Yellow dogs? Oh come on! Who’s ever seen a yellow dog? They come in white, black, all sorts of browns and various combinations of those sorts of colour, but yellow? Well it may come as a surprise if you’ve never heard of the scheme but you may well have seen a yellow dog without realising you have! That sounds surprising but, okay we’ll come clean and reveal that it’s not actually the dogs that are yellow. It’s not a publicity stunt with dogs dyed yellow or anything like that. What is yellow is a ribbon or bandana attached to the dog or its leash.
It indicates that the dog and its owner are taking part in the Yellow Dog UK Project. What is that all about? It’s a scheme aimed at maintaining good relations between dogs and people and also between dogs and other dogs. We often preach that dogs are not humans and we shouldn’t expect them to think and act like humans and that is true. However there are some similarities.
Some people love the company of other people. They like to chat and have a laugh with them and thrive on company. They probably love to play games with others. Some people on the other hand prefer to be left alone. They can get quite irritable when those of the other sort try to persuade them to join in and have fun. They are quite happy on their own in their own quiet little world, thank you very much, now clear off and leave me alone!
Even some of the first group become unsociable and grumpy as they get older. These are characteristics that dogs do share with humans. Just like us they are all individuals. Some like nothing better than to jump around and play with both humans and other dogs. Others just want to be left in peace and get grumpy or snappy when attention is thrust upon them.
Even normally playful dogs can become unsociable and irritable when they are not well or are still traumatised by a recent bad experience involving another dog or a person. Recently adopted rescue dogs, for example, are often nervous and feeling insecure. Life for them has probably been pretty scary so far and rehabilitation takes time.
There are numerous reasons why a dog may need space. Here are a few suggested by the Yellow Dog Project
• It may have health issues
• Perhaps it’s a rescue dog being rehabilitated. The world can be a very scary place for these dogs.
• It could be due to a bad experience with another dog or maybe it is just not the kind of friendly dog which always wants to say “Hi!”
• It may be a bitch in heat whose owner wants other dogs to keep away
• The dog may be undergoing training, perhaps as an assistance dog
• It may be very old and arthritic and that can make anybody irritable and unsociable!
• It may simply be very nervous or shy and other dogs cause it stress and anxiety
Whatever the reason, a yellow marker on a dog means it needs some space.
The Yellow Dog Project was launched to provide a means by which owners of dogs who need to be left in peace can let everyone know that their dog will not welcome attention, doesn’t want to play and just needs space. So if you see a dog with a yellow ribbon or bandana, indeed anything yellow, on him or his leash, you will know now to avoid approaching it and if you have a dog with you, to keep it well away. The owner and their dog will really appreciate your consideration in keeping your distance and peace will be maintained.
You can find out more about the Yellow Dog Project by visiting its website www.yellowdoguk.co.uk.
