Encountering dogs

Question
I'm a gas and electric meter reader and go in people's homes. When they have
barking dogs I get nervous sometimes. I'm worried they sense this and this
makes me more nervous. I'm interested in dogs and watch TV programmes
qabout them but never had one as a pet. what can I do to decrease my
jumpiness?

Answer
An easy thing to do would be to ask to pet some ones dog either when reading a metor or when you come across one while waking or in a petstore...dogs are often very protective of there home/yard and family and fast or jerky movments or deriect eye contact can trigger a bite response. Dogs in my experiance love there owner and family and would do anything for them and do not like stangers and will gaurd there territory...It is best if youare afraid of a eertin dog is to ask them to please put the dog away before you come in...thats what I do with my dogs when the meter people come by its just common sense.