Search and Rescue Dog Handler Canine Studies Stage 2

This stage is designed to build on the foundation understanding gained in stage 1, it will lead the student into a greater awareness of canine communication and prepare them for the final stage of the course.

Course Modules

• Canine eyesight, and how dogs use their eyes to communicate by blinking or staring.
• Ears and their positions, what this body language means.
• Neck and throat postures
• Hackles
• The tail positions and how to recognise what these might mean
• Leg movements and their meanings
• Greeting rituals

• Why dogs communicate using sound
• The dog's hearing ability
• Barking, and the different meanings associated with different types of bark.
• Growling and the different meanings associated with it
• Other types of auditory communication such as snarling and howling, baying, whimpering, whining and screaming
• Other acoustic sounds such as panting and sighing
• Humans misunderstanding dogs and dogs misunderstanding humans

• The four means of leaving a scent in order to communicate, saliva, urine, faeces and anal gland secretions.
• The anatomy and physiology of the canine sense of smell
• The different messages left by dogs
• The reasons why dogs roll in strong smelling substances

• Meet, greet and licking as a form of communication
• Lip smacking
• Teat nudging
• Kneading
• Muzzle nudge and nose to throat nudge
• Muzzle grasp
• Hip nudging
• Thrusting
• The meanings of the above tactile messages