The Space Between Dogs A New Framework for Raising Dogs that Connect, Not React
What if reactivity isn’t the problem? What if it’s simply the visible symptom of a deeper communication breakdown? For years, dog owners have been told to focus on obedience, control, and correcting unwanted behavior. Yet countless dogs continue to struggle with leash reactivity, social anxiety, frustration, fear, and aggression.
In The Space Between Dogs, certified dog behavior consultant Judy Rapp Moore introduces a different approach—one that focuses on the subtle social conversations happening long before barking, lunging, or conflict occur.
Drawing from nearly two decades of professional behavior consulting, Judy reveals how dogs communicate through posture, movement, emotional regulation, and the use of space. You will discover:
The Moore S.C.A.L.E.™ is the assessment framework. It helps you evaluate a dog’s social confidence, emotional regulation, communication style, and compatibility with other dogs. In other words, it helps you understand where a dog is currently functioning along the social spectrum.
The Let’s Talk Process™ is the implementation system. It provides a structured, step-by-step method for helping dogs develop better social skills, build confidence, improve communication, and create safer, more successful interactions with other dogs.
Endorsements: “For decades I’ve been asking people to truly see the dog in front of them. Not the dog they hoped for, not the dog they’re trying to fix, but the actual animal communicating in every flicker of posture and glance. Judy Moore has done something genuinely valuable: she’s taken the complexity of canine social behavior and made it navigable without making it simple. The result of her work offers handlers real tools for reading what dogs are saying to each other. Carefully considered, compassionate, and grounded in deep observation of what actually happens when two dogs meet, The Space Between Dogs reflects how profoundly our choices in those moments shape everything that follows. For those working with and loving the dogs who’ve been overwhelmed, over-faced, or simply not understood, this book is long overdue.”
— Suzanne Clothier, author of Bones Would Rain from the Sky
Plenty of books tell you how to teach your dog to “sit, down, stay.” The Space Between Dogs shows you how to truly step into your dog’s internal world and learn to read and respond to their emotions and needs in exactly the way a best friend should! The guidance and frameworks in this book can be used both to reduce the likelihood of environmental sensitivity (reactivity) developing in dogs and to support those who are already showing reactive behaviours in response to overwhelming emotions. Written with both the dog and their guardian in mind, this book is for anyone who wants to build a life with their dog based on choice, autonomy, and consent.
—Dr Holly Tett, Clinical Psychologist & Dog Behaviourist, Paws Up Dogs Ltd (London, UK)The Space Between Dogs offers a refreshing and deeply needed perspective on socialization, behavior, and emotional resilience in dogs. Through the Moore S.C.A.L.E.™, Judy provides readers with a thoughtful, practical way to better interpret and support canine communication and social needs. This book will leave readers seeing their dogs, and themselves, differently.” —Ness Jones, author of Please Don’t Go!
One of the things I like most about the book is that there’s a chance to assess what help an individual dog needs, and provide that to them. The key for any dog protocol is to orchestrate situations where dogs can learn, connect, and practice social skills, and Judy does that very deliberately.” — Grisha Stewart, author of Behavior Adjustment Training
