Have you heard this before, “his tail is wagging, he’s happy to see us!”
That statement is not 💯 true.
Not all tail wags are happy wags.
When you or child approach a dog with a low wagging or a high, vibrating tail, this can add more stress to the dog that is already unsure or unhappy.
What happens next may be a snap, growl or a bite.
For children, they are the most at risk. They have a 50% chance of being bitten.
Teaching children the right way of handling and interacting with a dog along with guiding them in being able to interpret body language is a life skill which can save their life.
Becoming a dog detective and observing the dog’s whole body can give insight into how the dog is interpreting a situation and how he feels about what is going on.
You will gain a better understanding of what your dog is expressing and what you and your kids can do to de escalate a misunderstanding while also finding all the ways which keeps your dog happy and relaxed.
Katherine Porter is a force free, reward based dog behavior advisor and consultant serving clients and their companion dogs worldwide. Her calm and gentle approach in coaching clients in effectively communicating what they want to their dog blends her MSW background into her dog training and behavior practice.
Katherine was a behavior consultant for Heeling Hounds after graduation. She opened Four Paws and You Dog Training LLC when the military relocated her family to Fort Sill, OK in 2015. During this time, she volunteered with Rainbow Bridge Can Wait where she provided post adoption consultations to new pet parents. She also developed and implemented tailored behavior modification plans for highly reactive dogs residing at the shelter. She also provided educational programs to military children through interactive workshops at the Fort Sill School Age Center.
In 2017, Katherine relocated Four Paws and You Dog Training LLC to Germany. She served the Armed Forces communities in Bavaria. She continued coaching and advising her clients in addressing their companion dog’s fearful and reactive behavioral issues. Katherine takes a Do No Harm approach first and foremost in providing behavioral plans. She is committed in serving clients with gentle and modern science approaches in modifying behavioral concerns such as reactivity, aggression, separation anxiety and fear based responses.
Katherine is a member of the Pet Professional Guild. She is focused on integrating a holistic and modern approach in addressing her client’s pet companion reactive behavior issues.
View more posts
Four Paws & You Dog Training 