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When it comes to being a safe and caring Canine rescue volunteer, there are certain dog behaviors to be
aware of and look out for. It can be rough for a dog to be placed in a kennel for extend periods of time,
meaning they may be prone to more fearful and possessive behavior. Here at the rescue we like to keep
our volunteers educated for both their safety and the dogs. Better knowledge of what aggressive
behavior looks can help decrease the chances of bites and attacks. Every volunteer should be aware of
what these look like and be prepared to encounter them.

 Growling, snapping
o Dogs will bare their teeth and possibly snap at a person. This is very obvious sign of
aggression where the dog is showing you they are not comfortable with what is
occurring.
 Rigid body posture
o Fearful dogs may tense up around someone they do not trust or if something is making
them uncomfortable. They can exhibit less movement with their body but have short,
quick wagging of their tail. This can also be mistaken for more playful behavior or happy
tail wagging.
 Cowered posture, tail tuck
o Dogs can physically shy away from something giving them anxiety. They will cower their
body and possibly tuck their tail between their legs.
 “Whale eyes”
o This is a quick way of describing the fact that fearful or aggressive dogs tend to avert eye
contact. This is when you can see the whites of their eyes while they still maintain an
awareness of where you are.
 Raised fur, “hackles”
o The stiffening of fur on a dog’s back, tail, neck, or ears can also be a physical response to
fear and anxiety. These are often called hackles.
 Yawning, lip licking
o This is one of the lesser known indications of fear and aggression in dogs. Dogs may
exhibit extra yawning or licking of their lips. It’s thought to be a way to try and relieve
the stress they are being put into and also act as a warning to a person around them.

These behaviors may not always be indicative of a scared dog, it is very reliant upon the situation at
hand. The most important part is being aware of a situation and using best judgement. It’s always better
to assume all shelter dogs are some level of fearful or anxious. Therefore, it’s a good idea to approach a
shelter dog, any dog for that matter, keeping the following things in mind.

 Approach slowly
 Don’t back yourself or the dog into a corner
 Let them come to you, possibly let them smell the back of your hand
 Avoid excessive eye contact
 And avoid leaning over or reaching for a dog

Giving them some sort of control in a situation will help decrease anxiety and fear. We are volunteers to
help these dogs, the least we can do is respect their feelings. Following this description and approach
ideas will help new volunteers be as safe and helpful as they can be.