As pet care professionals, we have noticed that clients can be unaware that their pets behavior when meeting new people is related to anxiety. We have arrived at meet and greets to find the owners apologizing for their pets behavior, saying "once they get to know you..." The owners seem embarrassed about how their pets are "showing up" to a strange person in their home. It seems that the expectation is that all pets should greet strangers like a "typical" golden retriever, but even "goldens" can be subject to anxiety. Below are 2 links on spotting pet anxiety.
Dogs: Anxiety symptoms: Fear Free pets
Owners are fearful that we, as pet care professionals will decline caring for their pets because of their pets unsettled, barking, and sometimes growling behavior. Most of the time we expect this to be the case. After all, we are "strangers". Pets display anxiety in different ways, but it is all the same. The pet is fearful and doesn't know what our presence means for them. Should they defend their territory. Could our presence be to harm their owners and threaten their home?
Our meet and greet approach includes:
When we first enter the client home, we pay close attention to how the pet perceives our presence. Are we being greeted with wagging tails and relaxed body language? If the dog is barking and or growling, we ignore them completely and focus on the owner, while making our movements slow. The owner can assist the first contact by staying calm themselves. No need for apologies. We expect each dog to greet or "show up" in their own way. After a time of speaking with the owner, the pet usually does 1 of 3 things.
The dog becomes curious and comes to sniff us. Again, we "let" them do this without eye contact. đŤŁ
The dog calms a bit and lies down near the owner albeit panting. đś
Sometimes the dog will continue to bark, but eventually the barking dissipates or stops entirely accepting our presence. đâđŚş
If the pet is extremely unsettled, we ask the owners to leash up the dog(s) and we all go out for a short walk đŚŽ. At a point, we take over the lead and perhaps we drop treats as we walk. At the end of the walk, we go inside as a "pack." This has worked like a charm in every case we have come across.
Can cats show signs of anxiety?
Absolutely, however, it looks a bit differently. Below are links on spotting anxiety in cats.
Cats: Anxiety symptoms: Fear free pets
Our meet and greet approach includes:
If the cat is hiding, we let them hide until they get curious enough to come out. This may take just this one visit or last long into the visits or we may never officially meet the pet, but we always make sure we "lay eyes" on them.
We may get on eye level with the cat.
We reach out our fist or finger for the cat to get our scent. Sometimes the cat will rub against us. Yay! they like međ¸đť! Sometimes they sniff and walk awayđ˝đź (they have a wait and see attitude). Sometimes they sniff, hiss and walk away (Crap! where was I last? Did I wash my hands well enough? They don't like me?đđž.
Ignore the cat. No staring at the cat. But. he can stare at you. Just be sure the stare doesn't mean you are being stalked..."I'll get you later...or now".đź
We watch the cat's body language.
We take things at the CAT'S pace, not OURS. If we ever stand a chance of being liked, the process can't be rushed. Well... treats help sometimes. The cat enjoying our presence is the goal so that the cat can feel comfortable. If the cat continues to feel our presence as uncomfortable, we "don't take it personal"; however to create comfort for the owner, We "lay eyes" on the cat and take a picture, even if is the cat's behind đ. Of course being the cat's maid is our other priority
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