Since your dog cannot talk to you it is important to learn how dogs communicate without words. When you understand the things that your dog is trying to communicate to you without words you will be able to live with your furry friend in peace. Understanding the non-verbal communication of dogs can also help you when you are around dogs that you are not familiar with.
There are many ways that dogs give signals about how they are feeling by using non-verbal signals and these signals are often more revealing than any other kind of language. Their body language can invite you to play or warn you to stay back. Here are a few of the things you should pay attention to when you are with a dog:
- Eyes
- Body
- Stance
- Tail
- Mouth/teeth
- Ears
These five body parts can communicate a wide array of feelings.
When dogs are feeling ready to be approached and are in a happy mood and ready to play they will look relaxed and calm. Typically, the dog’s ears will be up (but not pointing forward) and their tail will be relaxed and down. Their mouth may be open slightly in a slight pant but the teeth will not be exposed and the dog will likely have its head held high. Their stance is likely to be fairly loose and their feet will be flat on the floor.
A dog that is ready to play may lower its tail slightly and the front of its body may be slightly lowered as well. Some say that dogs’ eyes will sparkle or appear to be laughing when it wants to play. Sometimes the eyes can be confusing though so make sure you take into account other body language as well. Just remember that dogs have a lot of power in their body so when young children are around be on the alert so that they do not get hurt when playing with an eager or larger sized dog.
Knowing how to read the signals of a dog that is feeling threatened is very important. If they are aggressive or about to attack you’ll want to back off immediately and not appear to be threatening to them. When you are around dogs you do not know well, always be aware of their body language. You’ll want to watch the same body parts that you watch to see if a dog is happy – the eyes, ears, tail, stance, body, and of course, the mouth and teeth. An aggressive dog will often have pointed ears that are spread slightly. This indicates that the dog feels challenged and may attack if someone provokes it. If they flatten their ears they may be feeling stressed or fearful, which can also lead to an attack.
The mouth and teeth can be very revealing as well and can be a signal of a very dangerous situation. If you see them curl their lips back and bare their teeth remove yourself from the situation slowly but immediately. If they are in advanced stages of hostility they may begin to snap their teeth or pant.
Other signals of hostility or distress you should watch for include:
- A pointed tail
- Tail between the legs
- Narrowed eyes
- Eyes wide open and alert
- Rigid body
- Lowered front end of body (ready to attack)
If you see combination of two or more of these warning signals be wary. Look for other signals and be ready to get out of there. Be calm, keep your voice low, and move slowly but deliberately.
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