What It Means When You See a Dog Wearing a Yellow Ribbon

Have you ever seen a dog wearing a yellow ribbon? Perhaps you thought the pooch recently had a trip to the groomer or it was just a fashion statement. It could, in fact, mean so much more though.

There's an actual project -- the Yellow Dog Project -- that is trying to let you know these dogs might need a little extra space. There's an acronym for these animals too: "DINOS, Dogs In Need Of Space."

Dogs with a yellow ribbon or bandana could indicate that they need a little extra space from strangers. (Image source: Facebook)

According to the project's Facebook page, these dogs can include those who are in training, are recovering from surgery or are in some other sort of rehabilitation.

This dog owner created a short video showing the Yellow Dog Project put in action:

The project is very clear in stating that wearing a yellow ribbon is not an excuse for dog owners to avoid proper training or to use as a "waiver of responsibility."

This poster describes the purpose of the Yellow Dog Project. (Image source: Facebook)

The program "hopes to educate the public and dog owners to identify dogs needing space, promote appropriate contact of dogs and assist dog parents to identify their dog as needing space."

The project was started by Tara Palardy, a dog trainer in Alberta, Canada, in 2012 with official ribbons beginning to roll out in 2013, though the group encourages owners to use their own ribbons if they wish.

Image source: Facebook

Image source: Facebook

“I had no idea thousands of people would join. I figured some friends, other trainers...but nothing global. And Surprise! Here we are," Palardy said in a statement as the project gained traction in the last couple years.

(H/T: The I Love Dogs Site)

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