Instructions
Look for signs of fear or aggression in the dogs. These include snarling, bared teeth, a crouched stance with tail between his legs, ears flat against his head or he tried to circle behind your back. If the dogs show these signs, do not greet them. Stay calm and slowly, but confidently, walk away.
Make a small noise with your tongue to get the dogs' attention, if they seem friendly and relaxed. Do not sneak up on strange dogs, even if they are usually friendly dogs.
Move towards the dogs very slowly, crouching a bit. Stop when you are about 10 feet away from the dogs and always look just next to the dogs. Eye contact with a stranger can be perceived as threatening.
Stretch your hand out with the palm down and allow each dog to smell your hand. If each dogs seems still relaxed, you can then, carefully, pet them gently behind one of their ears.
How to Meet & Greet Two Strange Dogs
It can be intimidating enough to meet one strange dog, but encountering two strange dogs -- and staying safe --requires you to stay in control of the situation. Always ask the owner, if she is available, to introduce you to the dogs, which presents you to the dogs as a potential buddy, not threat. However, if the owner is not present, you should observe the dogs' body language when deciding how to approach and greet.