Go Dog Training

SHAKING & YAWNING:  These behaviors mean more than you might think.

Of course, dogs shake when they are wet, but have you ever noticed that dogs sometimes shake when they aren't even outside?  Shaking and yawning are both behaviors that dogs do frequently after stressful situations.  Shaking and yawning are transition signals -they indicate a shift in demeanor.

I typically see YAWNS, when I am waiting for a particular behavior from a dog.  They tend to happen right before the dog "gives in" or acquiesces to what I ask or expect them to do.

For example the other day I was at a curb and the dog I was training really, really wanted to get to the other side of the street -the park was there.  I said, "Sit."  The dog did not sit, so we backed away from the curb.  We approached again.  I repeated the command, but the dog, in her excitement, could not sit.  We backed away five more times.  Then, on the eighth attempt, when approaching the curb, the dog let out a BIG YAWN and then, sat down.  I cheered and we bolted across the street to the park!

SHAKING typically happens after a "stressful event," such as a small scuffle between two dogs, after getting a time-out, or after having attempted to do something that was a little frightening.

For example my clients new puppy jumped up on the counter in the kitchen and we gave her a TIME-OUT.  She was already dragging a leash so we said, "Too-bad" and lead her to the stairs where we clipped her to the banister for 10 seconds.  When we returned and unclipped her, she shook her whole body.  It is if she let out a big sigh and let her disappointment go. Then she was her bubbly, puppy self again (but without putting her paws on the counter :)

In another situation, a 3-month old puppy was meeting some new people.  He was kind of interested, but nervous.  He kept approaching the group of people with his body low and then backing away quickly.  Finally he went over and took a treat from one person's hand.  He ate it, but Immediately backed away and shook his whole body.  It was obvious to me that he was more than just a little shy, he was seriously stressed out and scared.  The evidence of his stress was the shake.  Rather than continue to stress out the puppy, we went real easy and had the group of people toss treats to him for about 15 minutes.  Suddenly his head and tail were up and the pup was approaching people for treats and taking them with no shaking.

Pay attention to what your dogs are telling you.

YAWNING & SHAKING mean things.  

Learn to listen with your eyes and you'll improve your relationship with your dog.