Dog Body Language: COMPLETE GUIDE to Dog Stress Signals

In this dog body language video, I give you the complete analysis of dog stress signals. If you're wondering about dog behavior and what dog body language means, this dog training video will help you interpret what your dog is saying with his body.
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Disclaimers: Jenna Romano is not a veterinarian. Always consult a veterinarian before giving your dog any food. Use of this information is strictly at your own risk. Jenna Romano will not assume any liability for direct or indirect losses or damages that may result from the use of information contained in this video including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death to you or your dog. This video is not instructional. This video is for entertainment purposes only.

[@getacalmdog]

Watch my MOST COMPREHENSIVE Tutorial on Aggression & Reactivity Next: Most Complete Aggressive Dog Training Tutorial (using Positive Reinforcement) kzbin.info/www/bejne/poa2gomalqaJa8U

[@UneViedechienJoyEzra]

Even if i know all of this, hearing you talk about it makes me happy. Thank you for this channel, so valuable

[@getacalmdog]

awwww you are SO kind. What an awesome comment. Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@amilie15]

This is such an excellent video. Your channel is incredible, I feel like I’ve slowly been putting together what bits of other training works with my dog and what doesn’t, and then I saw one of your reactivity training videos and it illustrated everything SO perfectly. This video is incredibly helpful especially for someone like me who’s a first time dog owner. I’m only wishing this included examples videos of each behaviour - if you ever manage to make another that would be even more helpful! Thanks for all this hard work that you’ve done for free; you’re helping dogs and owners everywhere ❤️

[@claireburroughs9025]

This is so informative I'm a student dog trainer! Thank you

[@heraldojuan5786]

I am learning a lot from you mam. Thank you so much for educating us.😉

[@MsAmarille]

Thank you, I found this video super interesting and it has given me more signals or more details to look out for. One our dogs used to come back and touch our hand every few minutes on walks when we just rescued her but she doesn't anymore. She does still jump up on us in the dog park once in a while though. I thought she was just checking in but I now know to give her direction at that point, thank you!

[@getacalmdog]

Awesome! I'm so glad you enjoyed this video and found it practically helpful. Thanks for watching.

[@coor0kun]

I think the links in the description got removed. I’m looking for some of the resources you’re sharing because they are so valuable!

[@mirnaflores6543]

Hi, I’ve learned so much from you and I am EXTREMELY grateful for your videos. Can you please explain how to reduce stress / anxiety in my dog (he is a 5-6 month old Maltese and Pomeranian mix) I do admit that my household is extremely toxic. Is there anything that I can do to help him out?

[@SerendipityRules]

Hey! Great video as always. I'm kind of at a loss. I've researched why dogs tilt their head and I can't find a sufficient answer because they all say different things. Could you make a scientific video about it? Thank you for Great content 😄

[@getacalmdog]

I, too, kinda wonder if there is any empirical data on this - my hunch is it's all hypothetical. But I'll definitely look into some studies and see what I can get! Thanks for the idea!

[@margaretswartzfager5510]

Can you give me specific videos for 8 month old rotti mouthing, jumping and getting over excited. I have trained him the touch and I’m using it with friends now however he wants to still jump.

[@laurawilson5666]

Do young puppies show the same body language as adult dogs do?

[@claireclover]

I have this same question!

[@MCA2A]

SPITE definitely seems like something a dog can display. This is just one example of an instance my dog seemed to act on spite. During COVID, my wife was working at home and she would spend time with my dog. (I adopted him before we met) He was a very OCD animal and liked patterns and consistency, even down to the times things would happen. At one point, my wife walked him 2 days in a row, however, the third day she was on a business call and he started first by sitting next to her while looking at her. Next, he started to whine and when that didn't have the affect he was looking for, he would raise the volume of his whining. She chose to ignore him, so he then walked over and carried dog dish over to her and spilled it in front her, while watching her the whole time. When that didn't work, he grabbed a bottle of my mountain dew and began chewing it in front of her. Again, she didn't respond and he did that until it sprayed him in the face. Next, he brought one of my work boots over to her, showed it to her and then ran over to the bed and put as much of his head and shoulders under the bed as possible, then began chewing my boot. Obviously, this received a response because my wife wasn't going to let him ruin my boots, but the incident shows that he was intentionally trying to upset her as a result of not getting his way. That incident wasn't the only time he would do something similar to this.

