Understanding Your Dog’s Body Language
06/06/2006
Dogs have a language all their own and if you listen they’ll teach you to speak it too! By listening to your dog, you’ll begin to understand their needs and their intentions. There are things your dog says every day with his body language that you don’t even realize. Read on to learn the language of ‘dog’!
Tell your dog to sit. Notice as you tell your dog to sit, his ears will go back. This is a sign of submission. Your dog is saying that you’re the dominant one and he’s submitting to you. Another sign of this is a raised paw, which is as easy to train as a human handshake. This is especially significant because it is the step right before they roll over on their backs, completely submitting to you and showing you that you are their leader and their over lord.
Next, roll your dog on his back. Watch his body language. He’ll generally raise his back leg in elevation. This is what the mother dogs do to their pups. Look down at his face. You’ll notice a grin of sorts. Your dog’s grin is a friendly gesture, which is not the same as our grin, but a submissive gesture of his own. (A smile can easily be taught, as a trick, by saying the words smile, and then lifting the animal’s upper lip back in a smiling look. Repete this and you’ll have a smiley dog in no time! )
Dogs are very vocal animals. Many times, they will give you a friendly howl or they will give a menacing growl in warning. It’s very rare that a dog will directly attack or bite. A warning almost always comes first. Dogs also use their eyes. A direct stare is a threat, and its important not to look directly into a dog’s eyes when you are first meeting. Make sure you avoid making your self seem threatening to the animal.
Dogs are very playful as well. Putting their fore legs out in front and bowing is an invitation to play. They’ll run around and leap and bound here and there playing with each other.
Dogs will show their dominance by having an erect tail and stout body, while the subordinate animal crouches or lays on its back, allowing the leader to do whatever he pleases. Listen to your dog; he’ll talk to you with his body…and his mouth!
