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Welcome to Sit Dog TrainingWelcome to Sit Dog TrainingCalming Signals & Dog body Calming Signals & Dog body Language Presentation.Language Presentation.

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Understanding Your DogUnderstanding Your Dogand Your Dog and Your Dog

Understanding youUnderstanding youLearning to speak CanineLearning to speak Canine

and recognising Calming Signals, and recognising Calming Signals, signs signs

and body language to give your and body language to give your dogdog

a stress free life and help you to a stress free life and help you to train train

your dog successfully.your dog successfully.


Calming SignalsCalming SignalsWhat are they?What are they?

Dogs don’t speak English!Dogs don’t speak English! They use their own unique mix of body They use their own unique mix of body

posturing and facial expressions to posturing and facial expressions to communicate with each other and us.communicate with each other and us.

Some of these are called calming Some of these are called calming signals, they are used to calm signals, they are used to calm themselves, other dogs and ourselves.themselves, other dogs and ourselves.

We can avoid stressful situations by We can avoid stressful situations by just watching and understanding our just watching and understanding our dogs.dogs.


We can use them too!We can use them too! Yes you can learn to speak dog!Yes you can learn to speak dog! We are all familiar with human body We are all familiar with human body

language, if a stranger sits close to us and language, if a stranger sits close to us and we are not comfortable with them being we are not comfortable with them being there, we will probably get up and move there, we will probably get up and move away, if we can’t do that then the next away, if we can’t do that then the next course of action will be to avert our eyes, course of action will be to avert our eyes, turn our body away, cross our arms and turn our body away, cross our arms and legs away from them. If we feel threatened legs away from them. If we feel threatened we may well keep watch on them from the we may well keep watch on them from the corner of our eyes and walk slowly away.corner of our eyes and walk slowly away.


What if we can’t get away, we What if we can’t get away, we are feeling Scared, trapped or are feeling Scared, trapped or

ThreatenedThreatened ?? So if we then felt cornered, scared, unable So if we then felt cornered, scared, unable

to get away, we then get an adrenalin rush, to get away, we then get an adrenalin rush, we may have to raise our voice to tell the we may have to raise our voice to tell the other person that we do not want their other person that we do not want their attention if then that doesn’t work we would attention if then that doesn’t work we would have no other course of action to take but have no other course of action to take but to attack and run. But this would be the last to attack and run. But this would be the last resort. This is no different to how our dogs resort. This is no different to how our dogs act, but often they are then labelled as an act, but often they are then labelled as an aggressive dog. By teaching ourselves to aggressive dog. By teaching ourselves to spot the warning signs, body language we spot the warning signs, body language we can protect our dogs or take avoiding can protect our dogs or take avoiding action.action.


Does she want this Does she want this mans attention?mans attention?

Do Cleo & Lady really Do Cleo & Lady really want to sit together want to sit together

to pose for the to pose for the photo?photo?


Are they relaxed and happy in Are they relaxed and happy in each others company?each others company?


““Caw I fancy you!”Caw I fancy you!”

We may want to be friendly We may want to be friendly and say hello and so eye and say hello and so eye contact will be given, our contact will be given, our body position will move body position will move towards the stranger and a towards the stranger and a smile or nod will be given. smile or nod will be given. The stranger will probably The stranger will probably respond with eye contact and respond with eye contact and a smile a nod and a verbal a smile a nod and a verbal greeting and then a greeting and then a conversation usually follows.conversation usually follows.


You are being watched!You are being watched! Your dogs are watching you all the time for your Your dogs are watching you all the time for your

signals.signals. If you are angry but trying not to show it, they will If you are angry but trying not to show it, they will

know purely by the expression on your face the know purely by the expression on your face the tension in your body and the position you are in.tension in your body and the position you are in.

If you want to show your dog that you are displeased If you want to show your dog that you are displeased then , do not shout! then , do not shout!

Just give him the look, turn away, it is enough!Just give him the look, turn away, it is enough! When you are happy with his behaviour, tell him.When you are happy with his behaviour, tell him. A simple smile and a cheery voice will do.A simple smile and a cheery voice will do. You may be having difficulty teaching your dog to walk You may be having difficulty teaching your dog to walk

close to your side. Look at your body posture, your close to your side. Look at your body posture, your hands your energy, what are you saying to your dog?hands your energy, what are you saying to your dog?


