As responsible dog owners, it is our duty to advocate for our dogs. It is our duty to learn how to read our dogs. My first foster opened my eyes to how much I really had no clue and forced me to educate myself. We as humans force our dogs into situations that they’re not ready for and/or cannot handle and then wonder why it went badly. There are too many people out there that assume a wagging tail means a dog is friendly. Sorry folks, but a wagging tail can still produce a bite and then those same folks say the bite “came out of nowhere”. Nope. It didn’t. And they rarely do “come out of nowhere”. Your dog is talking to you all the time, you just didn’t listen. Learn the signs of stress in your dog and you’ll be better prepared to avoid unwelcome situations.
PSA: Side eye is not cute. Side eye is a warning sign and should not be ignored. This may be the only warning sign you get before a bite, especially if the growl has been punished out.
Lady & The Leash K9 Training 