11/08/2026
🐾 The Welfare-Led Way🐾
Week Two | Understanding Canine Body Language
Dogs are communicating with us all the time.
But sometimes, the signs they’re giving us are much quieter than a bark, growl or snap.
A dog looking away, licking their lips, yawning, becoming still, turning their head, changing their posture or avoiding interaction may all be telling us something about how they’re feeling.
💚 These small signals matter.
One behaviour on its own doesn’t always tell us exactly what a dog is feeling. It’s important to look at the whole dog, consider the situation they’re in, and notice changes in their behaviour.
Ask yourself:
🐾 What is their body telling me?
🐾 Has their behaviour changed?
🐾 What’s happening around them?
🐾 Are they comfortable, or are they trying to create space?
🐾 What can I change to make this situation easier for them?
For professionals, being able to recognise these early signs can help support safer handling, reduce stress and prevent situations from escalating.
For owners, understanding these signals can help build trust and make everyday interactions more positive for both you and your dog.
And most importantly, not every behaviour needs to be “corrected.”
Sometimes, our job is simply to listen.
This is one of the areas explored within my Welfare-Led Training Modules, helping professionals develop the knowledge and confidence to recognise communication and make informed, welfare-led decisions.
🌿 The earlier we listen, the more opportunity we have to support the dog.
What canine body-language signal would you like me to explain in a future post? 👇
