Curiosity in Action: What Changes First?

This is the second post in the Curiosity in Action series, each one exploring a small question that might help you see your dog’s behaviour in a new way.

When we’re supporting dogs who are sensitive, anxious, or easily overwhelmed, it’s easy to focus on the big behaviours, barking, pulling, freezing, lunging. These are the behaviours we tend to notice first. They tell us the dog is finding that moment difficult.But what happens if we pause and notice what comes before those behaviours show up?

What if we started to notice those subtle changes that come first? Because behaviour often begins long before barking. Or pulling. Or running away. It often begins much earlier, in the subtle changes we see in the body.

A head turn. A stillness. A weight adjustment. A furrowed brow. With Harry, sometimes it’s a change in his breathing. These moments are just as meaningful. They’re part of the same conversation, just quieter.

Noticing the Early Signs

The nervous system is constantly scanning the environment to answer a question that shapes everything: Am I safe, or not?When the answer is yes, the body stays soft, exploratory, and connected. The dog might sniff the ground, show curiosity, or move with a relaxed softness. But when the answer begins to lean toward “maybe not,” even before a full reaction, you’ll often see early signs:

Breathing changes
Muscles tense slightly
The tail or ears adjust position
Eye movement sharpens or becomes more fixed
They pause… but not in a relaxed way

These tiny signals can tell us when your dog is beginning to feel unsure or alert even if they’re not yet showing what we’d typically label as “reactivity.”By noticing these early signs, we’re not just being observant, we’re giving ourselves a chance to support our dogs before they hit their threshold.

Real-Life Example: The Pause That Said Everything

Let’s say your dog is walking towards a familiar part of their usual walk. On most days, they move with a sense of ease, taking in the environment at their own pace. But today, they pause. Just for a moment. Their body stills. Their breathing changes slightly. They scan the distance. To someone else, it might just look like a dog hesitating or sniffing the air. But to a guardian who’s learned to notice those subtle changes, it might be a sign that something feels different.That one pause is a chance to check in. To give space. To offer support. It’s a chance to say: I see you. And I’m listening.

What to Look For

If you’d like to start noticing the small changes, here are a few gentle prompts to observe:

What does your dog’s “soft” body look like? What changes when they begin to feel unsure?
How does their breathing sound when they’re relaxed? Can you notice when it changes?
Where do their eyes go when they’re exploring, versus when they’re alert or holding tension?
What’s the difference in how they move when they feel safe versus cautious?

These aren’t things to tick off—they’re simply ways to deepen your understanding of how your dog experiences the world.

Why This Matters

When we start to notice the quieter moments, we’re no longer just reacting to behaviour, we’re building a relationship grounded in attunement. We’re showing our dogs that we see them clearly. That they don’t have to shout to be heard. And when a dog feels seen and understood in the quieter moments, they’re more likely to feel safe expressing themselves in ways that don’t rely on big, reactive behaviour.

In Real Life, It’s Not Always Neat

You don’t need to get it perfect, I miss things too, and I don’t always get it right. Noticing small changes takes time, and some days you’ll miss them and that’s okay.

But the more you slow down, the more you’ll begin to see. And when we learn to spot those early signs, we’re better placed to offer the kind of support that truly meets our dogs where they are.