07/08/2025
Let talk about Dogs correcting Dogs 🐾
One of the most misunderstood parts of dog behavior is when dogs correct each other. Growling, snapping, or giving “the look” are all healthy and normal ways dogs communicate boundaries.
This weekend, we had the perfect example:
We met a lovely woman with a mature, well-balanced dog while we were working with an eager, excitable puppy. After showing signs of calm, neutral behaviour- we let the dogs meet — and when our puppy got to be a little too much, the older dog corrected her with a calm, clear warning.
The woman immediately apologized and moved to remove her dog from the situation, worried he had done something wrong, insisting he is a good dog and has never done that before. But instead of stepping in, I gently explained what was really happening: her dog was teaching mine a lesson I couldn’t — how to respect another dog’s space.
We allowed her dog to stay and continue to advocate for himself. The result?
👉 The puppy respected his boundaries.
👉 She backed off.
👉 And for the first time, she learned to give another dog space.
Dogs speak dog. When we interrupt too soon, overcorrect, or punish for growling, we risk shutting down communication altogether. That’s when misunderstandings escalate, they stop giving warnings and dog fights occur— not because they’re “aggressive,” but because they were never allowed to advocate for themselves.
💡 Instead of shutting it down, learn to observe:
👉 Is one dog setting a fair boundary?
👉 Is the other dog respecting that boundary?
👉 Are both dogs capable of working it out themselves?
Dogs are incredibly good at advocating for their own comfort when given the chance. And more often than not, when we allow dogs to communicate — within reason and safety — they resolve things far better than we can for them!
So the next time you hear a growl, pause before reacting.
✨ Ask yourself: “Is this a correction or a conflict?”
✨ And remember: a growl is a conversation, not a confrontation.
That said — not every situation is a “let them work it out” moment.
Every dog is different. Every dynamic is different. Be mindful of their body language, and make sure you’re able to advocate for both dogs if needed. Safety and awareness should always come first.
Check out this T-E-M-P body language chart to start recognizing and understanding your dog’s signals.
Learning to read their Tail, Eyes, Mouth, and Posture can tell you everything you need to know about how they’re really feeling. 👀🐾
Huge thank you to the kind woman we ran into — I appreciate you being open to the moment, letting me explain what was really happening, and walking away with something valuable from it. Moments like that make all the difference.
