What dog owners need to know about these yellow ribbons or bandanas on their pets

Taking your dog out for a long walk through fields or around a beautiful lake is one of life's great pleasures.  

And although most dogs love bounding about in parks, elements of a walk can sometimes be stressful for some of our four-legged friends.  

Some dogs get really anxious around other canines and would prefer not to go anywhere near them, which is often hard to implement.

But now there is an initiative which aims to give other dog owners a clear indication that some pets need more space than others, GloucestershireLive reports.  

The Yellow Dog UK project is a simple idea - any dog that needs a bit more space and doesn't like too much attention will have a piece of yellow material attached in some way.

Owners should keep their dog away if they see another pooch with a yellow accessory. (Yellow Dog UK)

That might be a ribbon on its lead or a bandana round its neck, or even some of the official 'I need space' items being sold as part of the project.

The message is that "if you see a dog with a yellow ribbon, bandanna or similar on the leash or on the dog, this is a dog which needs some space." 

What is the 'Yellow Dog UK Project'?   

The Yellow Dog UK Project is a registered charity created to bring awareness to dogs who need space while training, recovering from surgery, or being rehabilitated.

Why might a dog need some space?   

There are many reasons why a dog may need space. 

It may: 

• Have health issues. 
• Be a rescue dog being rehabilitated. The world can be a very scary place for these dogs. 
• Have had a bad experience with another dog or is just not like the kind of friendly dogs that always want to say "Hi!" 
• Be a bitch that may be in heat. 
• Be in training. 
• Be very old and arthritic. 
• Be nervous or shy and other dogs cause it stress.

What should you do if you see one of these yellow markers?   

On the official Yellow Dog UK website it says that when you see one of these dogs, you should not approach.

It says: "Please, do not approach this dog or its people with your dog. They are indicating that their dog cannot be close to other dogs. How close is too close? Only the dog or his people know, so maintain distance and give them time to move out of your way." 

You can purchase any of the Yellow Dog UK scheme markers here.