It is a well-known, and widely ignored, fact that you should never approach a strange dog. However, most people cannot help themselves whenever they come across a cute pooch on the sidewalk. More often than not, the dog loves the attention, but there are dogs that really should not be approached.

The Yellow Dog Project was created especially for that type of dog. It is a non-profit organization working toward educating people on properly approaching dogs. They advise owners to tie a yellow ribbon on their dog’s leash or collar. This identifies those dogs as “yellow dogs.”

All dogs are not yellow dogs, though. According to The Yellow Dog Project’s website, “Yellow dogs are dogs who need space,” and the owner should be asked permission before petting the dog.

This does not mean yellow dogs are “aggressive dogs,” as the site states. The site further explains that yellow dogs are “more often dogs who have issues of fear, pain from recent surgery, are a rescue or shelter dog who has not yet had sufficient training or mastered obedience, are in training for work or service or are in service,” or other specificities.

Furthermore, The Yellow Dog Project informs people about what the program is distinctly not about. They warn dog owners that The Yellow Dog Project is not: an excuse to avoid training your dog, an admission of guilt [you’re not alone and should not feel guilty about the yellow ribbon] and the yellow ribbon is not a waiver of responsibility in case accidents arise.

For example, I have two beagles back home in Chicago. They are both rescues with an unclear story of their parents and their past. Moose, the smaller dog, is very calm and kind to all people. Marley, on the other hand, is not easy to handle around strangers. He gets too threatened and protective, which can lead to him snapping at strangers.

By no means is Marley a mean dog that needs to be put down. Whenever he interacts with people he’s comfortable around, he is a very sweet dog. Most people would not believe that if they saw Marley in a heavily populated park.

My mother discovered The Yellow Dog Project and promptly tied a bow on Marley’s collar. It has not been smooth-sailing so far since most people are unaware of what the yellow ribbon means. However, spreading the word helps this project protect humans and especially dogs.

There has never been any project similar to this that has achieved success. This program could be extremely beneficial if people, whether you own a dog or not, all participated.

According to Dogs Bite, in 2013 there were 32 fatal dog attacks in the United States. While this was a slight decrease from the 38 fatal attacks in 2012, this number is still unacceptable. With the information provided by The Yellow Dog Project, attacks would become even rarer.

The Yellow Dog Project does state that just putting a yellow ribbon in your dog will not be enough. Dog owners need to take responsibility and act for solutions rather than taking the easy way out.

The project provides copious information on stores, trainers, veterinarians and other helpful places to find help with training your yellow dog. This will require some extra work on the owner’s behalf, but taking care of animals is like taking care of a child. Owners should accept the responsibility of properly training and caring for their pet before rescuing or buying.

Another wonderful benefit about The Yellow Dog Project is that there is no fee or registration required for yellow dogs. Owners simply tie a yellow ribbon on their yellow dog’s collar or leash.

Just because a yellow ribbon is present does not mean the dog cannot be approached at all. It could imply that the dog may not like to be pet in a certain spot or likes to sniff your hand first. Only the owner could inform you, so asking is vital. It’s also important to remember that a dog that is considered a yellow dog may not have a yellow ribbon on. Always remember to ask an owner’s permission and accidents can generally be avoided.