Over the next three weeks I will be doing a mini-series on my YouTube channel called Decoding Dog Body Language. My goal is to add more videos as I continue working with different dogs.
So often we forget to consider dogs for the animals that they are. I hope that by bringing us back to the basics of dog behavior we will communicate more effectively with our best This will also allow you to read your dogs in different scenarios and always be an advocate for him/her.
All three feature Bubbles, our current foster dog. It’s amazing as we watch her blossom from the shy, shutdown shelter dog into a rambunctious young puppy. Each video shows her progression of learning how to read other dogs’s body language.
If you missed my last blog post that introduced Bubbles and the rules we’ve been setting for her, you can check that out here.
In this first video, Bubbles attempts to initiate play with Rooster, who was laying down. On Instagram I posed the question, who should be corrected? Rooster for snapping at Bubbles? Or, Bubbles for bothering Rooster? In the end I didn’t correct either. I have witnessed Bubbles’s non-reaction to Rooster and want her to continue to learn how other dogs talk to her without constant human intervention. She respected Rooster’s correction and walked off, which is a huge step in the right direction for her.
Knowing your own dog and how they react to other dogs will help everyone. Ideally dogs would teach each other appropriate play. However, if you have a dog who does not react well to pushy dogs, or correction, it is your responsibility to advocate for your dog, in every situation. This is why knowing your own dog is crucial for your relationship. You will gain so much trust with your dog if he/she knows that you will stand up for them when needed.
I’d love to hear how well you understand your dog. Do you think you need to study them in different scenarios more? Or do you have a pretty good feel for who your dog is? Leave it in the comments below or on the video!
Note: Never leave new dogs unsupervised together. Until you have witnessed several interactions, you need to supervise.
