Body Language: Aim for Fluency

Speaking your dog's language. It needs to take priority guys. Every day, I work with clients either in the world of private training or at the vet's office, who are so well-intentioned and love their dog more than anything but just can't understand them when their dog is speaking to them loud and clear.

... Oh wait (here comes the sass)... did you think your dog yawning meant he was tired or bored? Not likely. Did you think that when you told your dog to do something and he looked int he other direction, he was ignoring you? Not likely. When he didn't respond to a cue he knows beautifully at home but he instead chose to suddenly start smelling what was happening below him... was he being disobedient? Maybe. But ... can you guess? Likely not.

These are all clear cues that your dog is intentionally trying to disengage. But guess what?
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If you didn't know this, it's totally okay! No one taught you. We learn that a dog wagging his tail is happy. NOPE. That's dispel that myth immediately, please! Many dog bites and fights happen despite wagging tails. We think that when a dog is being calm at the vet's office, he's doing really well! Again, NOPE. Unless you're getting full body wiggles, an approach toward you, and a helicopter tail, there's no guarantee that you have a happy dog.

When you know better, you do better, right? Now I'd like you to know - you need to look at the context. Don't assume your dog is choosing to be ill-mannered or "disobedient" when in fact, he may be stressed out, under pressure, anxious. We don't want to finally clue in when we get the growl, the snap, or the bite. Nor do we want to clue in when he starts trembling, tucking his tail, or running away.

​Let's listen to them when they whisper their discomfort, rather than waiting for the "shout".

Because I so passionately believe in the need for education surrounding this topic, I want to share a cheat sheet with you. 
Signs to watch for that indicate the severity and seriousness of what your dog is trying to say
I encourage you to print and share this cheat sheet in an effort for educate yourself, your family, your neighbors, your family, your friends!

Interested in learning more? 
Grab my free video training on Body Language, including a CHEAT SHEET for your fridge

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