1 Tip, 1 Idea, 1 Quote.
On what fear may look like
Dog Trainer Auckland
April 8, 2025
1 Tip - on life with your dog
How to recognise fear and anxiety in your dog. Is your dog fearful or anxious in certain situations? What does this look like?
Pay close attention to their body language:
Tucked tail, Lowered posture, Lip licking, Trembling, Look aways and Yawning.
These are signals of stress, understanding your dog's responses helps you to support them by avoiding these situations.
1 Idea - on the leading edge
Fear and anxiety are emotional responses. Your dog might respond in four ways: Fight, Flight, Freeze and Fidget.
Fight: The dog feels threatened and believes aggression is their only option. Even social dogs may bark and lunge as a tactic to create distance from the threat.
Direct stare, stiff body, lunging.
Growling, snapping, or biting.
Flight: The dog wants to get away from the threat.
Looking away and avoiding eye contact,
Tucked tail, cowering, or trying to hide
Freeze: The dog's movements slow down or stop, communicating they're no threat.
Standing still and refusing to move, even lying down.
Stiff body posture, wide eyes and shallow breathing
Fidget: Behaviors that seem out-of-context to release tension, often puppy like.
Acting overly playful or silly
Excessive lip licking, yawning, pacing or scratching.
If you notice these behaviours and are concerned, please reach out to discuss your concerns.
1 Quote - on dogs
'Good dog training is undramatic'. Michael Ellis
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