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A Dog’s Communication - Could Your Dog be Trying to Tell You Something?
Image by Péter Göblyös from Pixabay
Can you interpret what your dog is trying to tell you? If you can, you can use that information to build a stronger relationship between owner and canine.
I AM HUNGRY
I AM HUNGRY
I AM HUNGRY
That's what your dog could be saying when they are barking right in your face when you have just sat down to watch your favorite TV program.
If you have put your beloved pooch through a well-rounded dog training program, then they should be able to respond to commands and know acceptable behaviors for a wide range of situations.
But guess what? They are putting you through their training program at the same time. Granted, it would look bizarre if they strapped a collar and lead on you and took you out for a walk, but they are always communicating with you. It would help if you took as much time understanding what you are being told about how much time you spend getting them. You know you.
By training a dog to listen to you and by introducing yourself to listen to them… you will be able to develop a strong and efficient bond between pooch and owner, which will result in a happy and fun-packed life for both of you.
Dogs are pack animals, and as such, can communicate in a wide of methods. So, let's have a look at how they might tell you that it is time to get off your butt and take them for a walk:
Woof woof woof
Barking is the most obvious way when thinking about how a dog communicates with you. With time you will be able to distinguish between the different types of barks that your dog utilizes. You need to be aware of the barks the dog gives you, their leader and friend, and the barks they provide other humans and other dogs. This will enable you to deal with any potential issues before they happen.
I class barking as any attempt the dog is making to communicate verbally. There will be a wide range of pitches, lengths, growls, squeals, and cries. And you will be able to see a pattern eventually. I now know the difference between "dad it is 7am I am bored, get up" and "dad I know its only 7am but I am desperate for a wee wee".
One of my dogs has a voice like she has been smoking 40 cigarettes a day for her whole life, and when she approaches another dog on a walk. She can be loud and sound aggressive. This puts the human on edge and even confuses the other dog. This troubled me when I first got her, as she is a rescue, and I thought she might hate other dogs. But she is desperate to meet them. Sometimes she does randomly seem to take a dislike to individual dogs and breeds. When that happens, I know because it is a different bark entirely. In this circumstance, she is aggressive, and it is time to cross the road, haha.
Yaaaaawn
Your dog has just got up from a night of sleep, yawned, and done its variety of yoga poses they do, obviously starting with downward dog. This type of yawn is what you would expect from a human and likely isn't anything to ponder from your doggo.
However, dogs can do stress yawns. When they are stressed out, they yawn to help relieve that stress.
If you picked up your dog for a cuddle, and it yawns, it makes them look very cute, but it could be showing signs of stress. Or maybe you have taken them into a pub, and it is loud and noisy, the dog may not be handling the situation well, and you should drink up and leave.
It would help if you also considered this when you are dealing with doggies that are not yours. If you are patting a dog's head and starts yawning, you should stop before the dog feels like it has to escalate the situation by giving you a little nip of something like that. In these cases, it is not the dog's fault. It is yours.
Wag the dog
Your pooch will give many signals with its tail. While these can differ somewhat between breeds and individuals, there are general trends.
A waggy tail often signifies happiness, a tucked tail may mean it is unhappy or frightening, and a stiff raised seat may indicate aggression or alertness.
For example, when one of my dogs is happy, they wag their tail like a helicopter in a fast-circular motion, which I love to see after a long day at work.
I hear you
This can be a bit more breed-specific and indeed can be more noticeable with certain breeds. There are things to look out for with your fur buddy and their ears.
If the ears are up and erect, they could be on alert, curious, or perhaps trying to show dominance. If their ears are down, they are likely happy, relaxed, and friendly. If the ears are pulled back and flat, the dog could be unhappy, scared, or submissive.
Eyes
A dog's eyes are very expressive, and the saying "puppy dog eyes" is well known for a reason… they work!
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They might bow their head but look up at you at the same time, which could be them saying, "please feed me, I haven't been fed for days," when it has been a couple of hours. They may give you a slow blink, which is often a sign of love and contentment. They could also stare you out with a tense body, or turn away from you but still look back at you, which flashes their whites… these can be signs that they are not happy or are warning you. So, take note as it might be a warning, and if it is not heeded, they may become aggressive.
Erratic behavior
If your dog is acting unusually, it is a sign that something may be wrong. If your pooch is usually a dream to walk on a leash, but suddenly it starts pulling home. Then it is not naughty because you have trained them well. They may have got spooked and become scared. Maybe they have just heard a gunshot, firework, or a car has backfired. Remember, they have much better senses than you, so only because you haven't seen, heard, or smelt something unusual, doesn't mean they haven't.
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These examples are just scratching the surface of how a dog can communicate with you, but don't worry. You will learn them quickly if you pay attention and use some common sense.
Owning a dog is a partnership. Yes, you do have to take the leadership role, but a good leader works within the pack and for the group's benefit.
Listen to what your pet has to say, and you get love back from them by the bucket full.
