Can Dogs Sense Emotions? The Professional Development That Has Changed How I Can Support You (and Your Dog)
Dogs don’t just sense emotions. They respond to them. And they're reading yours more accurately than you might think.
If you've worked with me, you'll know that I talk about the nervous system and stress a lot.
In a real, everyday, this-affects-your-dog's-body-and-behaviour way.
Recently, I embarked on some professional development that, surprisingly, changed how I can support you and your dog, not just me!
The programme I didn't know you needed (but I certainly did!)
Recently, I completed the Confident Practitioner Program with Lisa Ruthig of Power of Touch for Animals. It's a 16-week programme based on the Positive Intelligence (PQ) framework, and Lisa has designed it specifically to support animal bodyworkers.
I signed up, somewhat nervously, hoping for the usual professional development outcomes:
- Increased confidence in my work
- More clarity running my business
And yes, all of that has happened.
But what I wasn't expecting was how directly it could impact you, the people I work with.
The tools I learned for managing my own stress and nervous system patterns? They're the exact same skills that help you support your dog through their struggles.
It's not "positive thinking" - it's nervous system skills
This wasn't fluffy affirmations or pretending stress doesn't exist (thank goodness!)
It was about learning to:
- Notice when my brain is in threat/stress mode
- Recognise unhelpful patterns like self-doubt, overthinking, or urgency
- Intentionally shift into a calmer, grounded, more regulated state
In other words: practical nervous system skills that actually work in the moment (way more helpful to me than affirmations!).
And, here's where it gets interesting for you…
Your stress is part of your dog's environment
One of the biggest misconceptions about stress is that it exists in a neat little box.
When you're supporting a dog who is anxious, sensitive, painful, or struggling with change, your nervous system becomes part of their environment.
Dogs don't only respond to training plans or exercises. They respond to:
- How steady you feel at your end of the leash
- How confident you sound giving cues
- How calm you are during handling, grooming, or visits to the vet
- How present you are when things don't go to plan
Your dog doesn’t experience the world separately from you. They read your tone, posture, breathing, tension, movement, and emotional state. Often more accurately than you do yourself.
And when you're stressed, rushed, or doubting yourself? Your dog often mirrors that.
Not because you're doing anything wrong, but because that's how we social mammals work.
This is something I see all the time in:
- Barky or explosive dogs in new environments
- Dogs who struggle with car exits, vet visits, or busy spaces
- Dogs whose behaviour worsens when their person is overwhelmed
You feel tense → your dog feels tense → their behaviour escalates → you feel more stressed.
Sound familiar? Learning these skills matters for you, too. They directly support your dog’s wellbeing.
The tools I learned are the tools you need
One of the biggest surprises of the Confident Practitioner Program? Realising that the skills I was learning to manage my own professional stress and self-doubt were exactly the skills my clients needed for supporting their dogs.
Because when you're trying to help a terrified dog at the vet, or an anxious dog in a new space, you need the same thing I need when I'm second-guessing myself before a challenge:
The ability to pause, ground, and come back to the present moment instead of spiralling.
Way more useful than telling people to "just” relax - has that actually ever helped anyone??!
What is helpful is learning small, practical ways to notice your stress response and shift it. Especially in moments that usually feel hard.
What this actually looks like in practice
These aren't big, time-consuming practices.
They're tiny shifts that help your nervous system feel safer. Which, in turn, helps your dog feel safer too.
That might look like:
- Taking a beat before getting out of the car
- Noticing your breath before clipping the leash on
- Softening your shoulders
- Catching yourself spiralling and coming back to what's actually happening right now
When I work with clients now, I'm not just watching their dog's body language and behaviour. I'm also noticing where stress is showing up in the person - and I have practical tools to share that can shift it in the moment.
Not because I want to add more work to your plate. But because helping you feel more grounded directly helps your dog.
This isn't self-care. It's care
Here's what I've come to understand, both through this programme and through my work with stress and whole-being health:
Supporting your dog well means supporting yourself, too.
Sustainable change doesn't come from pushing harder or having a ‘perfect’ training plan (what even is ‘perfect’??). It comes from creating safety, clarity, and confidence. For both ends of the leash.
Whether I'm working with you on:
- Mobility and comfort
- Massage and body awareness
- Fitness and strength
- Behaviour, confidence, or coping skills
...I'm always paying attention to the whole picture.
That includes your dog's physical body, emotional state, and environment. And your experience alongside them.
When you're regulated, grounded, and present, your dog has a much better chance of getting there too.
A reflection for you
If you're feeling stuck with your dog right now, get curious. It's worth asking:
- Where is stress showing up for me?
- What might my dog be responding to in my body or energy?
- What would one small pause or grounding moment change today?
You don't need to be perfect. You don't need to be calm all the time. You need support that acknowledges the full picture.
And that's exactly the lens I bring to my work.
If this resonates and you'd like support that considers your dog’s physical, behavioural and emotional wellbeing - and yours too - you’re in the right place!
I provide in-home dog training and behaviour consulting in and around the Wellington region.