Though he's yet to appear on a debate stage, former NYC mayor, multi-billionaire, and Democratic presidential candidate is performing surprisingly well in primary polls. However, he may have just endangered his standing with the dog constituency after he made an egregious gaffe in dog etiquette when he attempted to shake a dog's snout like he would a hand.

While campaigning in Burlington, Vermont yesterday, Fmr. Mayor Michael Bloomberg met a dog. #Campaign2020 pic.twitter.com/AKAj8nMZhv

— Nicole Sganga (@NicoleSganga) January 28, 2020

It is not the first time the Mayor has grabbed a dog's face rather than pet its soft, good boy head, as reporter Aaron Blake pointed out.

Apparently this is not even the first time Mike Bloomberg has greeted a dog by shaking its snout. pic.twitter.com/oTxMY2M40Y

— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) January 28, 2020

Needless to say, the extremely important political gaffe took Twitter by storm.

Is … is this the first dog Mike Bloomberg has ever met? https://t.co/CogHuMzoMH

— Shaker Samman (@ShakerSamman) January 28, 2020

"How do you do, fellow mammal?" https://t.co/QX9yuArpCg

— Orli Matlow (@HireMeImFunny) January 28, 2020

That is, without question, the weirdest way to pet a dog ever https://t.co/Z10NeVKjeO

— Matt Vereen (@MattVereen) January 28, 2020

In an attempt to jump ahead of the Snout-gate firestorm, the Bloomberg campaign posted an ad showing how much dogs actually love the mayor.

Dog people get me. Dogs too. #DogsFurMike pic.twitter.com/gGejm10vZQ

— Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) January 29, 2020

At the time of writing, there is no change in Bloomberg's polling numbers among dogs. He seems to have escaped snout-gate unscathed, but dogs everywhere will surely be on the lookout the next time the mayor comes around.