31/12/2023
Can you read your dog’s body language?
This shared post is just one of the reasons I trained with Canine Principles.
If you would like help in interpreting the nuances of your dog’s body language to better understand them and deepen your relationship, please contact me. I’d love to help you.
A significant concern within the realm of online dog training is the inability of some trainers, who have recently ventured into offering online courses, to recognise and correctly interpret canine body language. This deficiency raises serious questions about their understanding of dog behaviour and the welfare standards within their programmes.
Dogs communicate primarily through body language, with subtle changes in posture, ear position, facial expressions, and tail movement being critical indicators of a dog's emotional state. A properly trained and ethical trainer should be able to read these signs and understand when a dog is feeling uncomfortable, anxious, or worried, then react appropriately to help the dog.
There are way too many examples where online dog trainers feature images or videos on their platforms where dogs appear uncomfortable or anxious. If a trainer cannot recognise these signals in dogs that are depicted in their own promotional materials, it casts doubt on their ability to ensure the wellbeing of dogs within their training programmes.
Moreover, it implies a lack of understanding or disregard for ethical training methods which prioritise a dog's welfare and mental state.
The ability to recognise the signals of a worried or stressed dog is fundamental to any form of dog training, and particularly critical when it comes to teaching others about dog welfare and behaviour. If a trainer cannot accurately identify and interpret canine emotions, how can they guide others to nurture happy and well-adjusted dogs?
Alarmingly, the lack of understanding or empathy from some trainers can indeed contribute to a culture where dogs are pushed around or treated inappropriately. Rather than fostering a bond based on trust, respect, and mutual understanding, these methods risk promoting practices that can harm a dog's mental wellbeing, creating stress, fear, and mistrust.
It's essential, therefore, to critically evaluate the online presence and promotional materials of any dog trainers offering online courses.
At Canine Principles, we ensure our tutors and team are not only qualified to recognise signs of distress in dogs but are also committed to using positive, ethical training methods which place the dogs' wellbeing at the heart of everything we do.
By promoting a compassionate, empathetic approach to dog training, we not only safeguard the dogs' wellbeing but also cultivate a deeper, more rewarding relationship between humans and dogs. We believe that our ultimate goal should be to enhance the lives of our canine companions, treating them with the respect and understanding they deserve.
Dog Behaviourist 
