True Nature Dog Training and Behavior

10/28/2022

Tongue Flicks or Licking the Nose

A Tongue Flick is a very quick movement of the tongue. It’s different from a panting tongue which is more “relaxed”. Tongue Flicks are indications of personal space violations. They can be used for negotiation, as an early warning, or as an indicator of stress. As a calming signal, dogs use it to calm themselves down and reassure the person/dog that is causing the emotional stress. A Tongue Flick is given in the direction of whatever is concerning the dog. For example, if a stranger walks up to the dog’s side, their tongue can stick out sideways!

Some examples:
- Unfamiliar person/dog interacts with the dog
- Somebody bends over the dog or directly approaches them, and then outstretches their hands
- A dog that is uncomfortable in a small space with too many invaders (ex. Vet check-ups)
- A dog meets an unfamiliar animal or object

As always, this signal will be accompanied by body language according to the situation. :)

05/06/2022

The best way to bond with your dog is to do something that both of you enjoy together! Take your dog into nature, give yourself time to relax and connect with your dog on completely different level.

01/02/2022

Happy New 2022 Year to all my clients and friends!!! I wish you spend more time with your furry friends!

12/30/2021

Yawning

Dogs yawn when they are slightly stressed by something in the environment. It can be something very simple, such as a dog or person passing by a little too closely. A common reason dogs yawn is when they feel confused or frustrated by their current situation.

Dogs will also yawn when a person or dog places social pressure on them - such as telling the dog to stay and then “staring” at him with the eye of a camera.

A dog may yawn in many situations, such as when he goes to the veterinarian, you hold him too tight, or a child goes to hug him.

“Stress” yawns can look slightly different depending on the individual and the situation. In general, the dog will draw his ears back and open his mouth very wide. There is not an intentional show of teeth. Sometimes the dog will squint his eyes. Other times, his eyes will be open and he will Look Away (see post from March 21).

You yourself can use yawning as a calming signal to your dog when he feels a little bit scared, uncertain, stressed, or worried. Even when the dog gets excited, yawning can help him relax.

Fun Fact: It is more common for dogs to yawn when their owners yawn than when strangers do!

03/21/2021

Look Away or Head Turning

A signal can be a swift movement, with the either turning his head to the side and back, or holding his head to one side for some time. It can be just a tiny movement, or the whole head can be clearly and deliberately turned to the side for several seconds. You dog might turn his head when you try to take a photo of him telling you that he feels uncomfortable.

Look Away accompanied by a happy, open mouth or relaxed jaw, is a friendly signal. But more often Look Away is a calming signal.

You dog may use head turning to tell an approaching dog to calm down. Perhaps the other dog approached yours too quickly, or approached him directly head on instead of in a curve. For example, when two dogs meet, they usually both look away for a second, and then they greet each other happily. A head turn diverts a direct eye contact. When one dog turns his head another will often answer by doing the same.

If a dog is stressed, he will often look in the opposite direction of the stressor. This kind of Look Away is avoidance, and it will be accompanied by body tension and facial tension. If somebody invades personal space, and it makes the dog uneasy, he will use Look Away. It will be accompanied by the signals of stress: lip licking, mild facial tension, ears held back or down. Your dog may turn his head if you stoop over him. Although he may stand still, he might also turn his head which tells you that he is feeling uncomfortable in this situation.

03/06/2021

Canine calming signals

Canine language in general consists of a wide variety of signals using body, face, ears, tail, sounds, movements and expressions. If we study the signals that dogs use with each other and use them ourselves, we increase our ability to communicate with our dogs.

The most significant of all canine signals are the calming signals, which are used to maintain a healthy social hierarchy and resolve conflicts within the social group. Dogs that don't signal properly can cause problems.

Calming signals are used at an early stage to prevent things from happening:
- Avoiding threats from people and dogs
- Calming down nervousness, fear, noise and unpleasant things
They are used to calm themselves down when they feel stressed or uneasy, and to make the others involved feel safer and understand the good intentions indicated by the signals

01/25/2021

Work with your dog’s nature.

Focus on your dogs' wonderful attributes instead of all the things he can't do.

As you know, dogs' innate characteristics make them easily trainable. But some dogs are more accepting of training than others. Try to work with your dog's nature and use the things he loves as rewards to get the behavior you want. Only 10% of your dog training is teaching a behavior like sit and stay. The other 90% is all about getting your dog in the right state of mind where he is paying attention to you and will learn. You want to set your dog up to win!

12/16/2020

Microchip Law
The California Senate unanimously passed a bill (Senate Bill No. 573) that mandates local animal-control agencies, shelters, and rescues to microchip any dog or cat who is either adopted out or claimed by the owner unless the pet is already microchipped and registered with accurate information or has been deemed medically unfit by a veterinarian. It will go into effect January 1, 2021

A new law will require shelters and rescues to implant a microchip in pets leaving their facility. And Long Beach is ahead of the game.

12/12/2020

All people who I’ve worked with know that my approach is based on calm energy while interacting with a dog. I’m often asked how to recognize what state my dog is in, what signs to pay attention to. In fact, there are quite a few. It’s really important to notice those signs which can help you to communicate with your dog on a completely different level — speak their language. I’m going to start a series of posts about reading dog signals which help them to express themselves and communicate to us and other dogs. I’ll try to post them each week.

12/09/2020

12/09/2020

Hi, I’m Polina Freeman — a professional dog trainer and behavioral specialist. I have spent the last three years helping dogs to learn good manners. I have worked with puppies on basic obedience and housetraining as well as with adult dogs who have started their training a bit later and/or have already developed some bad habits.

Besides, I’ve always been passionate about the science behind WHY dogs do what they do. What is going on in their minds that drives us crazy or makes us happy? That’s why I wanted to explore the science behind dog behavior and ways we, humans, communicate with our dogs. How can we use our dog’s natural instincts and emotional connection to us for our advantage? Now, I mostly help people to understand their dogs better and to build a strong, trustful, and respectful relationship with their beloved dogs.

Gentle guidance creates trust, clear boundaries lead to respect and love becomes the foundation of the emotional connection between humans and their dogs.

12/06/2020