Yellow Ribbon Project Facebook

Do you know what a yellow ribbon tied to a dog’s leash means? Well, for your safety and the safety of your children, you should learn. Knowing the warning this yellow ribbon brings can save you and the little ones from a bad situation.

If you come across a dog wearing a yellow ribbon on its collar or tied to its leash, this means that you should proceed with caution. This is an important new trend that will save dog owners, children, you, and dogs from a dangerous situation.

The I Love Dogs website explains, “The Yellow Dog Project is a nonprofit organization that is a global effort to help raise awareness and education around dogs that require a little extra distance upon approaching.” This is an easy way for dog owners to communicate with others about the caution that should be taken around their cute but easily agitated furry friend.

The yellow ribbon does not mean that the dog is necessarily dangerous or mean, there can be many reasons why caution should be taken.

The pup may be sick, recovery from surgery, anxious, under training, with a new trainer or owner; the reasons are almost endless. The yellow ribbon is meant to let everyone know what most do not ask anymore.

When I was young, I was taught at an early age that meeting dogs has a set of rules. You are suppose to watch the dog as you approach, if it seems like it is calm and willing for guests you may approach. But before you stretch out a hand, you must ask the owner if it would be alright to pet their dog. Also, you should never have your fingers out. I was told once, this is like offering up a handful of little hotdogs to a hungry animal. If all of these things fall into place, you must still be calm, kind, and cautious.

It seems like these rules are no longer taught.

I have seen, with my own dog and in my own days at the park, that children will just run up excited and screaming towards a stranger dog. They will present their hand and begin petting the critter with no idea of what being gentle means. This is a dangerous series of events. Any dog can feel very stressed about this reaction to their presence.