Before you get started

Puppy welfare and wellbeing.

Ensuring the welfare and wellbeing of our puppies is the number one goal of the Guide Dogs Puppy Raising Training Program. Please click on the following link to learn about the Guide Dogs NSW/ACT Dog Welfare Strategy, which introduces the concepts of the five domains, Least Intrusive Minimally Aversive (LIMA) and the Humane Hierarchy as our guiding principles when it comes to the training of our puppies.

Understanding the dog body language and emotional states.

What is dog body language?

Dogs are constantly communicating with us through their body language; their posture, facial expressions, tail, ears, and movement. Learning to read these signals helps you understand how your puppy is feeling and what they need from you.

Why is it important to understand dog body language?

Understanding your puppy’s body language helps you:

• Support their learning by knowing when they’re ready to train.
• Prevent excessive stress or fear by noticing early signs of discomfort.
• Build trust by responding appropriately to their emotional needs.
• Recognise when they’re having fun and enjoying the experience.

What does confident and relaxed body language look like?

A puppy in a calm, confident state (Green Zone) is:

• Body: loose, balanced, smooth movements.
• Tail: level with spine or gently wagging.
• Ears: natural position, not pinned or overly forward.
• Eyes: soft, relaxed.
• Mouth: slightly open or gently closed.
• Behaviour: responsive, takes food, explores calmly.

This is the ideal state for learning and training.

Using body language to guide training decisions.

Pup’s state and what you should do.

• Green Zone (calm, relaxed, responsive). Continue training. Pup is ready to learn.
• Yellow Zone (distracted, unsure, mildly anxious or excited). Simplify training. Reduce distractions, lower criteria, give space.
• Red Zone (fearful, over-excited, shut down). End the session. Move away, allow rest and emotional recovery.

Always look at the whole picture; tail, ears, eyes, mouth, posture, and movement. Context matters! A lip lick during dinner prep is different from one after a loud noise.

Ask yourself:

• Is my pup giving me a hard time, or are they having a hard time?
• Are they ready to learn, or do they need support or rest?

How to recognise and respond to different emotional states.

Excited (activated: Yellow Zone or Red Zone)

Signs:

• Fast, jerky movements.
• Tail high or upright, wagging quickly.
• Ears forward.
• Mouth wide open or grabbing objects.
• Hard to focus, may jump or pull.

What to do :

• Provide more structure and guidance.
• Reduce freedom temporarily.
• Avoid reinforcing over-excited behaviour.
• Use calm voice and consistent cues.

Inhibited (shut down: Yellow Zone or Red Zone)

Signs:

• Slow, hesitant movements.
• Body compressed or frozen.
• Tail tucked or low.
• Ears pinned back.
• Avoids eye contact, may refuse food.

What to do :

• Gently move away from the situation.
• Give the pup time and space to process.
• Avoid coaxing or forcing.
• Offer support and wait for signs of relaxation.

Activated (overstimulated: Red Zone)

Signs:

• Frantic, out-of-control behaviour.
• Loss of fine motor control.
• May bark, lunge, or run erratically.
• Not responsive to cues.

What to do :

• End the session or move to a quieter space.
• Allow the pup to release emotional energy (e.g. sniffing, chewing, shaking off).
• Rest and reset before trying again.

Anxious or worried (Yellow Zone)

Signs:

• Lip licking, yawning (not tired), panting.
• Hypervigilance (scanning, can’t settle).
• Refusing food or touch.
• Tail low or tucked.

What to do :

• Pause and assess the environment.
• Move away from the trigger.
• Let the pup observe from a distance.
• Reintroduce slowly with support.

Fearful (Red Zone)

Signs:

• Freezing, trembling, trying to flee.
• Whale eye (whites of eyes showing).
• Drooling, sweaty paws.
• Cowering or hiding.

What to do :

• Immediately remove the pup from the situation.
• Do not force interaction.
• Allow time to recover and decompress.
• Seek support before reintroducing the trigger.

Suspicious or unsure

Signs:

• Head turned away, body leaning back.
• Short, quick tail wags.
• Stiff posture, slow movements.
• Avoidant sniffing or displacement behaviours (scratching, yawning).

What to do :

• Let the pup approach at their own pace.
• Avoid luring or pressuring.
• Offer calm encouragement and observe closely.

Tips for success.

• Watch for subtle signs: yawning, lip licking, stiff movement, or refusal of food.
• Don’t rush: give your pup time to process and recover.
• Be consistent: respond the same way each time to build trust.
• Celebrate calm: reinforce relaxed behaviour with praise and rewards.
• Speak to your Puppy Development Advisor (PDA) if unsure or concerned about your pup’s body language.