How Your Dog Really Knows You
Your dog doesn’t recognize you by your job title, personality type, or name.
What they truly respond to is your energy. What trainers call “energy” is really your :
- Tone of voice
- Body language
- Emotional state
- Tension/relaxation in muscles
- Breathing patterns
Think of it this way:
Calm energy = a calmer, more stable dog.
Hyper or tense energy = a restless, excitable, or stressed dog.
Dogs mirror what we project. If you’re anxious, they feel it. If you’re steady, they follow your lead. Dogs can detect human emotions and stress through tone, posture, and even chemical changes like cortisol levels (Custance and Mayer).
That’s why balanced training emphasizes calm, consistent leadership.
Your dog is always reading you so the best way to help them stay balanced is to keep yourself balanced first.
Works Cited
