I too would be the one looking for them to come close so I can pet.... I might even try walk past by them in purpose to do so ...

I understand if they are afraid but I hate when people "accept" to touch them but they do so as if they´d have something contagious like flesh eating bacteria or something...

a couple weeks ago we went to this hubby´s friends house to eat... and there was this black lab dog... when he approached me they asked me "are you ok with him?"... of course I laughed... "she loves them" said my hubby... so the dog stayed there... later he came by me and I petted him... he went by his "owners" and they shooed him .. needless to say he came again by me and got more pets... he drooled me, licked me and rest his head on my lap.. I was so ok... but his "owners" thought it was enough so they took him away to another part of the house and locked him in there... I have no clue why... I was loving it and he was loving it.. noone was bothering anyone...