What Did You Say? The Ultimate Guide to Dog Body Language

Dogs talk – but what do they say?
Language: it’s a two-way street
How does your dog use his body to communicate?
The tale of the tail

Video: understanding dog body language - part 2

Video: dog body language - what your dog is desperately trying to tell you! thefamilydog.com

Watching the tail in action
Lending an ear to the communication game
Why tail docking and ear cropping are horrible ideas
The eyes have it

Video: learning to understand your dog's body language

We have all wanted our dogs to talk to us at one time or another. After all, such communication would remove a lot of the guesswork that comes with canine ownership. However, your pooch does talk to you through his body language. Here’s how to see what he’s telling you.

Dogs Talk – But What Do They Say?

The notion that dogs don’t talk to you is a bit of a myth. Sure, they don’t have the ability to form words and discuss the plot of your favorite TV show, although some scientists seem to be working on rectifying this. But that doesn’t mean they are muted animals that are incapable of letting you know what’s happening in their world.

Dogs can communicate through all sorts of physical means, from producing sounds with their vocal cords to exhibiting specific behaviors and movements with their bodies. And even novice dog owners can pick up on the fact that their four-legged friend has something to say, even if they can’t articulate it in human terms.

Yet therein lies the rub. We may know that our dogs may be trying to tell us something, but we may not have a clue as to what they actually may be trying to tell us. If you aren’t careful, this could lead you to feel frustrated in certain situations, particularly if your pooch isn’t acting the way you want him to act.

Part of this frustration may come from an assumption that dogs communicate from a space similar to where we communicate. But this is an incorrect assumption, and that’s not just because we can say words and they can’t. Rather, the way dogs tend to communicate is quite literally the nature of the beast.

We humans tend to communicate through experiences dictated by learned experience, environment, and emotion. Dogs, on the other hand, primarily communicate on an instinctual level- one that has its roots back in ancient times when they roamed the earth as wild beasts.

This makes sense when you think about things. After all, wild dogs didn’t co-habituate within a human environment- as such, a lot of their canine-driven language stems from their abilities to communicate with other dogs. They essentially brought this set of “language” skills with them when they started to become domesticated.

Now, your dogs won’t totally be oblivious to what you’re saying to them – studies show they’ve picked up on a few words over generations. But because a dog’s bodily communications are so instinctual, you should prepare yourself to talk down to their “level.” Doing so will make your owner/dog bond much more dynamic.

Language: It’s a Two-Way Street

It could be very easy just to assume that your dog understands the intent of everything that comes out of your mouth, simply because he`s your loveable buddy that seems to hang on every word. However, as this video shows, it`s important to realize how critical being sensitive to the nature of dog language is, since it comes from a uniquely canine place.

How Does Your Dog Use His Body to Communicate?

Even though your dog can’t speak, he is nonetheless a very communicative beast. Your dog uses his entire body to tell you about his wants and needs. He’ll even be able to clue you in on the precise mood he’s in at any given time – it’s up to you to decipher these clues.

A dog’s tail, ears, eyes, paws and body positioning are all integral parts to how your dog talks to you through his frame. However, the lines of communication can easily be blurred if you don’t recognize what these movements represent. This breach in “speech” between dog and owner is more prescient than you may think.

The Tale of the Tail

Perhaps no form of body communication is riper for misinterpretation than his tail. Even raw rookies in the dog ownership game know that a dog’s tail can be a terrific vessel for canine communication. However, the knowledge of tail-based communication can easily be reduced to the thought of a wagging tail equating to a happy dog.

Yet even that concept is incorrect, which is something that you may not realize until you get growled or even nipped at by a tail-wagging doggie. Yes, a dog with an eagerly wagging tail can indicate that he is in a happy place. However, there is a few metrics that go beyond the movement that you must be made aware.

Position plays a key role in what your dog may be feeling, even when your pooch’s tale is in motion. If your dog is indeed happy and relaxed, you can expect his tail to move in a sweeping side-to-side motion in a neutral position. In this case, his tail will not be rested too high or too low.

If your dog is overcome with joyful emotion – such as that magic moment when you get home from work – you may see the tail darting back and forth with great if not haphazardly paced exuberance. You may even get the chance to see his butt wiggle or get treated to a full body wag, especially if your pooch has a stubby tail.

