What About the Yellow Dog Project

We had posted a question about what you thought about the Yellow Dog Project and got some interesting answers. However, in the years since there have been some dilemmas that have developed with the idea of “warning” other dog owners of your dog’s issues with their personal space. Honestly it is a shame that we even have to worry about the lack of respect people and other dog owners have of another dog’s space.

Now there is a new twist here in the USA since the implementation of the Yellow Dog Project. Juries are using the warning ribbons against the dog and their owner in the same way that Beware of Dog signs have done in the past. They say the dog owner is admitting they have a dangerous dog by using the yellow warning and should not have had the dog in public. This could get your dog labeled as a “known dangerous dog” title. This is one title you do not want to earn.

There is also the point that the general public will have no idea what the ribbon means and only like minded dog enthusiasts will know. That kind of misses the point. We would like to think that maybe it would be a great conversation starter to help educate the uninformed, but we as responsible dog owners already do our part in that area and by that time the ribbon would have not helped.

Further investigation leads to the fact that the yellow ribbon originated in pet hospitals, not to warn others of behavioral problems, but rather of a dog that had a physical issue so that other dogs would not be allowed to try and play with the dog. Then Sweden packaged the idea for all pet dogs. And here we are. Does the Yellow Dog Project or Yellow Ribbons really help keep other’s mindful of a dog’s space? And in reality, shouldn’t all dogs be extended that courtesy?

What are your thoughts?