I know how Halo Purely for Pets has teamed up with Mimi from Freekibble in their shared dedication to helping shelter pets eat premium food. But of course the real goal is to get those animals out of shelters and into loving homes, yet that first meeting with a new dog can make or break a possible match between them.

So I shared a video with the Halo community about a good way to introduce yourself to a dog for the first time. This can be helpful not just in shaking paws with a dog you hope to make your own, but with any dog who is a stranger to you.

There are people who don’t have dogs or are not comfortable with dogs. I like to help them learn how to greet a dog they don’t know. Dog lovers are always happy to meet a new dog, but the feeling isn’t always mutual. Here’s the correct way to meet a dog for the first time.

Watch this video:

Tracie Hotchner, author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible, guest blogs here every Thursday on healthy, natural choices for pets.