Do you know why some dogs have yellow ribbons tied to their leashes?

Neither did I until the folks at Bark Avenue Pet Supply in Mesa set me straight.

Turns out a yellow ribbon on a dog leash is an international signal to give the dog some space. It started in Sweden with the idea that yellow means caution and certain dog you should approach cautiously, because of their health or behavioral issues.

Interesting but then I read this blog by Dogknobit, who asked some really good questions like – if you need to tie a yellow ribbon around your dog’s leash, should you be walking this dog around in public? “And finally, isn’t it just plain common sense and courtesy to keep one’s dog from getting in another dog’s face?”

What do you think? Is the yellow ribbon a good way to give a warning or does it signal a lack of responsibility on the human companion’s part?

Me, I am thinking of wearing my own personal a yellow ribbon – maybe it would help me get some space in crowded elevators.