Dogs with a yellow ribbon

You may have already met a dog with a tied yellow ribbon on its collar or on its leash in the street. Did you know, that it is not a fashion accessory, but a message for the passers-by?  

And what exactly is it? This idea was born in Sweden in 2012 and it has been gradually spreading into the whole world. It is a message for the masters of other dogs, but also for regular passers-by: I need space, don’t come closer.

I have first encountered this phenomenon on the internet a few years ago. I thought it was a good idea, and so apart from sharing it across social media sites, I’ve tried practising it on one of my female dogs from my pack, a dog prone to stress, which besides other things, has a panic fear of people. However, sharing didn’t pick up much, and since the yellow ribbon was virtually unknown to anyone, I’ve dropped it in practice as well. But in the last year, the awareness about it started to spread well even here, I think, so I’ve decided to try it again and to introduce it to you here as well.

The yellow ribbon symbol may have several reasons:

  • The dog is in training or in the process of sociallising (for example, after a life in a shelter or isolation, when it is only getting used to the life around it)
  • The dog has health issues or it is in convalescence after a procedure
  • It could be a retired rescuing dog. For such dogs, the world around them may be an unfamiliar place.
  • The dog may have a bad experience with another dog from the past, or they simply don’t belong to friendly dogs that want to say “Hi!” to everyone.
  • It is a shy dog
  • The dog is old / blind / deaf
  • It is a female dog in heat

So if you see a dog with such a mark while you’re walking yours, call your dog and don’t get too close to it or to its master. The yellow colour means, that the dog must not be close to other dogs. Therefore, keep your distance or give them the opportunity to move away. This way, you may avoid trouble, psychical tension of the dog or an injury.

Related articles

History of search and rescue dogs

The use of dogs in search and rescue (the so-called SAR) is an integral part of natural disasters, mass accidents or, for example, when search for missing people. Do you know, when the first dog rescuers appeared?

Call of the wild? What is dog puberty like

Every dog has its individuality and is unique in its own way, so even the period of growing up can differ significantly in every individual. I know dog owners, who didn’t know what to do with puberty excesses of their otherwise loved four-legged...

Dog sled

One dog isn’t enough for you and you’re looking for an excuse that will help you vindicate having a whole pack at home? One option is to become a musher - a dog sled racer. For adrenaline lovers, who’d love to ride through the landscape on a sled using...

So cold you wouldn’t send the dog out

It’s like a rollercoaster ride with outside temperatures this winter, once you’re up and then back down. All the more attention should we pay to the care for our dogs. Since it’s not only us, people, who don’t take well to the changing temperatures.

Dog and cat insurance

Unfortunately, in the life of dog owners, even unpleasant situations occur, which aren’t only an intervention in the life of your dog partner, but also affect your wallet. For example, if the dog gets hit by a car or it is otherwise injured and the...

Facts about cat eyes

Kittens, as well as a number of other animal offspring, are born blind. Their eyes open around the tenth day of their life and only after another week, they are fully functional. Even though the sight in a cat belongs among the best-developed senses,...