Again, you’ll see an outrageously happy dog’s tail wagging in a neutral position. This indicates that above all else, he’s happy and relaxed, which is a good thing. If your pooch has a naturally curled tail like a pug, you may even see his tail straightened out – the canine equivalent of “letting your hair down,” if you will.

Video: Understanding Dog Body Language - Part 2

If you see a wagging tail set up high or low, your pooch will be giving you a different message – one that doesn’t equate to happiness. When a dog’s tail is raised, he’s signaling that he’s on guard and prepared to confront whatever caught their eye. If the tail arches over the back, it could mean he’s ready to throw down in an act of aggression.

Conversely, if a dog’s tail moves into a lower position, it could be an indicator of submission. Just how low your dog’s tail goes will give you a clue as to how he’s feeling. If it looks like it’s practically stuck to his hindquarters, it’s a signal that he’s afraid. If there’s a slightly elevated, droopy wag involved, it could be a sigh of anxiousness.

Sometimes, you may notice that your dog’s tail abruptly freezes and stiffens up. This is an indication that he wants to divert a threat in a non-aggressive manner. This may be a common reaction when strangers try to pet your dog – he doesn’t want to attack, but he’d prefer to be left alone.

Of course, there is a bit of a breed variance when it comes to tail wagging and position. Breeds that have naturally high-set tails like chow chows or breeds with naturally low-set tails like whippets may make interpreting his tail movement a little trickier. To that end, it`s important you be in tune with your dog`s personality to make smart judgments.

Video: Dog Body Language - What your dog is desperately trying to tell you! thefamilydog.com

Watching the Tail in Action

Because tail positioning could provide such a hefty clue regarding dog behavior, it’s important to know precisely what you’re looking for as opposed to just mentally visualizing what it may look like. This video will help you eliminate any guesswork you may have about what the appendage will look like in certain situations.

Lending an Ear to the Communication Game

Ears are an essential tool for canine communication. They are also arguably the one part of a dog`s body that is subject to the most breed-centric communication variance, since there is a lot of natural variance in a dog`s ear shape. This variance will dictate how effective ear-based communication can be for the pooch.

Much as is the case with tails, understanding a dog’s ear position will be the prime mover behind figuring out what he’s trying to tell you. For instance, if your dog is feeling mellow and unthreatened, he’ll hold his ears in a natural state. If his ears are pulled back ever so slightly, he’s in a friendly mood and wants to engage.

Not surprisingly, raised and lowered ears are signs of somewhat extreme emotional-based behavior tendencies. If you see your dog’s ears stuck to the sides of his head or completely laid flat back, it’s a sure sign of submission or fear.

Raised ears may be a little trickier to interpret. Your dog will raise his ears whenever he’s alert or if he’s feeling aggressive. He’ll also tend to direct his ears toward whatever is the impetus of his behavior. It’s up to you to assess the situation and environment to determine what behavior is driving the ear position.

As mentioned earlier, the effectiveness and obviousness of ear-based communication depend on the breed. In the case of a prick-eared dog like a German shepherd, it could be rather easy to read the ears. On the other hand, it may be tough to pick up on signals being left by a droopy-eared dog like a dachshund.

Why Tail Docking and Ear Cropping Are Horrible Ideas

the Ultimate Guide to Dog Body Language 2

The importance of canine communication through a dog’s tail and ears indirectly shines a spotlight on two very controversial surgical procedures: tail docking and ear cropping. In the former procedure, a dog’s tail is either partially or fully removed, while the latter procedure removes the floppy part of a dog’s ears.

There seems to be practical origins for these procedures, particularly with tail docking. It’s believed the practice was meant to prevent injuries or disease contraction for working breeds. However, these days, it’s primarily done for cosmetic purposes.

However, it’s a horrendous practice that does nothing but hinders a dog’s ability to communicate, both with humans and with other dogs. Ears and tails are prime sources of non-verbal behavioral language, and altering either would be akin to cutting out a person’s tongue. Avoid either procedure at all costs.

The Eyes Have It

They say the eyes are the window to the soul. In the case of canines, their peepers can provide a clear glimpse into what’s going on in his brain. It may also be the one body language aspect that may be easy to decipher based on our own eye-driven behavioral clues.

Dog Body Language

Reading Your Dog

Why Do Dogs Wag Their Tails?

Decipher What Your Dog is Saying With His Tail- May 11, 2012- Mikkel Becker

The Pug – Loving, Charming, Mischievous

Interpreting Tail Wags in Dogs