ALL DOGS TORONTO
  • Home
  • Training Services
  • Puppy Basics
  • The Teenager Program
  • The Aggressive Dog Program
  • The Blog
  • About
  • Map & Customer Reviews
  • Photo Gallery
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Camille's Dog Wellness Supplies

Dogs at play: a study of canine body language, part one

9/1/2020

0 Comments

 
I don't think there's anything cuter than dogs at play. The ubiquity of one piece of dog body language in particular has a great deal to tell us about what our dogs are thinking and feeling: the play bow. It's probably my very favorite thing to see any dog do, and yet, until I looked into it, even I was unaware of it's many and varied expressions. In today's blog, I'm going to review a few of them. 

1. The "Classic"
This joyful pose tells other dogs, and us, 'Let's have a good time!" and "I'm ready for you!" In the classic expression of this particular piece of dog body language, look for the following physical markers: rear end up, ears perked up and alert, the mouth partly open with long, relaxed lips, a lowered tail, and elbows very nearly touching the ground. The eyes of the dog exhibiting the classic play bow generally follow the nose, which is often oriented on the desired playmate. 


Picture
2. The Prey Bow
Here we see a few subtle differences in body language when compared to the classic prey bow. Like the classic, we have the ears and rear up, and the elbows very near or touching the ground entirely. The differences here lie in the tail, which is straight up, and the mouth, which is gently closed. This indicates an intention to pounce, and it means business! 

 
Picture
3. The Calm Bow
Used by socially savvy dogs at play, this bow is used to say, "Hey, don't forget we're playing now!" or "Calm yourself, this is a game, remember?" We see this bow with dogs involved in many different kinds of interactions, like play or status determination. It's often used as a diffusing mechanism, often to stop conflict between dogs, or to safely take space from a dog who may be reluctant to give it up. You may see your dog diffusing a potential altercation between two others nose-to-nose over something with a classic play bow. It shows excellent communication skills, and should be celebrated. Especially if it works!
Picture
0 Comments

    Author

    Camille Salter is the founder of All Dogs Toronto and a certified, knowledge-assessed dog trainer (CPDT-KA). She is the author of two books on dog behavior: Pandemic Puppy, Decoding the Dog Park, and the Big Book of Dog Training. 

    Camille studies neuroscience, applied animal behavior, canine  physiology and nutrition, ethical behavior analysis, evolutionary behavior psychology, neural networks, stress-free animal handling, behavior economics, coaching and consulting. 

    Archives

    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    March 2021
    September 2020
    August 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016

    Categories

    All
    Cats
    Dogs
    General
    Puppies

      want more? Subscribe today

    Subscribe to Newsletter

    RSS Feed

Books On Dogs and Dog Behavior by Camille Salter, CPDT-KA

Picture

Picture

Picture

Urban dog parks are fraught with risk. These environments host to an ever-changing assemblage of dogs with different backgrounds, life experiences, tolerances, and drives. Learn how to navigate them with confidence, safety, and skill with this navigation guide designed for the active dog parent in mind.​
​
"Pandemic Puppy" is a mini-book designed for the undersocialized puppy, and outlines best practices for puppy rearing, socialization during a pandemic, obedience, attention, calming behaviors, and compliance. All delivered in a force-free, scientific manner. Read this book. Once you have these lessons under your wing, you and your puppy will soar with excellence and never look back.



Picture

What Our Clients Are Saying

I adopted Frank not even a month ago. I’ve been training him myself, and got him to do ’sit,’ ‘down,’ ‘come,’ and ‘wait,’ at home. But when we went outside, it was a different story: he got a bit too excited, and that led to pulling on the leash, which wasn’t a pleasant experience for either of us. He never made eye contact with me, and calling his name and offering treats of all sorts didn’t do much, either. Working with Camille turned this around after just one session — she was so patient and calm with both me and Frank, and taught me how I could get Frank to connect the dots between paying attention to me and getting food. Since then, he comes and sits upon command even in the most distracting situations like being surrounded by other dogs in a park with firetruck siren blaring in the background. It’s been so rewarding to start developing this bond with Frank that will last a lifetime. Thank you Camille!” - Maythe Han

"There is only one word to describe Camille: AMAZING. My dog developed separation anxiety during the pandemic. I couldn't even use the washroom without my dog having a panic attack and after a single session and doing the homework, I'm suddenly leaving her alone for 3 hours like it's nothing. MIRACLE. Also, the GTA is filled with irresponsible dog owners who let their untrained dogs off leash in clearly on-leash areas. They sometimes come after us. It's very scary especially since if my dog reacts, she can get in trouble despite them breaking the law and us following it. Camille walked my dog and kept her calm as these inconsiderate owners and their dogs ran about. She teaches dogs and trains people. It was like watching a magician. I'll admit, I had my reservations our first session just based on the steep price, but after working with Camille I know without a doubt she is worth all that and more. Her methods are not for people looking for an easy fix with minimum work. You need to do the homework and put in the time. If you need a dog trainer, there is no one I recommend more than Camille. She will care for your dog like its her own. And just be aware, sometimes she will say things you won't like, but need to hear. When I heard my dog's timeline for separation anxiety was a few months and that I would need to keep her in daycare to avoid worsening things, I was pretty disheartened. Daycare isn't cheap. But she was giving me her professional and realistic opinion and it ultimately paid off. It really REALLY paid off. I honestly can't say enough about this canine miracle worker." - Evalina Ho

"Camille is a brilliant, caring and amazing trainer. She explains a range of outcomes and effort levels and helps navigate the emotional trials of puppyhood.

We are grateful for her knowledge and weekly check-ins to ensure we are on the right path with Hermes (our dog).

We truly support her positive reinforcement approach to dog training and are very satisfied with the results." - Graham Knowles

"I cannot say enough positive things about Camille Salter, the owner of All Dogs. From the moment my rescue dog and I met Camille, I knew she would work wonders. Her demeanor, grace and confidence made my dog fall in love her instantly. She is so incredibly knowledgeable that I try to soak up as much information as I can from her.

I highly highly recommend Camille Salter and All Dogs. Whether you are looking for a professional trainer or walking, she will provide you with all of the tools needed to ensure your dog is set up for success.

Camille is truly a pillar in the community of canine training within Toronto.

Thank you Camille!!" - Tessa Vaskas


Contact Us

    Subscribe Today!

Submit
  • Home
  • Training Services
  • Puppy Basics
  • The Teenager Program
  • The Aggressive Dog Program
  • The Blog
  • About
  • Map & Customer Reviews
  • Photo Gallery
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Camille's Dog Wellness Supplies