Max shows how dogs shift their weight forward, centered, or backward, and what each means. Forward weight signals alertness or intent to move; centered is relaxed; backward suggests uncertainty or anticipation. He demonstrates with a German Shepherd, a Doberman named Ernie, and a Jack Russell.
Chapters
Dogs can rock their weight forwards or back, but what does it actually mean? Hello, my name is Max, and it's taken me 8 years and 1,000 dogs to learn this. However, I'm going to attempt to teach you in just 6 weeks. Welcome to day number 3 of reading your dog's body language until we run out of dog to look at. This is our last video on the feet. Here is what you need to know about your dog's intentions behind different weight distributions. There's 3 things your dog can do. They can lean forward and put their weight over their front feet, sometimes even seeming like they're on tiptoes. They can hold their weight quite centered and balanced, and they can also move their weight backwards and sometimes even widen their stance. So number 1, why would a dog move their weight forwards? Most of the time this is when dogs are just showing that they are quite alert and interested in something, like my dog here can smell or hear something. So interest is one of them, but moving their weight forward can also show that they are intending on moving forwards. So this is when we see it in play. However, this can also be a dog challenging or posturing, showing that they're very confident in this situation. So if you're seeing this dog tense up and move their weight forwards, this isn't a dog that's interested. This is a dog that is showing that they are not going to run away. Dogs that are quite balanced and have even weight distribution is just a relaxed and neutral dog. But then we have number 3, when dogs rock their weight backwards. Rather than number 1, where the dogs are planning on moving forwards, this is typically showing that the dog is planning on moving backwards, and it can show uncertainty. Certainty. Just like this video of the German Shepherd who is new to socializing. She's obviously interested, but she's not confident. However, Ernie the Doberman, he is interested, but he is also more confident, which is why they're rocking different ways. But I don't want you to always think that moving backwards is a sign that the dog is uncomfortable. Just look at this Jack Russell here. He moves his body backwards, widens that stance, because he's waiting for someone to throw a tennis ball. So yet again, context always matters. That's why we're learning to read the whole of the dog I will see you tomorrow morning when we move on to the tail.
