Our emotions play a significant role in shaping our interactions with our canine companions. As their guardians, it is essential for us to understand how our feelings can influence our dogs’ behaviour and learn how to manage our emotional expressions in different situations.

How Our Emotions Affect Our Dogs: 

Dogs are experts at reading human emotions and body language. When we’re excited, such as coming home from work, our tone of voice, rapid arm movements, and overall energy can affect our dogs, causing them to become more excited too. This can be enjoyable during playtime, but it may pose problems in situations like bringing home groceries or welcoming guests with young children.

Our emotions can also be conveyed through the leash. When we feel tense or nervous, such as when an unfamiliar dog approaches, our dogs can quickly pick up on our body language. We might hold the leash tighter or change our walking pace, which can make our dogs feel uneasy or defensive.

Managing Our Emotional Expressions: 

It is important to learn how to manage our emotional expressions around our dogs. Mirroring their behaviour can be beneficial in some situations, like playing fetch or during training sessions, but it’s not always appropriate. Here are some tips for better communication with your dog:

1. Be mindful of your emotions and body language when interacting with your dog, especially in new or potentially stressful situations.
2. Practice remaining calm and collected when welcoming guests or walking in public spaces to prevent your dog from becoming overly excited or anxious.
3. Allow yourself and your dog time to settle down before engaging in play or training after coming home from work.
4. Remember that it’s okay to feel excitement or nervousness around your dog, but try to manage your expressions in a way that promotes a positive and balanced environment for both you and your canine companion.

Our emotions have a powerful impact on our dogs, shaping their behaviour and overall well-being. By being mindful of our emotional expressions and learning how to manage them in various situations, we can foster a stronger bond and better communication with our furry friends.