Talking Without Saying a Word - Shy and Anxious Dogs

As we discussed in our first Talking Without Saying a Word blog - humans are a very verbal species. Although we pay attention to body language and facial expressions - we tend to fall back on verbal communication the majority of the time. And in case you haven't noticed, dogs do not speak English! The majority of their communication is through body language and we tend to miss these signals because we are too busy - you guessed it - TALKING!!

This ignorance of dog talk is most evident when we are interacting with a shy or nervous dog. Although humans tend to notice when dogs appear anxious, we often overlook the fact that they are trying to get away from us. Or even if we notice their escape attempts we assume we know better and we continue to approach them assuming we can convince them that there is no reason to be afraid.

Watch the video below and notice the way Gigi avoids Sandy. Keep in mind that Gigi is NOT deaf - she is just ignoring Sandy both physically and verbally.

In this clip Gigi is avoiding her owner. Watch the first time her owner tries to pet her, Gigi backs up to escape. The second time, however, Gigi is not able to escape but does it appear to you that she is enjoying the interaction?

So why is it so important to understand and respect the signals that anxious dogs provide? Two reasons. First, if a dog is afraid or anxious around humans, your continued approaches or unwelcome interactions can further reinforce their fear - making them even more afraid of humans. Second, and most important, if an anxious dog feels trapped or threatened he could bite.

Keep in mind, it is easy to spot anxious signals when someone points them out on video or when you are watching someone else interact with a dog. But often, when we are the ones interacting with the dog, we get caught up in the moment and completely overlook the obvious. So pay attention when you are interacting with a dog. Are they just our of your reach? Maybe this is intentional so you cannot physically touch them. Did they not hear you when you called their name? Maybe they did hear you and they are just avoiding you. Was it a coincidence that they walked behind their owner just as you approached? Maybe they are actually hiding from you.

So, be nice and be careful out there. If it appears that a dog is avoiding you they probably are. It would be best in these situations to just leave the area or room or just ignore the dog and let them initiate contact if and when they are ready.

All content © Personable Pets Dog Training

Sharon Woodrum, CPDT-KA Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Personable Pets Dog Training, http://www.personablepets.com/, Serving Overland Park and Louisburg, Kansas areas