http://www.care2.com/greenliving/understand-your-dogs-body-language.html
Understanding Your Dog’s Body Language
Adapted from City Dog, by Patricia Curtis (Lantern Books, 2002).
It’s certainly not hard to figure out what your dog is telling you when it meets you at the door after you’ve been out for awhile–the joyful grin and madly wagging tail say it all. Most of us quickly learn our pet’s basic repertoire of overt language. But some of the signals dogs give are subtle or confusing.
Being able to read a dog’s body language is especially necessary for urban dwellers. You not only want to be able to interpret your own pet correctly but, on the street, you want to be able to tell friend from foe.
Learn more about what dogs are telling us with their body language, right here:
1. Hostile tail-wagging. Wagging tails don’t always mean friendliness. Say your dog meets a strange dog off the leash. The other dog approaches with great interest, ears alert and tail wagging. But this dog is giving out signals that spell hostility. The wagging tail is stiff and held high. The eyes have a hard expression and stare into your dog’s eyes. The dog’s hackles are raised. The animal’s whole posture signifies aggression. Even without growling or showing its teeth, a dog behaving like this has a chip on its shoulder. You should remove your dog from the scene quietly and quickly.
2. Friendly tail-wagging. A friendly or curious dog’s tail will be wagging in wide sweeps, hanging down. Its ears are down and its fur is smooth along its shoulders and back. The dog will not attempt to look you or your dog in the eye. It will go through the typical sniffing pattern with your dog–first nose to nose, then the genitals. Offer this dog the back of your fist to smell, and then you can probably pet it if you wish.
3. “Play” position. Let’s say your dog, after the usual preliminary sniffs, suddenly bounces down on its chest and elbows with its ears flattened and its rear end in the air. Unless the dog’s owner recognizes your dog’s body language, he or she may snatch the animal away protectively, misinterpreting your dog’s behavior as aggression. Your dog was giving off perfectly clear signals–”Let’s play“–yet was misunderstood. A dog that merely wants to play may also jump excitedly and bark, grin and wag its tail, run around in circles, and roll over.
4. Submissive postures. Sometimes a dog will lie on its belly with its ears flattened and the fur along its back flat and smooth. It looks away and may roll over onto its back. Is it afraid–a coward, a wimp? In most cases not–it may well only be showing submission. It is probably saying, “I am recognizing that you are the boss (pack leader).” Or it could be telling the other dog, “I’m not into power–I don’t want to fight.” A dog that avoids confrontation in this manner usually makes a good city dog.
5. Signs of fear. A frightened dog lowers its body, with its tail hanging low or tucked between its legs. Its head is down, its ears are laid back, and its hackles are usually raised. The dog may instinctively crouch close to the ground to protect its belly, and it may approach you and your dog in circles. Because a scared dog can quickly become a fear-biter, the best course is to stand still with your hands by your sides and refrain from looking the animal in the eye. Don’t corner it or turn your back on it, but speak to it in a soothing voice. Unless it gets over its fear, relaxes, and shows friendliness or submission, it’s best to move away quietly.
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15 comments
add your comment »We recently rescured a 7 y/o chocolate lab. She must be constantly by our side touching us in some manner or begging to be petted. Our other dogs are content to quietly lay by our sides and sleep and they are content, although a lab is high energy this is an unusual obsessive behavior. I'm assuming she is seeking reassurance that she's ok and has found a home - we reassure her constantly but we find this incessant behavior continuing over the last four months and not letting up - any suggestions? She is find in the house by herself while the others are outside during the day but this bahavior persists only when we are present. We love her to death and only want to provide the best lasting home for her. Need advice.
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I always wondered why my dog roled on her back sometimes. This was really helpful! :)
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I have a female minature Chihuahua ( 2 yrs. old) that I have had since she was 7 weeks....Does anyone know what her lifting her hind leg (no urinatation , etc.) and resting it on you.... means??? She has done this to me as her owner and a male friend of mine. I'm very curious to know if this is her way of claiming you as hers ..or something completley different. (FYI_ Ive had other Chihuahua (both male and female) that never did this. Thanks for your help.
