Behaviour
Functional behaviour patterns describe what a dog is doing across a whole sequence rather than in one still moment. Play bows, guarding, appeasement, displacement and trigger stacking each have a recognisable shape, and reading the pattern is more reliable than reading any single cue inside it.
Some things a dog does are best understood as whole patterns rather than as single signals. These entries cover the functional behaviours that owners most often encounter and most often misread.
Appeasement behaviour
Appeasement is a dog lowering social tension, not an apology or guilt. What it looks like, why punishing it removes your warning, and how to take pressure off.
cautionBehaviourDisplacement behaviour
Yawning, lip licking, scratching or shaking off at odd moments often signals mild stress. How to read displacement behaviour, and when it is a vet question.
cautionBehaviourPlay bow
Front end down, rear up: the play bow is usually an invitation to play and a marker that what follows is not serious. Read the other dog's reply first.
noneBehaviourResource guarding
Guarding food, toys or beds is usually about keeping something valuable, not dominance. What the early signals look like, and why never to punish a growl.
stopBehaviourSeparation distress
Separation distress is panic at being left alone, not spite or protest. What it looks like, how to tell it apart from boredom, and when to involve a vet.
cautionBehaviourTrigger stacking
Trigger stacking is how small stressors add up until a dog reacts to something it normally handles. How to spot the build-up, and why a growl is a warning.
stop