My proudest moments as a coach (and why learning dog body language matters in separation anxiety)

Skaiste S.
Sep 3
2 min read

Updated: Sep 4

The best part of SA coaching isn’t just calm dogs or the freedom it gives to people, it’s when guardians learn to truly understand their dogs. Here’s why that makes me so proud.

The lecture that changed everything

Woman and a dog in front of a presentation screen titled "The (not so) secret life of dogs." Black curtains in the background.

A year ago, I gave a lecture on dog body language at a company I worked for. I thought it went well: people nodded, laughed at my jokes, seemed interested.

But the real magic came days later. Colleagues would come up to me and say things like:“You’ve ruined me in a good way, Sky. I can’t stop noticing what the dogs in the office are saying. I can see when they want space now or when they're truly happy.”

That moment - people seeing dogs more clearly - lit a fire in me.

Fast forward to my SA clients

When I work with guardians now, yes, the goal is calm dogs and freedom for the humans. Yet the part that makes me ridiculously proud? Watching people start to read their dogs.

I don’t just tell you: “Do this, do that.” We sit together and talk about why. Why is your dog whining now? Why did they lick their lips just then? What emotion might that tail flick be telling us?

By the end of the programme, my clients aren’t just following steps, they’ve become independent trainers for their own dog and I can see that every day when they send me their session updates. They start noticing the tiniest details that show their dog is relaxed or uncomfortable.

A woman smiles, holding a black dog wearing a yellow party hat. Background features a colorful wall with black and yellow patterns.

The proudest moments

Literally, the best texts I get are: “Look at this clip, I think he rushed to the door and did that because he felt uneasy. What do you think?”

That’s when I grin like a silly. Because that means you get it. You’re seeing your dog. You’re noticing, interpreting, and making connections.

The truth is, if I can teach you to read your dog's body language, you don’t just survive separation anxiety. You deepen your relationship forever.

Why knowing dog body language matters

Because training isn’t about me swooping in with answers. It’s about me helping you learn the language of your dog, so you can carry it with you for life.

We need to understand what your dog is saying because that knowledge of whether they're feeling stressed or it's just "registering" their feelings will help you in many other situations, not just separation anxiety training.

Every time someone sends me a clip and analyses it themselves, I think back to that first lecture. How proud I felt when people started to see dogs differently.

And I think: Yep. This is why I do it.