A stray dog followed me and lay down next to me — what do I do, I’m scared!
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👁 2472 views 💬 37 replies Behavior & Training
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Expert Answer
If a stray dog you don’t know comes over to sniff you, there is no need to panic. This usually means your scent attracted its attention, and as long as you do nothing threatening and walk away slowly, the dog will not bother you.
If you don’t want to be sniffed, the best approach is to keep walking calmly. If you stay composed and treat the dog like air while moving normally, it will usually lose interest.
If a dog still follows and sniffs you even when you ignore it, it may be in heat. Don’t overreact or fear it — understand that dogs generally will not harm humans.