Shy or reactive dog public profile language guide
Use the public profile to describe relevant behavior clearly and ask a finder to contact you. A note should not promise that an unfamiliar dog is safe to handle.
THE DRIYU JOURNAL
Privacy & Trust
In this reading
Quick answer: Use brief, factual wording. Disclose known bite history and relevant risks rather than softening them with reassuring labels. “Please keep your distance and call me” can be more useful than instructions to touch or restrain the dog.
A note about privacy
Public recovery pages may show the information the owner chooses to provide or make visible. Review your settings and Driyu's current Privacy Policy for the latest details. Do not share information publicly that you are not comfortable making visible to a finder.
Calm and specific
Fear does not rule out biting. The AVMA’s bite-prevention guide advises caution around unfamiliar dogs and avoiding forced contact. Describe what you know without promising safe handling.
Good: “Shy with new people; please call me first.” Bad: “She is afraid of everyone.”
Examples
- “Uneasy around unfamiliar people. Please keep your distance and call me.”
- “May react if someone reaches for the collar. Please contact me before handling.”
- “Please call me with the location instead of trying to catch her.”
- “Has a bite history. Keep your distance and call me.”
- “Dislikes being touched by strangers. Please contact me.”
What not to say
- Reassuring labels that hide a known bite history or other relevant risk.
- Insults such as “mean dog” without useful information.
- Promises such as “will never bite” or “always comes for treats.”
- Long paragraphs that bury the contact instruction.
How Driyu fits
Driyu shows saved finder instructions when the pet or tag is marked lost. Six lines is a writing suggestion, not a software limit. Temperament and behavior notes can appear publicly even outside Lost Mode; keep detailed private history in an appropriate private handoff.
Related reads from Driyu
- Writing finder instructions on your pet profile: 6 lines that matter
- Dog reactivity: the calm notes a trainer or behaviorist needs
- Dog bite prevention for families and finders
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
Should I hide my dog’s reactivity?
No. State relevant risks clearly and ask the finder to contact you. Do not make fear-based behavior sound harmless.
What if my dog has a real bite history?
Say so plainly, for example: “Has a bite history. Please keep your distance and call me.” Do not replace that information with a reassuring label.
Will this make my dog look bad?
Focus on accurate information and a clear next step. The purpose is to help the reader make an informed decision, not to make the dog sound more approachable.
Should I mention training?
You may mention a familiar cue if useful, but do not promise obedience around a stranger. Training does not make a public note a handling guarantee.