Te
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From what I have been reading about boxers, they are a very sensitive dog. They have a so called stubborn side of which you just have to learn how to work around. Some things emotionally are handed down through the generations, such as not like men. When we got our boxer her mom did not like men. So some of her pups may not like men either. So far ours can be leary of men but she has found men she does like. So we make sure to get her around men with possitive results. I know that if I raise my voice even though I am not yelling she gets timid, so we are looking at having a friend come over to help us learn how to train her in more possitive ways. Being a diabetic I cant afford to have her chewing on my slippers when they are on my feet, or just my feet of which she loves to do. But she is all pupppy right now too. But for most part she has been easy to train but for a few things. She is our snuggle up pup! She is sweet too. I have gotten a boxer dog book that has been helpful too. Each breed or mixed breed has their own unique quirks that can happen, often research and reading will bring much understanding. Find some good books on dogs and also breed specific too. sophie loves to play with other dogs and she does do the chest down, front feet spread and rump in the air thing to signal lets play. I swear she is part deer the way she leeps though. ;-}
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In answer to reading body language when your pooch has no tail-
Ear position,hair up(razor back),stiffness of body & focus are all signals to read for alarm,fight ready to happen,fear,relaxed etc.Floppy ears may not help determine much.Breeds w/erect ears show alot.The tail is not the only part alerting you to the emotional weather report.
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My experience with Boxers and other dogs with closely docked tails is that they are harder to read. You have to look at the other more subtle signs like the eyes and the whole body. There is some great stuff on the web. It is fascinating stuff, and is much more fun when you know what your dog is saying. (And safer when you know what the other dogs are saying.)
However, you may get scared when you get your dog close to another dog, and your dog might feel that and think you need defending. That is one reason it is good to work with an experienced professional- to find out what signals you are giving your dog!
If you go to a dog park you may have noticed that dogs are much different off leash than on leash. They are usually more aggresive on leash, especially close up. But working privately with a good trainer can usually help to resove the issues and train you to read signals, including the other dogs', and be a better handler.
Using a squirt bottle at the dog's face is a good corrective tool, and with persistence works for barking and often agressiveness. Don't yell at barkers- it gives them (and other negative behaviors) attention. Praise the quiet times.
There is great info on all this on the web and from experienced trainers. (I am not a trainer, but have worked with my dogs with one, and have had great results.)
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If you have problems with your dog, this is not the place to ask for guidance. There are professionals who can assess the situation and give you guidance, but very rarely without actually meeting the dog!
I argue that most problems are actually caused by the owner, without him/her realizing it. There are many good books and other sources on positive dog training, but I have come across only one excellent book on canine body language:
Turid Rugaas; Calming Signals.
Though you might have to make a bit of an effort to get your hands on this book, it is definately worth it! The coverage of dog body language is not exhaustive, but concentrated on those little signals that a dogs send to avoid conflict. How much easier is it to stop a situation from getting bad, if you notice that your dog is a bit anxious, instead of "suddenly" have it turn into a fearbiting nervous wreck?
The more attention you pay to what your dog is trying to tell you, the more you will understand, and the more your dog will tell you. Better communication and a happier dog. After all, how happy would you be in an environment where no-one understands anything you try to tell them? I know I would become very frustrated in no time at all.
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I have read so much on animal behavior, and my female Boxer does not fit the categories. She isa sweet as pie, and wants to go up to other dogs, she wags her tail, and whines to get close to them. But the minute she can get within reach, she is a different dog. She turns into cujo!!! We have two other dogs that r younger than her and she did not do the same to thwm, but when an outside dog is around, watch out. Now, I do not let her around other dogs. I do work at a vet clinic, and due to her CARDIOMYOPATHY, she has to come to work woth me. So to avoid anything, I walk her in as the receptionst will clear the lobby for us. As strange as this may sound, my other 2 males are not like this. HELP!!!
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I had a puppy the was about two months old who I was very attached to and I was just begining to understand. I wish I had known alot of this information earlier. My puppies name was Buddy Boy, God rest his poor little soul. I lost him today due to some kind of accidental blow to his head. Now I have anotherone that happens to be his sister whose name is Tippy Toes so I will be sure to learn alot about her body language. Thank You, My name is j
John D. Neuman
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If you know your dog real well, they will show you and let you know exactly what they want.After 13 years with my 3 dogs I know what time I have to go to bed, when to eat,and when I have to go potty and when they want something from the fridge. They have trained me well.
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