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What Lip Licking and Yawning Really Mean: Understanding Canine Calming Signals

April 18, 2025

What Are Calming Signals?

First introduced by canine behavior expert Turid Rugaas, calming signals are the body language cues dogs use to defuse tension—either within themselves or between others. These signals include:

  • Lip licking

  • Yawning

  • Turning the head away

  • Sniffing the ground

  • Slow movements

  • Sitting or lying down suddenly

Each one can be a dog’s way of saying: “I’m feeling uneasy. Please give me space or reassurance.”

🐾 Recommended Reading: On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas — This 73-page book is a must-read for any dog parent serious about understanding their pup’s inner world.


Why Learning Calming Signals Matters

For decades, dog training was mostly a one-way street: “I give the commands, and you follow.”

But dogs aren’t robots—they’re emotional beings with needs, preferences, and communication styles. Learning to interpret calming signals can:

  • Deepen your bond with your dog

  • Make training easier and more effective

  • Reduce problem behaviors linked to stress

  • Help prevent bites or fear-based reactions

A dog who feels heard and understood becomes more confident, less anxious, and more connected to their human.


Start Watching for These Signals Today

Next time you’re out on a walk or welcoming guests into your home, watch your dog closely. Are they:

  • Licking their lips?

  • Yawning when they’re clearly not tired?

  • Turning away from people or other dogs?

Each signal is a piece of a puzzle—and when you start putting the pieces together, you’ll discover what your dog has been trying to tell you all along.


Final Thoughts

Understanding calming signals is more than a training tool—it’s a relationship tool. When you start responding to your dog’s emotional cues, you’ll unlock a new level of connection based on empathy, respect, and trust.


Internal Links to Add

Happy National Pet Day! 🐾

April 11, 2025

Happy National Pet Day to all of those celebrating the pets who make our lives brighter, funnier, and full of unconditional love. Whether your pup is a couch cuddler, a fetch fanatic, or a social butterfly, National Pet Day is the perfect day to show them a little extra appreciation.

As a professional dog trainer, I’ve seen firsthand how strong the bond between people and their dogs can be—and how much happier and better-behaved pups are when they’re mentally and physically fulfilled. If you’ve been thinking about training, finding a playmate for your dog, or grabbing a few new toys or treats, now’s a great time to start!

Let’s keep our dogs happy, healthy, and thriving—today and every day. 🐶💛

➡️ Explore training and services
➡️ Find your dog a playmate with K9 Playtime
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Consistency Is Key: Why Your Dog Doesn’t Always Do as You Ask

April 7, 2025

🔁 Why Your Dog Doesn’t Always Do as You Ask

It seems that our dogs have a selective response. Sometimes they do what we ask, but sometimes they don’t. If your dog isn’t consistently executing skills, chances are it’s not because they’re stubborn—it’s because your messaging isn’t consistent.

Let’s walk through the most common human mistakes that interfere with effective training (and yes, I’ve made them too).


🐕‍🦺 Common Inconsistencies That Sabotage Dog Training

  • 💬 Using English too early
    We’re verbal creatures, but dogs are physical learners. Starting with verbal cues before your dog understands the physical behavior only adds confusion. Use hand signals first—then layer in the word after they reliably perform the behavior.

    Learn how to introduce verbal cues the right way

  • 🗣️ Inconsistent verbal cues
    You taught “Stay,” but sometimes you say “Stay here!” or “Wait!” instead. Dogs don’t know these are all the same thing. Use the exact word you’ve trained—and only that word—every time. Puttin a sentence around it adds confusion.

  • 🍖 Weak or missing rewards
    That pat on the head might feel good to you—but your dog was expecting the treat! Dogs need a clear, immediate reinforcement within 5 seconds of the desired behavior. Keep meat treats on you at all times!

  • 📏 Inconsistent expectations
    If your dog looks at you when you say their name and sometimes gets rewarded, but other times you expect them to come to you instead—you’re blurring the rule by changing the criteria of the skill. Train one specific skill at a time and reinforce it consistently.

  • 🙃 Rewarding bad behavior accidentally
    You’re doing great ignoring jumping—until one day, you push your dog away or say “No!” That reaction is still attention, and it teaches your dog persistence pays off.

  • 🎰 When inconsistency is good
    Once a skill is fully trained, variable reinforcement (only delivering a treat sometimes) becomes powerful. Your dog starts trying harder to earn the reward because the reward doesn’t come every time. This is where their persistence finally pays off—in your favor.


🧠 Training Tips Summary for Staying Consistent

  • Accept that dogs don’t speak English and use the same verbal cue each time.

  • Think before you cue. Slow down and decide what you’re about to ask—and be ready to deliver a treat for reinforcement.

  • Carry high-value treats. Praise and reward within 5 seconds.

  • Reward for each ask.

  • Keep the criteria the same unless your taking baby steps towards an end criteria.

For more great tips, download a FREE copy of my Training Essentials Guide.
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