My Sidekick and Me: Defining “Fine”

By Lisa Desatnik, CPDT-KA, FFCP, FDM, CPBC–Pet Behavior Columnist

I hear it all the time. My dog was FINE at the vet, FINE when on the grooming table, FINE in the midst of a busy event, FINE when kids were running and screaming….

Until one day, something happens. 

“Out of the blue,” the dog tries to bolt, or growls or snaps or bites someone. 

That dog was really not so FINE after all. Let’s unpack this. 

FINE is a label that can represent many different behaviors and underlying emotions. It can be interpreted and visualized differently by different people, which makes that adjective ineffective when it comes to positively changing behaviors and the underlying cause for those behaviors. 

Here are a few ways I may define fine: The dog had relaxed, loose body muscles and was breathing normally. The dog was actively engaging with those around him. The dog could think clearly and focus on learning. The dog could eat and take treats with the same soft mouth as he does at home.

Here are a few descriptions I have heard from other people: My dog allowed people to approach him and pick him up. My dog did not bark or lunge at the large event. My dog let me take food or an object from him and did not growl at me. 

We all are doing the best that we can with the information that we have. If you are not recognizing what your dog is communicating, you are not alone. Keep in mind that agency, or the ability to have control of the environment, decisions and life is important to any living being’s quality of life. Having a sense of safety is also important. 

These are common ways a dog may show that he is not feeling good about what is happening, before your dog escalates to a hard stare, growl or worse. Closed mouth, turning away or shifting body muscles away, half-moon eyes, yawning, nose licking, shaking off, breathing changes, stiff body muscles, rolling onto his back to expose his belly (with stiff muscles), excessive stuffing or scratching a body part, hypervigilance scanning the environment, inability to settle, zooming, lowered body posture, humping, difficulty learning, blinking, change in the speed of eating. 

It is important to note the context as some of these behaviors may mean different things in different contexts. A dog may jump on the sofa next to you and flop over on his back indicating a belly massage; however, if I lean over a dog and that dog rolls over, it very well could be that dog is asking for distance.

If your dog exhibits any of these signs of stress, take action to make a change that will help your dog feel comfortable in that environment. This may include stopping the way you are currently interacting with your dog, giving your dog distance or changing your body posture.

Stress stacking can heighten a dog’s (or any animal’s) sensitivity. This occurs when numerous stress inducing stimuli occur simultaneously or within a relatively short period of time and thus collectively decrease an animal’s coping tolerance. 

What causes stress varies with every animal. Some possible causes can include pain or illness, lack of rest, an unpleasant vet or grooming appointment, crowded and loud places or having a resource taken away, exposure to scary people or dogs. Trigger stacking is an important consideration when you see a sudden eruption of reaction from your dog.

I encourage you to practice identifying what your dog is communicating. What are contributing factors? What can you change about the environment? What can you change about your interaction? What can you change about your expectations? What skills can you teach your dog that will be useful?  A qualified dog trainer can be very helpful. 

Lisa Desatnik, CPDT-KA, FFCP, FDM, CPBC, is a certified dog trainer, a certified Family Dog Mediator, and the first trainer in Hamilton County to earn Fear Free certification. She is also a licensed Family Paws Parent Educator. She is committed to using and teaching the most positive, science-based approaches to changing behavior. For more information, visit SoMuchPETential.com.