Animal Communication and Body Language Collection

Animal Communication and Body Language Collection

If you’re new to working with dogs and cats, start here! Understanding animal communication and body language is a critical skill when learning how to safely and humanely interact with and support dogs and cats.  

Our goal in providing this content is to support learners in understanding what dogs and cats are communicating. Is it safe or unsafe to interact with the animal in front of you?   

View this material and then practice with this material at your shelter or home. What are the dogs and cats who you interact with telling you? It can be helpful to record dog and cat behavior when you’re not sure what they’re communicating, and then spend time with others to view and discuss what you’re seeing. 

This collection contains Maddie’s® University courses about body language and communication, an example of volunteer training about body language, and resources from other websites.

  • Cracking the Cat Code: Recognizing Feline Signals for Better Care
    Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits

    Learn practical tools to assess and respond to feline communication using Fear Free's Fear, Anxiety, and Stress scale.

    This course is part of Maddie's Monthly Behavior Connection, monthly webcasts about pet behavior - supporting pets in our community and animal shelters.

    This session provides practical tools to assess and respond to feline communication using Fear Free's Fear, Anxiety, and Stress scale. Through interactive exercises and video demonstrations, attendees will gain the confidence to advocate for the cats in their care, promoting better welfare and adoption outcomes.

    Presenter: Tabitha Kucera, Elite Fear Free and Low-Stress Handling Certified Registered Veterinary Technician, Veterinary Technician Specialist (Behavior), Certified Cat Behavior Consultant, and Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner. She is also the creator of Chirrups and Chatter Cat and Dog Behavior Consulting and Training.

    This webinar has been pre-approved for 1.0 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and by the National Animal Care & Control Association.

    Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, access the resources, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/BehaviorC...

    kewords Maddie's Monthly Behavior Connection, Tabitha Kucera, feline communication, feline behavior

    Tabitha Kucera

    VT, CCBC, KPA-CTP, Owner, Chirrups and Chatter

    Chirrups and Chatter

    Tabitha Kucera is an Elite Fear Free and Low-Stress Handling Certified Registered Veterinary Technician, Veterinary Technician Specialist (Behavior), Certified Cat Behavior Consultant, and Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner.

    She is the owner of Chirrups and Chatter Cat and Dog Behavior Consulting and Training and serves as the animal behavior technician at The Gentle Vet in Ohio. Tabitha lectures nationally and internationally, helping audiences build stronger connections with animals through a deeper understanding of behavior.

    Tabitha has held leadership roles with the Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians, the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, and the Pet Professional Guild's Cat Committee. She also served as a behavior consultant and mentor for the Cat Pawsitive Pro program for six years.

    In addition, Tabitha works closely with animal welfare and veterinary organizations, including veterinary hospitals and animal shelters, to develop and implement training and behavior programs. She is a Fear Free certified speaker and coach, a Fear Free Practice Certification Consultant, and the host of the podcast Tails from a Vet Tech.

  • Canine Body Language in the Shelter
    Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits

    Learn how dogs communicate what they are experiencing

    The course Canine Body Language in the Shelter focuses on understanding how dogs communicate what they are experiencing. The course includes a video followed by interactive materials to reinforce the learning. 

    This course has been pre-approved for 1.0 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and National Animal Care & Control Association.

    behavior, dogs, fear, training

  • Feline Communication: How to Speak Cat
    Contains 4 Component(s), Includes Credits

    Learn all the ways cats communicate with us and other cats

    This class takes you through the three forms of feline communication: vocalization, body language and scent. Each section provides descriptions of the various forms, along with photos and videos that help you translate what the cat is conveying.

    NOTE: All Maddie's® University courses operate best on the Google Chrome browser. 

    This course has been pre-approved for 2.0 hours of continuing education credits by the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and National Animal Care & Control.