Dog Walker Certificate Dog Behavior and Body Language 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does it mean when a dog's hackles (fur along the spine) are raised?
- The dog is cold
- The dog is experiencing heightened arousal, which can be fear or excitement (Correct answer)
- The dog is sick
- The dog is relaxed
Correct answer: The dog is experiencing heightened arousal, which can be fear or excitement
Raised hackles (piloerection) indicate heightened emotional arousal, which can stem from excitement, fear, or aggression — context determines which.
Question 2: A dog that is showing whale eye (whites of eyes visible) is most likely feeling:
- Happy and relaxed
- Playful
- Uncomfortable or threatened (Correct answer)
- Tired
Correct answer: Uncomfortable or threatened
Whale eye, where the whites of a dog's eyes are clearly visible, is a warning signal indicating the dog feels threatened or uncomfortable.
Question 3: Which behavior indicates a dog is comfortable and content during a walk?
- Tail between legs, ears flat
- Loose, relaxed body with a wagging tail at a neutral height (Correct answer)
- Constant pulling and scanning the environment frantically
- Growling at passersby
Correct answer: Loose, relaxed body with a wagging tail at a neutral height
A loose, relaxed body posture with a wagging tail held at a neutral height indicates a calm, happy, content dog.
Question 4: A dog freezes completely and stops moving during a walk near another dog. What should the dog walker do?
- Force the dog forward past the other dog
- Recognize this as a warning sign and calmly redirect the dog away (Correct answer)
- Let the dogs resolve it themselves
- Scold the dog for stopping
Correct answer: Recognize this as a warning sign and calmly redirect the dog away
Freezing is a pre-bite warning signal, and the walker should calmly redirect and increase distance from the trigger to prevent escalation.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes reactive behavior in dogs on leash?
- A dog that ignores distractions completely
- A dog that overreacts (barking, lunging) to triggers like other dogs or people (Correct answer)
- A dog that walks calmly at heel
- A dog that pulls gently toward sniffing spots
Correct answer: A dog that overreacts (barking, lunging) to triggers like other dogs or people
Leash reactivity is when a dog overreacts to stimuli such as other dogs, people, or vehicles by barking, lunging, or growling while on leash.
Question 6: If a dog growls at you during a walk, what is the MOST appropriate first response?
- Punish the growl immediately to stop it
- Acknowledge the warning and increase distance from the trigger (Correct answer)
- Ignore it and continue as normal
- Alpha roll the dog to show dominance
Correct answer: Acknowledge the warning and increase distance from the trigger
A growl is a communication warning — suppressing it or ignoring it can lead to bites; instead, remove the stressor by increasing distance.
Dog Walker Certificate Dog Behavior and Body Language 2
What does it mean when a dog's hackles (fur along the spine) are raised?