Interview with Steve Dale

Steve Dale is a world famous animal behaviorist best known for his hit “Petcast” where he talks with other elites in the pet world. Recently, Steve Dale wrote a book aimed at helping children learn dog behavior with the goal of reducing bites. We spoke with Steve Dale about his book recently, this is what he had to say:

What inspired you to write this book?

Have you ever had a personal experience around people misreading dog body language?

What prompted me to write this book was me taking our then 16 or 17 year-old dog out for a walk, and she was just sniffing at the grass. We live in a neighborhood with so many dogs. And there was another dog just standing next to her, paying no attention to myself or my dog – that dog was just sniffing. 

Then without warning the dog’s handler asked me “Don’t you want to pet my dog?”

I look at the dog and instantly replied “No, thank you.”

She walked away in a huff.

The dog was no looking at me, and actually looking the opposite direction, and gently pulling on the leash. The tail was also down.

No growling or barking or anything like that. But for me, the signals were unambiguous. This dog didn’t want to interact with me. 

I don’t know why and never will – but that doesn’t matter. 

The dog might have not liked strangers, or maybe the dog was hungry and pulling in the direction of home….There’s was a Starbucks about a block away in that direction. Did the dog want a Pup Cup? Was the dog painful, and knew that me petting might hurt? I have no clue. And it doesn’t matter. 

If I listened to the dog’s handler, would this dog have bitten me? Maybe not or even likely not. Also, though, and this is something rarely ever talked about, don’t dogs have the right to just say ‘no?’ 

I don’t know if the dog’s handler just couldn’t read her dog, or didn’t care what her dog was saying. or pushing strangers on her dog as a way for her dog to like dog-friendly strangers. 

I suggest though we speak dog far better than we speak cat, many people truly aren’t fluent in dog as a second language. And that isn’t only about dogs we don’t know. It’s also about dogs we know and love and live with. Sometimes we do understand when they don’t want to interact but unfortunately ignore the signals. 

Do you think this book could reduce dog bite statistics?

YES  – dog bites are at a record high, and there are many reasons for this. Absolutely, though, by understanding what dogs are telling us and then allowing them consent we could absolutely reduce dog bites. This is true for dogs we don’t know as well as dogs who love us and we love them too. That’s the thing most dog bites happen within homes, so these are dogs that are know. We need to learn to listen to what our own dogs are telling us. 

All in all great great grandma was also right about what she said, like, “Let sleeping dogs lie” or “Don’t bother the dog who’s eating.” We’ve somehow forgotten about these old adages, and/or believe we have the right to do what we want, as dogs our processions which we are dominant.  Today, we know that dog brain chemistry isn’t all too different than our own. And we know the best relationships are when we are – yes teachers – but motivate without force. And that relationships are a two-way street. 

Do you have a vision for this book outside of publication, such as being used as part of a kid’s educational program?

Yes and yes and yes some more! 

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