Module 1
DOG BODY LANGUAGE
Learn their language and earn their trust.
Bonjour!
Did you know dogs “talk” even when they don’t use words? Their bodies — tails, ears, eyes, mouths, and posture — are always sending signals about how they feel.
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When you learn to understand these signals, you help dogs feel safe, comfortable, and understood. That’s a big deal. It means you’re becoming someone dogs can trust.
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When you finish all the activities, you’ll earn your Dog Body Language Badge — your first step toward becoming an official Junior Dog Guardian.
Je m’appelle Bisou — pronounced Bee‑zoo.
> FUN FACT: “Bisou” is French for “kiss.”
In this first module, you'll learn how dogs communicate using:
✔ Tails • ✔ Ears • ✔ Eyes • ✔ Mouth • ✔ Posture
STORY STARTER
​Bisou meets a new friend
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Goal: Build empathy and awareness.
Objective: Identify cues and connect behavior to feelings.
Outcome: Kids correctly identify nervous dog cues.
Bisou trotted into the park with her usual happy wiggle. She loved sniffing the grass, watching squirrels, and saying hello to other dogs.
Today, she spotted a dog she’d never met before. She started to approach him but noticed something important:
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His head and tail were low.
His ears were pulled back just a little.
He leaned away when Bisou stepped closer.
Bisou paused.
“Dogs don’t use words,” she thought. “They use their bodies. I can read this!
”She looked again: soft eyes, slow wag, leaning back.
“Hmmm … I think he’s feeling a little unsure.
”Bisou took a step back and gave him space. After a moment, the dog relaxed and wagged a little higher.
Bisou smiled. “When we listen to dogs’ bodies, we help them feel safe.”
Make Bisou’s New
Friend Your Own
What should Bisou’s new friend be called? Pick a name you like — something sweet, silly, brave, or totally unexpected. This is your story now, and Bisou can’t wait to meet whoever you choose.
If you want to color the scene, you can download the page (right click on the image and choose 'save as' to download it to your device) and use anything you love — crayons, colored pencils, markers, paint, or even digital tools.
If you don’t want to print it, draw your own version on paper. Bisou looks great in every art style.
When you’re finished, we’d love to see what you made!
Email us a photo of your artwork or have a grown-up share it on social media. Include #mybarkinglife so we can cheer you on. Your creativity helps other kids learn, and makes Bisou’s world even brighter.
Know Your Dog's T.E.M.P.
Goal: Help kids recognize the four major body‑language categories dogs use to communicate.
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Objective: Connect each category to a dog's feelings.
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Outcome: Kids can name all four T.E.M.P. categories and describe at least one clue from each.
Dogs can’t use words, but they can use their bodies.
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Their tails (T), ears/eyes (E), mouth (M), and posture (P)
all give clues to their mood.
Learning these clues helps you understand how a dog feels and what they need:
TAILS indicate mood and confidence.
MINI LESSONS
What Your Dog’s Tail
Is Telling You
Goal: Help kids recognize and interpret common tail positions
so they can understand how dogs feel and respond safely.
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Objective: Strengthen observation skills by noticing how tail height, movement, and speed change with mood.
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Outcome: Kids can correctly name at least four tail positions and explain what each one might mean about a dog’s feelings.
Dogs use their tails to show how they feel. A tail can tell
you if a dog is happy, curious, unsure, or asking for space.
By paying attention to tail positions, you can better understand a dog’s mood and help them feel safe and comfortable.
Here are six common tail positions
and what each one means.
BIG, WIDE WAG:
happy or excited
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mood:
REMEMBER
Dogs need quiet, safe rest just like people do. If you surprise asleeping dog, it might wake up scared — and scared dogs sometimesbite before they understand what’s happening.
When a dog’s body looks stiff or serious, it’s not being mean — it’s saying, “Stop. I need space right now.” Giving space keeps
everyone safe.
When a dog’s body is low and their tail is tucked,
they’re feeling scared — give them space and let a grown‑up
handle the situation.
If a dog is licking their lips, yawning, or pacing,
they’re feeling stressed — stay calm, move slowly, and
don’t try to pet them.
CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
How did you do?
Whether you got it right the first time or needed a moment to think it through, you’re building real dog‑reading skills. Ready to have more fun? We’re moving into the Activity section, where you’ll get to practice what you’ve learned, make choices, explore clues, and try things out for yourself.
activities
Sort the Dogs
Goal: Strengthen recognition of safe vs. unsure dog body language using full‑body cues.
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Objective: Practice sorting dogs into “Relaxed and Comfortable” and “Needs Space”.
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Outcome: Kids can correctly sort at least 4 out of 6 dogs into the right category.
Look at each dog’s body language. Sort each
dog into Relaxed and Comfortable or Needs Space
based on what their whole body is showing.
REMEMBER: EVEN IF A DOG LOOKS RELAXED, ASK THE OWNER IF YOU CAN APPROACH IT BEFORE YOU DO.