GM News - February 2026

This is the 75th issue of GM-News - the diamond issue!

Have you been with us since edition 1?
Whatever edition you joined us at, we're happy you're here :-)

Amanda, David, & Ruth
Gentle Modern School of Dog Training

Top Tip: You need practice too!

Don't underestimate your role in training success. The way you instruct a dog (give a hand signal, say a verbal cue) and how you deliver a reward (hand to mouth, treat toss, tug-of-war) are important factors in a successful response from your dog.
When you are reflecting on why your dog didn't respond at all or didn't respond in the way you wanted, include your actions in the review.
Having a video to watch can be super helpful. Ask a household member to grab your phone and take some video of you training.

Body Language: Aggressive? Fearful? Body language gives the clues

Is My Dog Aggressive? Or Fearful? How to Tell the Difference by Nicole Wilde considers the signs of aggression versus fear: posture, and ears, tail, eye position and presentation.

". . . the vast majority of what owners typically call aggression is not actually an intent to cause harm, but a reaction to something that is scaring the dog or making him uncomfortable."

Reading a dog's body language helps you tell the difference between fear and aggression. For example:
"The next time your dog becomes reactive [barling, lunging], look at his overall body posture. Is his weight more heavily distributed forward or backward? Or does he stand without leaning in either direction? A confident dog’s body weight is typically well balanced. If the dog is truly aggressive, the body weight will be forward. . . . The body weight of a dog who is fearful will be more heavily distributed toward the rear."

Are you a Facebook user?

On the GMSDT Facebook page, we share info on a range of topics and free resources from trainers and experts we respect in weekly posts. Recent examples include:

Dog Emotions
Resources from Family Paws, a well-respected US organisation designed to assist Families with Dogs.
Reducing pet stress when you move house
Ideas for encouraging your dog to drink and stay hydrated

You're welcome to explore 😊

Your reward for reading to the end . . .

Lego has released a Golden Retriever puppy kit