Welcome to Sit Dog Training Calming Signals

Welcome to Sit Dog Training Calming Signals & Dog body Language Presentation. Please click with your mouse to change the pages when you are ready. www. sitdogtraining. co. uk

Understanding Your Dog and Your Dog Understanding you Learning to speak Canine and recognising Calming Signals, signs and body language to give your dog a stress free life and help you to train your dog successfully. www. sitdogtraining. co. uk

Calming Signals What are they? n Dogs don’t speak English! n They use their own unique mix of body posturing and facial expressions to communicate with each other and us. n Some of these are called calming signals, they are used to calm themselves, other dogs and ourselves. n We can avoid stressful situations by just watching and understanding our dogs. www. sitdogtraining. co. uk

We can use them too! Yes you can learn to speak dog! n We are all familiar with human body language, if a stranger sits close to us and we are not comfortable with them being there, we will probably get up and move away, if we can’t do that then the next course of action will be to avert our eyes, turn our body away, cross our arms and legs away from them. If we feel threatened we may well keep watch on them from the corner of our eyes and walk slowly away. n www. sitdogtraining. co. uk

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

Does she want this mans attention? Do Cleo & Lady really want to sit together to pose for the photo? www. sitdogtraining. co. uk

Are they relaxed and happy in each others company? www. sitdogtraining. co. uk

“Caw I fancy you!” n We may want to be friendly and say hello and so eye contact will be given, our body position will move towards the stranger and a smile or nod will be given. The stranger will probably respond with eye contact and a smile a nod and a verbal greeting and then a conversation usually follows. www. sitdogtraining. co. uk

You are being watched! n n n Your dogs are watching you all the time for your signals. If you are angry but trying not to show it, they will know purely by the expression on your face the tension in your body and the position you are in. If you want to show your dog that you are displeased then , do not shout! Just give him the look, turn away, it is enough! When you are happy with his behaviour, tell him. A simple smile and a cheery voice will do. You may be having difficulty teaching your dog to walk close to your side. Look at your body posture, your hands your energy, what are you saying to your dog? www. sitdogtraining. co. uk

Some Signs & signals n n n n Tongue Flick Yawning Blinking Stretching & Bowing Panting & Drooling Shaking Licking n n n n Head & Body turning Eye Contact Sitting & laying Sniffing the ground Rolling over Paw lifts Shaking Signs of Stress are not always shown in fearful situations but often when your dog is unsure or not understanding what you require from him at that moment. www. sitdogtraining. co. uk

*Happy * Relaxed * Smiling (my favourite photo) Eyes Soft & Squinty. n Mouths open. n Ears hanging relaxed or slightly drawn back. n General lack of tension. n Cleo and Milly are happy but I suspect Cleo is not as comfortable as Milly is, her body position is turned slightly away from Milly. www. sitdogtraining. co. uk

Tongue Flick n n n Tongue Flick Ears slightly back Showing white eye Mouth closed not relaxed A sign of unease, maybe he has been stared at or told off? This is a clients dog, Poppy she is a little shy. Her reaction here is the result of having her picture taken, this is why it is sometimes difficult to get good photos of your dogs. She really would rather not be here right now. www. sitdogtraining. co. uk

Yawning Dogs yawn when they feel slightly stressed by their environment. When they are asked to perform or feeling unsure or confused. n You can yawn in front of your dog to help calm him down. n www. sitdogtraining. co. uk

Blinking n Blinking is always a good sign. It is used to show that they are friendly, mean no harm nor threats. Usually used with the look away. Humans love to get up close and personal with their pets, this can be too much for their pets sometimes and so they will deal with it the only way they know. “I really don’t want your Loving at this moment but I will blink and bear it” And you thought he was enjoying it? Dog Body language Phrase Book by Trevor Warner www. sitdogtraining. co. uk

Stretching & Bowing Our dogs stretch when they get out of their bed, and when they greet us, they bow when they want to play and when they are in prey drive. n It is also used as a calming and submissive posture when in stressful and confusing situations. n Play Bow Dog Body language Phrase Book by Trevor Warner Wild dog stretching www. sitdogtraining. co. uk

Panting Dogs pant to cool themselves n When they are happy and relaxed their tongues hang out. n When they are in a stressful situation the whole expression changes they will look worried too, they will have facial tension and the tongue becomes long and spatulate and possibly drooling will occur. n www. sitdogtraining. co. uk

Shaking n n n Dogs shake, they shake to dry themselves after bathing. They shake to communicate non threatening intent. They also shake when they are coming down from an adrenaline rush. This usually means that they are calming down from an instinctive behaviour (controlled by the hind brain) to a more reasoned behaviour (controlled by the front brain) “phew glad that’s over lets start again” Hind brain = Reactivity, Instinctive behaviour. Flight or Fight mode. n Front Brain = Thinking and responding. n Which one is better for training your dog? n www. sitdogtraining. co. uk

Head & Body turning Sitting, laying & sniffing the ground Meeting & Greeting skills Probably the most noticeable signs we see. Dogs will turn their head away from another dog or us. They may turn their whole body away. n They will sit, lay down and sniff the ground n 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. www. sitdogtraining. co. uk

Dominant - Submissive n Dominant dog displays a forward, tense body posture, paw lift (predatory) ears forward, tail carried high and probably wagging n Submissive dog rolls over and display the most vulnerable part of his body, note the tongue flick, ears back, eyes soft and if he had a tail it would probably be between his legs. www. sitdogtraining. co. uk

Instinct or learned? n Body & sign Language for dogs is instinctive but they also have to learn how to do it properly by firstly their Mother and litter brothers and sisters and then all the other dogs and people that they meet. That is why socialising is imperative and needs to be handled well and sensitively. Most Aggression aimed at other dogs and people is usually through a lack of early socialisation. www. sitdogtraining. co. uk

Keep Safe n By watching for our dogs and other dogs signals we will keep safe. n We need to teach our children to watch and keep safe too. n Here for…. are just a few examples to watch www. sitdogtraining. co. uk

It’s Mine! n Possession is nine tenths of the law in doggy world. Would you take their possessions off them? www. sitdogtraining. co. uk

Beware! n Dogs can be aggressive because they are fearful. Dog Body language Phrase Book by Trevor Warner But you don’t see the signs and back off? … www. sitdogtraining. co. uk

I will bark then to frighten you off! www. sitdogtraining. co. uk Dog Body language Phrase Book by Trevor Warner

Still didn’t read the signs eh! www. sitdogtraining. co. uk

Lets be friends. Good Body language. n Good Body language, to be encouraged! n Pleased to see you! Dog Body language Phrase Book by Trevor Warner www. sitdogtraining. co. uk Dog Body language Phrase Book by Trevor Warner

This is just a taste of our dogs wonderful language and calming signals, please take the time to observe and learn to speak dog! Your faithful companion will be for ever grateful. www. sitdogtraining. co. uk

Thank you! n This presentation was prepared by Susan Fryer www. sitdogtraining. co. uk July 2009 With thanks to… n My dogs, Cleo, Milly & Lady. n Winston the Puppy n Dicken Goodwin Head of Special Sales Anova Books for allowing me to use the wonderful photos from the Dog Body language Phrase Book by Trevor Warner. Buy it! n And the internet. n www. sitdogtraining. co. uk