“Firstly, you should always ask the owner’s permission before approaching a dog and avoid the snacks—dogs really don’t need human food, despite what those eyes seem to tell us!" PDSA Vet Claire told Bored Panda how people should behave when they spot an adorable strange dog that they would simply love to pet and feed.

"Next, look at the dog’s body language, if they have a high, wagging tail, floppy ears and look relaxed then you can start to approach them. Try not to look straight into their eyes, as this can seem aggressive to a dog, and let them come to you for a sniff before touching them," she said.

"If they have a low or tucked under tail, their ears are pinned back or their posture is tense then it is likely they are feeling uncomfortable and should not be approached. It is best to avoid rubbing the tummy of a dog you don’t know, as sometimes dogs showing their belly can be a sign that they are feeling anxious.”

"It is best to start gradually introducing your dog to strangers when they are a puppy. Between 4 and 12 weeks of age is the ‘socialization period’ where your puppy’s brain is learning lots of new things, including how to cope with unfamiliar people," she explained.

"If your dog is frightened of strangers you can try and desensitize them, starting with introducing new people at a distance where your dog feels safe and associate this with something great, like a favorite treat. This can be a very gradual process, and it’s important to always allow your dog the choice to move away from a situation that makes them uncomfortable."

The vet continued: "We recommend always asking a certified pet behaviorist for advice with this as it is easy to accidentally make fear of strangers worse. It’s important to slowly introduce any dog to any new people, animals, places, and experiences in a positive way to help keep them happy and confident."

Bored Panda has featured Dogspotting and its broad chain of groups, pages, and challenges very extensively over the years. For example, some of our articles that we know you’ll love if you’re a dog person are about the ‘Guilty Dog’ challenge, the ‘Didn’t Want A Dog’ challenge, and the ‘Hidden Dog’ challenge. They’re something to keep in mind when you’ve enjoyed every last pupper and doggo in this here list.

Currently, the Dogspotting group has 1.8 million members on Facebook that it’s amassed since 2008. That’s on top of the 1.2 million fans who are part of the Dogspotting Society group. The main difference between the two groups is that you’re supposed to post pics of dogs you don’t know in the Dogspotting group. Meanwhile, you’re free to gush all about your own dog in the Dogspotting Society group.

The super friendly Dogspotting team told Bored Panda during a couple of previous interviews that their community members are always really proactive. A lot of them come up with the challenges that then end up going viral and bringing a smile to so many people’s faces globally.

"I think it’s a common experience when you’re in a household of many to have one person who might not be as excited as the others. But dogs usually find a way to melt those hearts pretty quickly. And as we’ve seen on the page, it happens a lot!" a member of the Dogspotting team told us that people quickly grow to love the dogs that end up living in their homes, even if they’re set against them at the start.

The entire Dogspotting team is really supportive of people adopting dogs. They urge folks to contact their local animal rescues and shelters who will help out. And those of you who are still working from home will have more time to bond with your new best friends.

The representative of the Dogspotting team urged people to adopt a dog. Especially if you find yourself working from home. "Now is a great time to do it! With so many people working from home, you’ll have more time to bond with your new best friend! Contact local animal rescues and shelters in your area and they’ll be able to help you! We know this year has been very difficult for a lot of our members and the challenges have added a bit of levity for everyone,” they shared with us earlier.

PDSA Vet Anna Ewers Clark was kind enough to enlighten Bored Panda about how (not) to act when meeting a strange dog on the street.

“Lots of us light up when we see a furry friend on our travels and our first instinct is to try to become friends, but our canine companions might not always feel the same way about us. Before approaching any pooch, the most important thing to remember is to check with the owner first. Not only is this polite, but the owners will also know a lot more about their beloved pet’s behavior than you do,” she explained to us.

Unfortunately, some dogs have fears and phobias that we might not be aware of, which means we might have to admire some doggos from far away instead of rewarding them with pets and treats like the good boys and girls they are.

“Other dogs may be over-enthusiastic and might jump up or lick you if their owner isn’t prepared. With these dogs, you might be able to do some positive training by talking to the owner and rewarding the dog with lots of fuss once they’re calm and sitting down,” the pet health expert said.

According to Anna, all dog lovers should take the time to understand canine communication. Our bestest buddies might not be able to talk like us, but their body language tells us a lot about what they’re feeling and thinking.

“Even if the owner gives you the go-ahead to say hello, it’s important to check that the dog is happy and relaxed while you’re greeting them. It’s really important to pay close attention as some doggy indicators can be very subtle or misinterpreted. PDSA’s canine ladder of communication shows how to tell if a dog is stressed or unhappy.”