Dogs communicate constantly. Growling is near the end of the conversation, not the start.
Early stress signals
Lip licking, yawning when not tired, turning the head away, whale eye (whites showing), a low slow tail wag, freezing, shaking off when not wet.
Loose and happy
Wiggly body, soft eyes, open mouth, a tail that moves the whole back end, play bows.
Why it matters
If you respond to the early signals by giving space, you rarely reach a growl or a snap. Punishing a growl removes the warning, not the feeling.
With children
Never let a child hug or lean over a dog. Most bites to children happen in the home, with a familiar dog, after a long string of ignored signals.
#behaviour#safety
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