Roeselare (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Students at Vives University in Roeselare created Woof Reality, a VR system teaching owners, guided by Yana Derboven, to recognise subtle dog signals and prevent stress or aggression.
As VRT News reported, students at Vives University of Applied Sciences in Roeselare have developed a new system to help dog owners understand their pets better. The project began after the students noticed a common problem.
They mentioned that many dog owners misread their dogs’ behaviour. Often, owners only notice when a dog gives very clear signals, like barking, growling, or whining. By that time, the dog may have already shown earlier, more subtle signs that are easy to miss.
“Dog behaviour is divided into what’s known as the communication ladder,”
explains student Yana Derboven.
“In the first phase of the ladder, the dog only gives minor cues. Only in the final phase will it behave conspicuously. Owners are then startled when their dog bites ‘out of the blue,’ even though they’ve been warned for much longer.”
What does Woof Reality in Roeselare teach about dog signals?
Woof Reality teaches owners to recognise subtle signals dogs give before showing clear signs of stress or aggression. After attending the session, visitors receive all the information and guidance.
“The system works with virtual reality headsets. People who put on the headset enter a virtual park. During their walk in the park, they encounter dogs that behave in a certain way. They are then asked questions about that behaviour,”
Derboven explains.
Woof Reality highlights the importance of small behaviours. A dog yawning can mean more than tiredness. It may signal stress or a need for space and distance. If these early signs are ignored, the dog may show more obvious signals. It could turn its head away, flatten its ears, or avoid interaction. Only in the final stage might the dog bite. The students say learning to recognise these early signals is crucial.
There are many different programs and initiatives that educate dog guardians about understanding their dog, and these are becoming increasingly popular within Belgium. In the Vlaamse Ardennen region, PetFriend specialises in dog coaching, providing guardians with tools to interpret stress signals, body language and emotional states in their dog beyond just providing basic obedience lessons.
Another is DogGuidance in West Flanders, which uses stress reduction techniques and provides understanding through the use of relaxed methods to teach their clients how to communicate through body language with their dog. In Ruiselede, 4ADOGZ Academy provides various training sessions, including “The Language of the Dog,” that teaches clients to interpret their dog’s body language.
