immediately fell in love!

Here are my favorite things:

• If someone makes eye contact with me, it’s easy for them to read the hat. I’ve found folks generally pay more attention to something on my head than something on my shirt (or even on Scout’s collar).
• It’s cute all on its own even without the benefit of extra advocacy. Who doesn’t love a good baseball cap in the sun?

The only drawback is that the cap does get sweaty from time to time. It’s not my favorite thing if we’re being really active in warm weather (like attending public workout classes at a nearby outdoor mall).

“Do not pet” leash wrap

Our second piece is a leash wrap from Dog Days of Maxx on Etsy. There are tons of similar products available from different sellers!

I ended up getting this as a more obvious visual signal in situations where I either 1) just don’t want to wear my hat or 2) won’t be standing next to Scout the whole time (so it’s helpful to have a sign on her body and not just on mine).

My favorite things:

• It easily snaps on to any of our leashes, so we can put it on or take it off even within one outing.
• The letters are bright and legible from pretty far away.
• Since it’s not on Scout’s collar but still close to her, I find folks pay attention to it. If she’s lying on her mat at a patio or workout class, I can position her leash so that the sign is in front of her — it becomes pretty much impossible to miss.

How we do NOT use “do not pet” accessories

Now that we’ve covered why we don’t want people to pet Scout willy-nilly and what specific products we own, I want to talk about a few misconceptions and ways we do not use our “do not pet” accessories.

To be unkind

The first is to be a jerk. When I say no to folks who want to interact with my dog, my goal isn’t to make them feel bad — it’s simply to do what’s best for everyone involved!

We don’t go out of our way to be rude, and it’s important to me to be empathetic to people who are just happy to see a dog out and about. Unless someone is being properly out of line, I’ll always answer requests politely. (More on that in the below Instagram post.)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Scout and Haley (@paws.andreflect)

To pretend our dog is a service animal

We also do not pretend that Scout is a service dog, though it’s a common misconception that that’s why she’s wearing the sign (we usually get a question or two every time we use the leash wrap).

Everything we own simply says “do not pet” and doesn’t make any false claims about her being a working animal with public access rights.

As our only form of advocacy

Finally, I do not depend on our “do not pet” hat and leash wrap as our only forms of advocacy. I can’t expect everyone to pay attention to the words, and some folks have visual impairments or other conditions that prevent them from being able to read quickly.

When I’m out with Scout, it’s my job to keep her safe and comfortable regardless of what we’re wearing. Below are many ways I advocate for her beyond using a specific sign!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Scout and Haley (@paws.andreflect)

When and why we DO use “do not pet” accessories

All that said, I do love our hat and leash wrap (or I wouldn’t be writing this). Here’s why!

As an extra visual cue

While I’d never rely on a sign as our only form of advocacy, I definitely notice that our “do not pet” accessories make my job easier. The vast majority of folks pay attention — especially to the leash wrap — and it saves me from having to have the same conversation over and over.

In crowded or unpredictable environments

I find these signs are especially useful in crowded environments. When there’s a lot going on, it can be difficult to keep tabs on everything — and if our hat or leash wrap stop even 50% of the people who want to touch Scout (especially if they’re inclined to do it without asking permission first) that’s a big win in my book.

We don’t use a “do not pet” indicator every time we go out — in fact, it’s probably less than half. But if we’re venturing somewhere new for the first time or know things will be a little chaotic? They’re great things to bring!

Ultimately: Extra help is never a bad thing!

Ultimately, occasional use of our “do not pet” hat and leash wrap just make life easier. They aren’t foolproof catch-alls by any means — but they are helpful tools in the right circumstances.