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.

  • 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.