UNDERSTANDING CANINE BODY LANGUAGE CAN IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF INTERACTIONS

Distress is common in dogs who do not have a bond of trust with the people around them. This then leads to defensive behavior that results in unexpected bites. A new study shows that is you understand how dogs relay a message of distress, then there will be fewer biting incidents among adults and children.

Most dog owners misinterpret their dog’s display of anxiety, which includes snarling and growling. The said behavior can most definitely lead to bites. Recent results of the study shows that it is more challenging for kids and adults to tell if the dog is anxious or not:
• 53% of kids aged 3 misinterpreted snarls and growls
• 65% of the kids though the dogs were happy
• 17% of the parents also misinterpreted the said behaviors

After training, the children and adults understood the dogs better. Their knowledge, awareness, interpretation, and recognition skills in dog behavior improved significantly. They would then be able to prevent unnecessary bites and trauma.