09/28/2026
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ā¢ We often focus entirely on what our hands are doingāholding rewards, guiding a leash, or gesturing. But did you know your dog is reading your shoulders, head, and feet long before they listen to your hands? Dogs are absolute masters of reading human body language! This is another dog training tool that you don't have to buy, but you should know about.
ā¢ When a dog gets confused or falls out of position, itās frequently because our bodies are accidentally shouting a completely different cue than our voices. Here are two major body language traps to watch out for:
ā¢ 1ļøā£ The "Shoulder Shift" in Heeling
When teaching a heel, a common mistake is twisting your shoulders toward the dog to check on them. When your left shoulder swings back, your hips rotate, which physically drives your dog backward or forces them out of the correct alignment.
š The Fix: Keep your shoulders straight and square to the front. Drop your gaze with just your eyes to check on your dog, keeping your upper body completely straight.
ā¢ 2ļøā£ Footwork and Head Cues
Dogs anticipate your next move based on your core and feet. If you look or turn your head left before taking a step, your dog reads that micro-movement instantly. If you intend to cue a tight pivot or a specific trick, moving your feet even an inch too early can muddy the picture for them.
š The Fix: Practice your footwork *without* your dog first! Make sure your vocal cue or hand signal happens cleanly before your feet change direction.
ā¢ Training isn't just about teaching the dogāitās about teaching our own bodies to be clean, clear, and quiet signals!
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