"Please, allow me to hear what you said again." Lycaon said calmly, though you could tell that you had taken him by surprise with your request to pat him.

It's not normally something he's used to experiencing. It's true that many children ask him to pet his tail or ears, but he gently and respectfully rejects every proposal that comes from a stranger.

And you're certainly no stranger to him. So why not give it a try?