We begin this week’s “RUFF TAILS” featuring a beautiful Golden Retriever named Soleil.
Soleil is your perfect canine companion!!! She is loving, sweet, and a happy girl.
She is a true Golden Retriever and loves her food!!! (makes reward training easy) lol.
Soleil loves chewing bones and sticks, but will eat anything and everything, toilet paper included. She is adventurous and she loves her daily walks and trail runs.
Soleil loves people, and other dogs, however, she is a high energy canine. She was a dream puppy but became a defiant teenager, with no recall and jumping up on counters. Thankfully she is smart and learns quickly, and likes to please, therefore we are making strides in our training sessions.
Welcome to Doggie Dialogue
It is so important for dog owners to understand that dogs primarily communicate using body language.
We often hear stories about dogs who have just bit a family member, stranger, or even themselves, the owner, “out of nowhere”. The truth is dogs rarely bite with no warning.
There are several warning signs for you to look for that will help you understand if your dog is stressed or uncomfortable in a particular situation.
Here are a few tips to look for:
1. Pacing---your K9 is pacing back and forth and can’t seem to settle down.
2. Freezing--- your K9’s body gets stiff, your dog gets fixated, and they are so stressed that they can’t handle the “situation”, therefore this can lead to the next step, which maybe a bite.
3. Reading their Body Language--- your K9 has raised hackles, or a tucked tail, also lip-licking, yawning, panting, including whale eye (when dogs reveal the whites of their eyes) are all signs of K9 stress.
4. Barking or Whining---K9’s when under stress cannot control their barking or whining, they are trying to tell you they are concerned about something.
5. Growling---this is a sign in your K9 when they are feeling threatened, someone is in their space, and this is a warning.
The best way to calm your dog down is to identify what is stressing them and eliminate the trigger.
Should you need assistance in understanding your K9’s body language, please feel free to reach out to Paul at any time.
Great article