Some Signs & signals Some Signs & signals

Head & Body turningHead & Body turning Eye ContactEye Contact Sitting & layingSitting & laying Sniffing the groundSniffing the ground Rolling overRolling over Paw liftsPaw lifts ShakingShaking

Signs of Stress are not always shown in Signs of Stress are not always shown in fearful situations but often when your dog fearful situations but often when your dog is unsure or not understanding what you is unsure or not understanding what you require from him at that moment.require from him at that moment.

Tongue FlickTongue Flick YawningYawning BlinkingBlinking Stretching & BowingStretching & Bowing Panting & DroolingPanting & Drooling ShakingShaking LickingLicking


*Happy * Relaxed * Smiling*Happy * Relaxed * Smiling(my favourite photo)(my favourite photo)

Eyes Soft & Eyes Soft & Squinty.Squinty.

Mouths open.Mouths open. Ears hanging Ears hanging

relaxed relaxed

or slightly drawn or slightly drawn back.back.

General lack of General lack of tension.tension.Cleo and Milly are happy but I suspect Cleo is not as Cleo and Milly are happy but I suspect Cleo is not as

comfortable as Milly is, her body position is turned comfortable as Milly is, her body position is turned slightly away from Milly.slightly away from Milly.


Tongue FlickTongue Flick Tongue FlickTongue Flick Ears slightly backEars slightly back Showing white eyeShowing white eye Mouth closed not relaxedMouth closed not relaxed A sign of unease, maybe he A sign of unease, maybe he

has been stared at or told off?has been stared at or told off?

This is a clients dog, Poppy she is a This is a clients dog, Poppy she is a little shy.little shy.Her reaction here is the result of having Her reaction here is the result of having her picture taken, this is why it is her picture taken, this is why it is sometimes difficult to get good photos sometimes difficult to get good photos of your dogs. of your dogs. She really would rather not be here She really would rather not be here right now.right now.


YawningYawning Dogs yawn when they feel slightly stressed Dogs yawn when they feel slightly stressed

by their environment. When they are asked by their environment. When they are asked to perform or feeling unsure or confused.to perform or feeling unsure or confused.

You can yawn in front of your dog to help You can yawn in front of your dog to help calm him down.calm him down.


BlinkingBlinking Blinking is always a good sign. It is used to show Blinking is always a good sign. It is used to show

that they are friendly, mean no harm nor threats. that they are friendly, mean no harm nor threats. Usually used with the look away. Humans love to Usually used with the look away. Humans love to get up close and personal with their pets, this can get up close and personal with their pets, this can be too much for their pets sometimes and so they be too much for their pets sometimes and so they will deal with it the only way they know.will deal with it the only way they know.

Dog Body language Phrase Book by Trevor Warner

““I really don’t want your I really don’t want your Loving at this moment Loving at this moment but I will blink and bear it”but I will blink and bear it”

And you thought he was And you thought he was enjoying it?enjoying it?


Stretching & BowingStretching & Bowing Our dogs stretch when Our dogs stretch when

they get out of their bed, they get out of their bed, and when they greet us, and when they greet us, they bow when they want they bow when they want to play and when they are to play and when they are in prey drive. in prey drive.

It is also used as a calming It is also used as a calming and submissive posture and submissive posture when in stressful and when in stressful and confusing situations.confusing situations.


Play Bow

Wild dog stretching


PantingPanting Dogs pant to cool Dogs pant to cool

themselvesthemselves When they are happy When they are happy and relaxed their tongues and relaxed their tongues

hang out.hang out. When they are in a stressful When they are in a stressful

situation the situation the whole expression changes whole expression changes they will look worried too, they will look worried too, they will have facial tension they will have facial tension and the tongue becomes and the tongue becomes long and spatulate and long and spatulate and possibly drooling will occur.possibly drooling will occur.


ShakingShaking

Dogs shake, they shake to dry themselves after Dogs shake, they shake to dry themselves after bathing.bathing.

