Yellow ribbon

A yellow bow or ribbon indicates a dog who, for a variety of reasons, needs to be given space. The goal might be not only to protect the dog itself, but also other animals and people. The idea behind the yellow ribbon is to not expose an animal to a situation that can sometimes end up being unpleasant for both parties. This small and polite measure can in some cases have a very positive effect on taking your dog partner for a walk.

Most of us associate yellow with the Czech Day Against Cancer. The yellow ribbon or bow for dogs is not talked about so much, and some may not even know about it. This is a very useful and simple label for dogs who need special treatment.
Let’s talk about which dogs need it and which owners will appreciate it.

Examples of when to use a yellow bow:

TIMID INDIVIDUALS

Very often bows are tied to dogs who have bad memories of encounters with other dogs and humans, dogs who have been previously abused and are therefore very wary. They may require being kept at a distance from other animals and humans, even from small children.
For these dogs, the marking serves more to restrict contact until the abused dog’s soul is healed.

DOGS FROM SHELTERS

The yellow bow is used for dogs who need to prepare for a pleasant life in their new home.
The aim is to go for trouble-free walks on a leash and for socialization, which can be complicated – especially in dogs rescued from unsatisfactory conditions – and needs to be done gradually without exposing anyone involved to danger.
The yellow ribbon in this case will help give your dog a quiet space, and learn to behave on ordinary walks.

INJURED DOGS, SICK AND OLD DOGS

These are dogs that need a safe space to recover from injury or illness, and also dogs that are simply old.
For such animals, meeting another dog can sometimes be dangerous.
When trying to be friends and play, they may accidentally injure or otherwise harm themselves. Blind or deaf dogs can also be given a yellow ribbon to wear.
Example: You have a dog with a heart condition who shouldn’t exert themselves too much physically, but they love to play, and it‘s hard to keep an eye on them because they‘ll carry on playing until they keel over for good.
In these cases, too, wearing a bow makes a lot of sense.

FEMALES IN HEAT

Here, the dog-owner can clearly warn others that their dog is in heat and thus avoid any ‘unpleasant complications’ when out walking. The owner should naturally show consideration for others, and not walk their dog in places where there is a large concentration of dogs, so that potential ‘suitors’ are not unnecessarily stressed. It can also be usefully worn by females who have recently had puppies and whose reactions can be unpredictable.

NON-CONTACT OR AGGRESSIVE DOG

Ribbons are a great asset with aggressive dogs. Again, animals may have been abused or attacked in the past.
A bow may not only refer to an aggressive dog, but also to owners who simply do not wish to engage in contact and to be left alone. Yes, such people do exist, and more than you might think!
Also in this case, it’s good to leave the dog some space.

Where to place the ribbon?

You can choose a clearly visible spot on the back of the collar or harness, or else the dog may have it tied around their neck like a scarf. Although in that case others may mistake it for a fashion accessory. It is therefore ideal to have it attached to a leash.
An attached ribbon will be easily visible to other owners from all sides, even at long range.
Unfortunately, the yellow ribbon/bow signal is not a well-known way to alert other owners that they are approaching a dog who requires, for whatever reason, more circumspect treatment.
Perhaps this article will contribute to making this small symbol a great help for dogs and their owners.