If your dog could talk. Part 1.

If my dog could talk, he would probably say something along the lines of:

JASPER: Is it morning already? Can we just snuggle a little longer? I want under the covers. Hey! Mom! Move your leg so I can curl up between your knees…your toes smell nice…I’m going to lick them. Why are you getting up?….DON’T LEAVE ME!

Or something like that.

Truth be told, Jasper doesn’t need to be able to talk to tell me all these things, his body language does a great job of communicating his displeasure, excitement, anxiety, and adoration…you just need to know what to look for.

How well do you know your dog?

Everybody’s dog is different in the way they like to communicate. This is due to various factors such as breed, colour, age, health, body alterations (ear cropping, tail docking) or previous experience (has this behaviour worked in the past?)

Being able to recognize when your dog is feeling relaxed vs stressed (or aroused vs playful) may sound really simple, but if this was truly the case there would be no more fights in dog parks, and the number of children bitten by a family dog would dramatically decrease.

The truth is, as a community of dog loving people we are really bad at recognizing even the most basic signs of stress in our dogs, and it puts them at great risk.

Here’s something to think about.

When someone asks you if they can pet your dog, what do you say?

Do you say YES because you don’t want to seem rude?

Does your dog actually enjoy being patted on the top of their head by a stranger?

What if I were to tell you that your dog probably wants absolutely nothing to do with that strange person (who’s now standing way too close to them), and that the top of their head is their least favourite place to be patted…even by you?

It’s true. Almost all dogs will show mild to moderate signs of discomfort when approached, and/or touched by a stranger. Mind blowing, I know.

…but I couldn’t possibly be talking about YOUR dog…could I?

Are you ready for some good news?

Getting good at readying your dog’s body language isn’t hard, it just takes a little patience and practice. But I will give you a heads up, once you know what to look for it’s going to be really hard to ignore all the early warning signs.

So, get ready to start saying A BIG FAT NO to unwanted attention from strangers on the street - you are about to become your dog’s first line of defence, and BFF.

Where to start?

With many of my clients I like to start the conversation about Dog Body Language while out on our first on-leash walk. The topic flows naturally as their dog explores the neighbourhood:

Enjoying good smells - body loose, tail relaxed.

Alerting to the sound of nearby dogs barking - body stiff, mouth closed, ears alert.

Stoping to say hi to a good friend - body wiggly, tongue flopped out, tail going in circles.

I’ll often take short videos of their dog that we review later, allowing us to reflect on cues and signals that their owner may have missed in the moment.

During this first session I like to hone in on one really big signal, that many dog owners are often oblivious to:

The Freeze

The Freeze often goes unnoticed by owners. There’s no big Lip Lick, or teeth being shown in warning. In fact, to the inexperienced eye there’s not really much going on at all, and that’s why it so important for owners to be able to recognize it when it happens and respond appropriately.

Either, something has caught your dog’s attention, and they’re in the process of deciding whether it’s a threat or not.

Or, your dog is experiencing something unpleasant, and the Freeze is your dog’s signal that they’re under stress.

What does the Freeze look like?

Typically it involves the lack of movement (hence the name), body will stiffen, mouth closed, and eyes will be wide open and unblinking, and it may only last a couple of seconds - another reason it’s so easy to miss.

The biggest clue that your dog has Frozen is their lack of engagement with you.

If you’re out on a walk and your dog spots something that’s unusual, or a potential threat, your dog will slowdown/stop, and will generally ignore your attempts to get them moving again until the risk has been assessed.

If your dog is on the receiving end of unwanted attention, a Freeze will often involve leaning away from the person, and/or showing a whale eye (the white of their eye is visible).

What should you do if your dog has Frozen?

Basically anytime there’s a lack of movement (especially when you would normally expect there to be some), it’s a warning sign that your dog is experiencing stress and may require your help.

Most dogs when they’re greeting someone they love, their body is all over the place with excitement. They’re wiggly, with a ‘happy” open mouth, and a tail that has a mind of it’s own. If your dog isn’t engaging with the affection that’s being offered, then they are probably just putting up with it, and there’s a chance that they may snap if their personal space continues to be threatened.

How can you be sure?

Hold off on the attention for a moment. Allow your dog to move away if they choose, and if they want more they will make it known (especially if they are anything like my dog).

A note on personal space. Despite what we subject them to, very few dogs actually enjoy being hugged. If you’re a hugger, watch if your dog shifts their weight, and turns their head away next time you go in for a cuddle.

Need proof? Get someone to take a photo for you. If you were to let go of your dog would they stay and snuggle, or get up and move away?

If you’re out on the street and your dog encounters something new, give them the time and space to properly check it out. This will involve hanging out at a distance until your dog is feeling more comfortable, and avoiding the urge to push them closer. Your dog does not need to approach the object/person unless they want to, and rushing them before they’re ready can undo the good work you’ve done so far.

Did you see the clown across the street?

Image being scared of clowns, and you spot one across the street. You Freeze. Is this a happy clown, or a scary one? You’re not sure….but the person you’re walking with is in a rush to get going and they hurry you to move on.

Is that clown going to follow you? You want to make sure you’re safe, but now you don’t know where the clown is…is it going to jump out from behind a bush and scare you?

Cortisol levels increase, and you’re now on high alert.

This is how many dogs feel when out on walks with their people.

When you’d first spotted that clown, if you’d been allowed to watch it from a safe distance (even for just a few seconds), you would have concluded that it was if fact a safe clown, on it’s away to a birthday party.

You could have carried on enjoying your walk, thinking no more about it.

In fact, the next time you spot a clown you may recognize it as being the happy one, without having to Freeze first.

Something to practice with your dog.

Can you see how recognizing the Freeze, and allowing your dog the time and space to assess a situation before moving on (or getting closer), can really go a long way to helping your dog feel more comfortable and confidant when faced with novel items or new situations?

My challenge for you this week is to look out for (and spot), anytime your dog Freezes out on a walk.

Give your dog the time and space to check out whatever it is that’s caught their attention, or in the case of your dog’s personal space being invaded, give your dog the choice to move away…without them having to escalate their stress signals further. More on that in part 2.