What is this dog telling you with his body
language?
You and
your dog probably pick up on each others body language without much
thought, it is just your natural communication, connection and
love for each other.
When
humans are unsure about what someone else is thinking or feeling,
our dogs behave in a universal "dog language".......from facial
expressions and posturing, their body language is immediately
understood by another canine. Chihuahua to Great Dane, it's the
same postures & body movements, sometimes without a sound. Two
properly socialized dogs meeting for the first time can size each
other up in just a few moments and determine if they will be
friends or enemies. Another aspect of communication is
odor. Because dogs have such an amazing sense of smell, they
use olfactory sensory to understand and learn about another
dog.
You can
watch the key parts of your dogs body to determine how he's feeling
and reacting to the world around him;
Face; Although the dog's facial muscles are not
as refined as a human's, he can wrinkle or straighten his forehead
to show confusion or determination. If your dog wants you to give
him further direction, he may raise his eyelids quizzically and
tilt his head to one side. If he is afraid, his pupils may dilate
and he shows the whites of his eyes. He averts his eyes to avoid
confrontation. If angry or ready to defend himself, his eyes narrow
and follow your every move. At this point, it's particularly
important not to look a dog in the eye, he will see that as a
challenge to defend his position. A relaxed dog will let his tongue
loll out of his mouth. If he wants something from you, or if he is
happy, wanting to play, he may pull his lips back in what appears
to be a smile, showing his teeth-an expression dogs show only to
humans and not to other dogs. Beware of the dog that bares
his clenched teeth and wrinkles his nose.....he is ready to attack.
If a dog's ears are raised, he is relaxed, listening or showing
acceptance. If they are back, he is angry or afraid, showing
fearful or dominant aggression.
Tail; A dog wags his tail when his is happy or
wants to play. When he is submissive, he tucks it between his legs.
A taut tail, held down rigidly behind him, may show that he is
prepared to spring since he uses his tail for balance when
jumping.
Voice; Dogs are vocal
animals. They bark, whimper and growl. The pitch or volume of their
sounds can increase with their level of emotion. A bark may be
playful or aggressive. Unlike body signals, dog noises can mean
different things from different dogs.
Dogs, when meeting for the first
time, display a series of actions that look like a choreographed
dance. Bodies tense, tails taut, they circle and sniff, hackles are
up, tails wagging at a fierce speed.............silently gathering
and exchanging information, ready to defend themselves if
necessary, or ready to spring into playful abandon. They avert eye
contact, examining each other to determine if the stranger is male
or female....one dog may place his head on the nape of the other's
neck or nip at his nose. It seems they are getting ready to fight,
and then, one lies down. Soon, they may separate and urinate. They
have agreed on which dog is dominant. Dogs learn body language from
their mothers during the first eight weeks of their lives and they
test this language on their littermates. If a dog misses out on
such training with siblings, he will have trouble communicating
with other dogs throughout life if not properly socialized.
Normal Posture; The dog
appears alert with head held high. His tail moves freely. His jaw
is relaxed.
Invitation to
Play; The dog happily signals his desire to play by
wagging his tail and dipping down into a "play bow". His front legs
are in a crouch and his backbone swoops up, leaving his rear
haunches high. His head is held up expectantly to capture your
attention. He may raise a front leg or lean to one side with his
head.
Submission; The dog
crouches down further and still appears relaxed. He may lift a
front foot as in a play invitation, but his ears are back and his
tail is down. He may yawn, scratch or sneeze, which is meant to
calm him and the dogs or people confronting him.
Fearful Aggression;
A dog who is afraid tenses his body and holds his tail rigid. His
rear legs are ready to run or spring. He bares his teeth, draws
back his ears and the hair on his back stands on end. He growls or
snarls constantly to warn off the subject of his fear.
Dominant
Aggression; Teeth bared, this dog stares you down and
advances confidently with his tail wagging slowly and ears
alert.
Total Submission;
The dog drops his tail and curls it between his legs. He drops his
head to avoid eye contact. He rolls over on his side and bares his
belly, with one hind leg raised and urinates. If he isn't afraid,
he'll tilt his head up a bit and raise his ears to show
trust.
********************************************************
