Know what your dog is saying you through it's body language seminar at Octoberfest, a FREE community event for all dog lovers, on October 7th at Bloomington Obedience and Training Center!!
Animal rescuers, fosters and dog owners alike who understand canine body language are better able to predict behaviors and reactions, avoid unnecessary bites to other canines and humans, and provide better quality of life for all dogs in their care when they understand the body language of our canine companions.
Learning to understand how to interact with dogs and how they interact with each other does not come over night. It takes time and you must submerge yourself into their world! It truly is like learning a new language.
Come join us for a body language seminar with your dog in our doggy play area with a professional dog trainer and handler!!!
Have a leash reactive dog?? She will also be doing a seminar on reactive dogs that you do not want to miss! If you have a reactive dog and would like her to work with your dog as a demo dog, contact us at dobermanrescue@hotmail.com
Here are some great tips, from the ASPCA, which focus on letting dogs be dogs, plus ensuring your safety and theirs
FIRST TRAIN YOURSELF
Before you interact with dogs, hone your observational skills so you can properly and objectively label body language. For example, note that a dog’s eyes are squinty and his mouth is open rather than “This dog is happy.” Note tail position, stance, whites of eyes.
WATCH DOGS PLAY
Watching dogs play or observing your own dogs at home provides plenty of great fodder for studying canine behaviors and interactions. Train your eyes to correctly identify what you see.
GIVE THEM ROOMIES
Fostering dogs can be wonderful enrichment for adoptable animals, and allows adopters to imagine what the dogs would look like cuddled up with their own pets. Ideal candidates for canine roommates are similar in age, size and play style. Just note, it’s always important to separate dogs at feeding time. Feeding in a crate helps encourage positive crate experiences for the dog.
FEED A BARKING DOG
Many trainers will tell you never to feed a barking dog, as they reason that will reinforce bad behavior. But if a person approaches a barking dog over and over to toss him a treat, he will soon realize that they’re not a threat—they’re bringing delicious snacks, after all. He will likely lose his motivation to bark, and you may start seeing friendly body language instead.
ACT LIKE A HUMAN
It’s an outdated misconception that humans should be dominant over dogs. When we try to act like a dog by using muzzle grabs, alpha rolls and scruff shakes, we likely appear unpredictably aggressive through the dog’s eyes. Dogs don’t see us as dogs, and are likely to respond better to quiet, non-threatening body language. Dogs need to know that they can trust you and you will be honest with them.
KEEP CALM
If a loose dog comes charging at you, these key actions will make you appear less threatening:
Stop all movement
Avoid eye contact
Turn sideways
Cross or lower arms
KNOW WHEN TO STEP IN
It isn’t always easy to tell the difference between two dogs playing or fighting. Here are some signs to look for when determining if you should intervene.
One dog continually chases another, with no role reversal
Bared teeth, ears forward
Head or tail remains high and stiff
Body is stiff, not loose and wiggly
Escape, avoidance or hiding behaviors
If you’re not sure whether both dogs are having fun, try leading the more excited dog away, and see if the other dog follows playfully.
A simple way to discourage some of these unwanted behaviors is a squirt bottle filled with water. Water is harmless and it relays the message to the dog that the behavior they just displayed or might display is unacceptable. The downside....some dogs really love water and actually find this squirt bottle method a super fun water fountain!