They shake to communicate non threatening intent.They shake to communicate non threatening intent. They also shake when they are coming down from They also shake when they are coming down from

an adrenaline rush. This usually means that they an adrenaline rush. This usually means that they are calming down from an instinctive behaviour are calming down from an instinctive behaviour (controlled by the hind brain) to a more reasoned (controlled by the hind brain) to a more reasoned behaviour (controlled by the front brain)behaviour (controlled by the front brain)

“ “phew glad that’s over lets start again”phew glad that’s over lets start again” Hind brain = Reactivity, Instinctive behaviour. Hind brain = Reactivity, Instinctive behaviour.

Flight or Fight mode.Flight or Fight mode. Front Brain = Thinking and responding.Front Brain = Thinking and responding. Which one is better for training your dog?Which one is better for training your dog?


Head & Body turningHead & Body turningSitting, laying & sniffing the Sitting, laying & sniffing the

groundgroundMeeting & Greeting skillsMeeting & Greeting skills

Probably the most Probably the most noticeable signs we noticeable signs we see. Dogs will turn see. Dogs will turn their head away their head away from another dog or from another dog or us. They may turn us. They may turn their whole body their whole body away.away.

They will sit, lay They will sit, lay down and sniff the down and sniff the groundground

Milly & Cleo teaching Winston a puppy Client, valuable greeting and meeting skills.

How many can you spot?

Click on photo with mouse to view video, after viewing click slide to continue presentation.


Dominant - SubmissiveDominant - Submissive

Submissive dog rolls over and display the Submissive dog rolls over and display the most vulnerable part of his body, note the most vulnerable part of his body, note the tongue flick, ears back, eyes soft and if he had tongue flick, ears back, eyes soft and if he had a tail it would probably be between his legs.a tail it would probably be between his legs.

Dominant dog displays a forward, tense body Dominant dog displays a forward, tense body posture, paw lift (predatory) ears forward, tail posture, paw lift (predatory) ears forward, tail carried high and probably waggingcarried high and probably wagging


Instinct or learned?Instinct or learned? Body & sign Language for dogs is instinctive Body & sign Language for dogs is instinctive

but they also have to learn how to do it but they also have to learn how to do it properly by firstly their Mother and litter properly by firstly their Mother and litter brothers and sisters and then all the other brothers and sisters and then all the other dogs and people that they meet. That is why dogs and people that they meet. That is why socialising is imperative and needs to be socialising is imperative and needs to be handled well and sensitively. Most handled well and sensitively. Most Aggression aimed at other dogs and people is Aggression aimed at other dogs and people is usually through a lack of early socialisation.usually through a lack of early socialisation.


Keep SafeKeep Safe

By watching for our dogs and other By watching for our dogs and other dogs signals we will keep safe.dogs signals we will keep safe.

We need to teach our children to We need to teach our children to watch and keep safe too.watch and keep safe too.

Here are just a few examples to Here are just a few examples to watch for….watch for….


It’s Mine!It’s Mine!

Possession is nine tenths Possession is nine tenths

of the law in doggy world.of the law in doggy world.

Would you take their possessions off them?


Beware!Beware! Dogs can be aggressive because they are Dogs can be aggressive because they are

fearful.fearful.


But you don’t see the signs and back off? …But you don’t see the signs and back off? …


I will bark then to frighten you I will bark then to frighten you off!off!



Still didn’t read the signs Still didn’t read the signs eh!eh!


Lets be friends.Lets be friends.Good Body language.Good Body language.

Good Body language, to be Good Body language, to be encouraged!encouraged!

Pleased to see you!Pleased to see you!




This is just a taste of our dogs This is just a taste of our dogs wonderful language and calming wonderful language and calming signals, please take the time to signals, please take the time to

observe and learn to speak dog! observe and learn to speak dog!

Your faithful companion Your faithful companion will be for ever grateful.will be for ever grateful.


This presentation was prepared by This presentation was prepared by Susan Fryer Susan Fryer www.sitdogtraining.co.ukwww.sitdogtraining.co.uk July 2009July 2009 With thanks to…With thanks to… My dogs, Cleo, Milly & Lady.My dogs, Cleo, Milly & Lady. Winston the PuppyWinston the Puppy

Dicken GoodwinDicken GoodwinHead of Special Sales Head of Special Sales Anova BooksAnova Books for allowing me to use the wonderful photos from the for allowing me to use the wonderful photos from the Dog Body language Phrase Book by Trevor Warner. Buy it!

And the internet.

Thank you!Thank you!

www.sitdogtraining.co.uk welcome to sit dog training calming signals & dog body language...

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