How often do you see your dog stop after doing something - perhaps playing, interacting with another dog, or after someone has been making a fuss of them - and shake their whole body? Almost as if they are shaking off water when they are not wet?
The shake off is a sign that the dog has been feeling some level of arousal or stress. In the case of play, this can be a good kind of stress (also known as eustress) while in other situations the dog may not have been comfortable and so feeling a negative kind of stress.
The shake off is sort of an emotional reset - the dog is literally shaking off the stress, getting it out of their system so they can go on with the rest of their day. It is something to be aware of as, if we see it frequently after being given attention by other people for example, it may well mean that the dog would rather avoid that happening again.
Not paying attention to lower levels of stress signals may mean the dog feels they have to escalate to more noticeable signs such as growling. Paying attention to these more subtle signs means that everyone can co-exist in a happier and more relaxed way.
If there are things your dog struggles with in the world around them, knowing the signs to look out for that they use to communicate when they are feeling stressed makes life much easier for you both.
Here is some information on what 'threshold' means and how to read the dog's signals so we can try to get them out of a situation before they reach this point.
How often do you see your dog stop after doing something - perhaps playing, interacting with another dog, or after someone has been making a fuss of them - and shake their whole body? Almost as if they are shaking off water when they are not wet?
The shake off is a sign that the dog has been feeling some level of arousal or stress. In the case of play, this can be a good kind of stress (also known as eustress) while in other situations the dog may not have been comfortable and so feeling a negative kind of stress.
The shake off is sort of an emotional reset - the dog is literally shaking off the stress, getting it out of their system so they can go on with the rest of their day. It is something to be aware of as, if we see it frequently after being given attention by other people for example, it may well mean that the dog would rather avoid that happening again. Not paying attention to lower levels of stress signals may mean the dog feels they have to escalate to more noticeable signs such as growling. Paying attention to these more subtle signs means that everyone can co-exist in a happier and more relaxed way.
An excellent place to start learning more on the subject is Sally's superb book Canine Communication: The Language of a Species. Find it at https://amzn.to/3uIps2c 😊
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Love fitting in recall practice on a relaxing walk. Make sure they aren't sniffing or involved in investigating something - always set them up for success! #dogtraining #dogtrainer #doglover #rewardbaseddogtraining #positivereinforcementtraining #positivereinforcementtrainer #positivereinforcementdogtraining #forcefreedogtraining #fearfreedogtraining
Consent testing in action. Rogue letting me know when she wants fuss and when she's had enough. 🐶
#caninecommunication #dogbehaviour #caninebehaviour #caninebodylanguage #dogbodylanguage #consenttest #consenttesting
Play between very different sized dogs can be worrying, especially when it's an adult dog and puppy playing. This is a look at safe and consensual play between two very different dogs. #canineplay #safecanineplay #dogsplaying
Tug is a great game to play with your dog and many dogs really enjoy it. No, it won't make them aggressive or think they run the household and yes, you should let them win sometimes!
Body language and observing play is so important for making sure everyone is safe and having a good time. I posted this a few days ago but wanted to add a bit more context and analysis to what is going on in the clip.
How often do you see your dog stop after doing something - perhaps playing, interacting with another dog, or after someone has been making a fuss of them - and shake their whole body? Almost as if they are shaking off water when they are not wet?
The shake off is a sign that the dog has been feeling some level of arousal or stress. In the case of play, this can be a good kind of stress (also known as eustress) while in other situations the dog may not have been comfortable and so feeling a negative kind of stress.
The shake off is sort of an emotional reset - the dog is literally shaking off the stress, getting it out of their system so they can go on with the rest of their day. It is something to be aware of as, if we see it frequently after being given attention by other people for example, it may well mean that the dog would rather avoid that happening again.
Not paying attention to lower levels of stress signals may mean the dog feels they have to escalate to more noticeable signs such as growling.
Ensuring that we are aware of and understand these more subtle signs means that everyone can co-exist in a happier and more relaxed way.
Consent testing again with my other dog who is a little more subtle with her signals than Finn!
#consent #consenttesting #caninecommunication #caninebodylanguage #dogbodylanguage #dogcommunication #happydogs #buildingthebond
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