There
are many helpful illustrations on Dog body language available but most all
only show dogs in profile. As a shelter / Rescue worker, we almost never
see a dog we are trying to work with in profile. In addition, these body
language profile illustrations almost never show what we, as the human side,
should be doing with our own body language.
Provided
here are a few illustrations to give some ideas on how to position ourselves
when working with fearful and stressed dogs.
|
|
ALWAYS
PAY ATTENTION TO THE DOGS BODY POSITION AND THE 3 MAIN AREAS OF FOCUS!
RECOGNIZE "CALMING SIGNALS"
- Lip
Licking
- Yawning
- Scratching
- Shaking
off
- OK to
Continue -
ACKNOWLEDGE "DISTANCE
INCREASING SIGNALS"
- Sniffing
the Ground
- Sclara
/ whale eye
- Lip
Curls / Showing Teeth
- Tightly
Closed Mouth
-
Move Away or Try Again Later -
|
Before
attempting to approach a fearful / nervous Dog in a kennel there are a
few key aspects to accept first.
PATIENCE!
You
will be on the "Dogs Time" Since greetings and behaviors are
always up to the Dog to decide when / If / How, You have to accept
it may take a lot of time. Make sure you are not in a hurry or on a schedule
before proceeding. The
rewards for taking the time to help a Dog be a Dog is worth every minute!
ENERGY!
Calm
is key! Before entering into the Dogs space, take a moment to focus
on your breathing. Long deep inhales through the nose, long slow exhale
through the mouth. Do this for several breaths before entering a fearful
/ nervous Dogs kennel. Calm soft voice, slow purposeful movements.
EMPATHY!
You probably already understand the need for empathy in working with shelter
/ rescue Dogs but, with most fearful / nervous Dogs, a noisy shelter can
be an extra scary, nerve wracking space. What the Dog has gone through
in its past and what it has learned to be fearful of are usually unknown.
It can be a fine line between fearful behavior and fear aggression.
Don't push the Dogs threshold ever!
ACCEPTANCE!
Accept you may not get an immediate "breakthrough" with
every Dog! Each Dog has its own Thresholds, Fears and Wants. Tiny
steps are nessescary with almost every fearful / nervous Dog approach
attempts. Sometimes its useful to breakdown "sessions"
into several short time spans. One 10 minute attempt to introduce yourself
/ offer treats, another attempt 15 - 30 minutes later and so on. Acceptance
that the Dog may just not be ready to meet a new human!
REMEMBER!
NEVER TRY TO PET A DOG ON TOP OF ITS HEAD! Its scary, unpredicatable and
just plain RUDE!
|
|
........
|
A
human entering a fearful Dogs space / kennel can be scary! Dogs that may
have had bad human experiences in the past can become more fearful and
try to hide or back up to the other end of the kennel. With no place
to escape to, a fearful Dog can sometimes become aggressive or immediately
show "distance increasing" signals

|
|
ENTERING
A KENNEL
For
a fearful Dog, its best to try and enter the kennel backwards when
possible. Keeping your side / back to the Dog, secure the kennel
door and kneel /squat down in place. Speaking softly before, during
and after entering the kennel is helpful too.

|
|
|
BASIC
BODY POSITION should always be sideways or back mostly turnedto
the Dog. " 3/4 angle "
 
For
larger Dogs, its best to keep our feet / legs in a position so we can
stand up quickly if nessescary. Keeping our side / back to the dog
is most important while still being able to keep an eye on what the
dog may be doing. Do not make eye contact or look at the Dog longer
than 1 second at a time.
|
........ |
Position
yourself so you can see the Dog. Looking back to the Dog is good as long
as you avoid making direct eye contact. Looking towards the floor
or at the Dogs feet is best.
 
|
|
|
A fearful
Dog will often tuck its legs underneath its body and lock its eyes on
you - staring, ears down, tail tucked. Either facing you or sideways
to you. Do not try to pet a dog in this position. Speaking softly,
you may give the Dog some of your own "calming signals"
scratch your chin or head, yawn (Do not fake yawn! Dogs can spot a fake
yawn)

|
|

|
|