[@razzlebazzle420]

My dog would save poops up after any vet visits. She would be walked for an hour, at least, sometimes up to 3 hours, afterwards, but refused to do her business. Until we climbed the 6 flights of stairs to my home. As soon as she was over the thresholds she'd evacuated. Obviously the vets was quite stressful for her, associations are what they are in a 12 year old, and that could lead to some very, very soft 💩.

[@stevelogan2042]

I train detection dogs. I see lip licking quite often during searches. So when I see it when a dog see another dog in her "comfort zone". I assumed it was to get more information. Could be stress as well?

[@RikkeSvensson]

Great video, - thank you. I leaves me with a question. How do you pin point the difference between a calming signal and a displacement behavior. Let's say sniffing witch I think can be either one?

[@fannyenqvist4574]

There are only four calming signals with a documented effect: freezing, nose licking, head turn and turn away. Sniffing can be considered a displacement signal/result of stress.

[@getacalmdog]

Hey Rikke - thanks for asking a great question. The truth is that there is not a widespread classification for these behaviors. Actually, the most widespread is probably deferential verses appeasing behaviors. But even then it gets muggy. I've separated the categories into what I think makes sense to the average dog owner, but you're right that there will be some overlap. Additionally, much of the scientific community that are not trainers sort of roll their eyes at the label "calming signals" because it's a little misleading and implies we know the precise purpose for all of these behaviors. Knowing function is different than knowing intent. Which is why labels can get tricky when they accidentally imply intent. Anyway, I still think my breakdown makes sense to the common dog owner, which is why I did it that way. I hope this helps your understanding.

[@RikkeSvensson]

@@getacalmdog Thank you so much. This helps a lot. I thought that I had perhaps missed something. But saying it gets muggy helps, since this is exactly how I feel.

[@janhankins911]

Please be aware that if you see one (or even several) of these signals, it doesn't necessarily mean the dog is anxious. Example, we had a Great Dane who would exhibit pilo-erection if she was cold. It didn't mean she was anxious, it meant she was cold and we needed to put her sweater on her. Example, we have a puppy that demonstrated excitement urination when she met another dog. She is "growing out of" that. She is NOT anxious--she's the one initiating the interaction with the other dog and shows no other signals that she is anxious. So, yes, while these are signals of anxiety, just because you see one, doesn't mean automatically that the dog is anxious or fearful. Look not only at these signals individually, but the number of the signals you see in combination and the context in which you see them.

[@getacalmdog]

Yep, yep, yep!!!! If a viewer skipped some, they might miss the times I talk about context being integral into understanding dog behavior. For sure, context is super important. Thank you SOOOO much for writing this. ❤️❤️❤️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@Rachelthibert]

Is teeth clacking like jaw trembling?

[@getacalmdog]

Yes

[@stellawu305]

How do we teach dogs to banana curve?

[@getacalmdog]

It's easier on a dog that does is naturally. Does your dog curve often?

[@stellawu305]

@@getacalmdog um, I don't have a dog yet, I'm just researching a lot, so can you explain what to do in different situations? Also thank you so much for your videos!

[@getacalmdog]

The easiest way is to capture and reward when the dog naturally offers the behavior. If the dog doesn't organically offer the behavior, you could shape it - probably starting off with a lure. In this case, it's a little more incremental training, but you'll get there nevertheless. Haha

[@Heather-vp6ku]

Good information. But video is mostly of the human. It would help me learn if dog videos or pictures were shown rather than the person speaking. Keep the audio; just show us the dog expressions/body language you're describing. You can use stock photos/video if needed. Not a complaint, just constructive feedback. Thanks.

[@mistaalguadrebangbanzio3998]

Just like us humans

[@mistaalguadrebangbanzio3998]

Darn baby you're are so cute and awesome I wish if you could be here with me training my 2 dog's