Dogs are one of the more intelligent animals kept as domestic pets. We have the ability to communicate with other dogs, other animals and even humans. We communicate using body language and vocal sounds. Our body language involves the use of our eyes, ears, mouth, posture, eyebrows, head position and tail. The vocals we use are yips, barks, howls, growls, whimpers, whines and “dog talk” which sounds like we are trying to imitate human speech. Some of our communications involve using the same gesture, but with a different meaning dictated by the circumstances in which it is used. For example, if we pant, it can mean that we are hot and we are trying to cool down, or it can mean that we are anxious or happy. If it is hot and we are panting heavily, it usually means that we are overheated and we are trying to cool down. If we are in the veterinarian's office and we are panting, it usually means we are anxious or scared. If we are playing with you and we pant and almost look like we are smiling, it means we are happy.
In the wild, dogs live in packs which have a certain hierarchy which is determined by personality, strength and personal confidence. Confident and higher ranked dogs hold their tail high. Lower ranked dogs, or submissive dogs, allow their tail to droop. If you notice that your pet dog carries his tail held high, it means that he is confident and proud. If he carries his tail low, it means that he is submissive and insecure. If you speak harshly to your dog when he has done something you don't like, you will notice that his tail will droop. If you have ever had occasion to observe a dog when it is about to become involved in a fight, you will notice that the fur on his tail is all fluffed out. As well all the hair on his body will also be standing out. This makes him appear larger to his opponent, which may cause the opponent to back down and submit to the larger appearing more dominant dog. (As an aside, if you are ever confronted by a black bear, stand on your tip toes, put your arms out and up as far as you can and yell as loud as you can...this makes you appear very large to the bear and most of the time he will run away. Growing up in the wilds of British Columbia, my dad had numerous confrontations with bears and by using this technique he was never attacked once...mind you he was very careful to never get between a female bear and her young either.)
When I am confused, I wag my tail slowly while I try to figure out what I should do. If I am excited about something, I wag my tail very quickly. If I am confronted by another dog and I recognize that he is higher ranked than I am, I will wag my tail and move my hips also. This means that I am ready to submit to the other dog.
When I become aggressive, I roll my lips back and show my fangs and growl. This indicates that I am ready to bite or attack. If I show my teeth in a smile, it means that I am showing that I am submissive. By observing the number of teeth I display, you can tell whether I am smiling or being aggressive. When I smile, you can only see my front teeth, and when I snarl and roll back my lips, you can see all of my teeth and gums.
My ears are another indicator of what I am trying to communicate. When my ears are erect, it indicates that I am concentrating on something. When I fear something I lay my ears back. When I am happy, I put my ears forward and pant lightly.
When I bark, I'm trying to scare a stranger away and also trying to let my mom and dad know that something is wrong. I also bark when I am playing. When I am excited or playing, my barks are sharp and short. If I am stressed or anxious, my bark is high pitched and repetitive. If I am lonely, I howl mournfully. If I want to communicate with another dog I bark repeatedly in the same mid range tone. When I growl, it is to warn people or other dogs to leave me alone or to threaten my “sisters” to mind their manners. If I am outside and I howl, particularly if it is an undulating howl, I am trying to communicate long distance with another dog I have heard. If I yawn, it usually means I am sleepy, or bored. However, if I yawn repeatedly it means that I am stressed about something, or in pain.
If I lift a forelimb and make a scratching movement in the air, it means I want to play. If I stamp my front feet it means I am excited. If I stamp my front feet and yip, it means that you are supposed to do something for me, usually give me a treat for something I have done that should be rewarded.
If I lift my paw and hold it out to you it means I want to exchange a handshake with you. If I want something, I will scratch it. If I look at something and tilt my head, it means I am concentrating on what I am looking at and trying to determine what it is. If my head is tilted but I am not looking at anything in particular, it means that I am trying to identify something that I have heard. If I go to the door and whine, it means I have to go out. If I go to the food bowl and it is empty, I will either bark while looking at it, whine while looking at it or pick it up and bring it to you. I also use these tactics if my water bowl is empty. If you are eating something and it smells real good, I will lick my lips and I may even bark, whine or yip to try and get you to share it with me.
If I stand facing you with my legs spread apart and my muscles bunched, then I am warning you to either back away or stay away from me.
If I am looking at you and I raise my eyebrows, it means either I am waiting for you to say something or if you have said something, I don't understand what you want me to do. If I draw my eyebrows down into a frown, I'm puzzled by something. If my eyes get big and round and my eyebrows go up, it means I'm surprised or startled by something.
If I want to play with you, I will bring a toy to you and stand there wagging my tail. Many of us can be trained to play catch, to fetch thrown objects, to catch frizzbies, to play fly-ball or to compete in agility competitions. “Mitzi” the first dog mom and dad had after they married, could play hide and go seek, ride a skateboard and a toboggan and stand on her hind legs and dance. Spend time with your dog and you will be amazed at what he or she can communicate to you.
Until next time,
Teia
