How to read your dog’s body language
For so many of us, our dogs are our best friends. You’ll never get into an argument with your dog, or not hear from them for days – they’re always always, always there for you. And you know what? That’s because you’re their best friend as well. If only there were some way the two of you could communicate more effectively. Well, if you’re observant enough, there is.
A study published in Behavioural Sciences showed that dogs’ facial expressions and ear movements can indicate their excitement or displeasure. A controlled experiment using a group of 12 dogs found that seeing the following objects/people triggered different responses:
- their owner – move their left eyebrow upwards
- a stranger – move their left ear back slightly
- an object they didn’t like (such as nail clippers) – move their right ear back
The scientists noted that it was difficult to explain why the animals used ears and eyebrows in different ways. Dr Miho Nagasawa theorises that because, “dogs’ ears are prominent features used to convey emotional expression”, then the results “suggest that dogs were more cautious toward unfamiliar people.” Dr Nagasawa also pointed out that, “eyebrow movement might indicate a visible response whereby dogs attempted to look at their owners more intently.”
The difficulty in applying this knowledge to everyday interactions with our own dogs is that the movements were captured using high-speed cameras and special markers on the animals’ faces. Try as you might, you may never notice the precise movements in your dog’s face. But there are some easy ways you can fairly accurately interpret what your dog is feeling – by looking at its whole body, not just a wagging tail. Speaking with WebMD, veterinary behaviourist Debra Horwitz and Melissa Bain from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine had some great tips for dog owners.
Happy
A happy dog is a relaxed dog. Look for a tail wag that moves your dog’s whole body, a soft pant, relaxed ears, etc.
Excited and interested
A dog that is living out its purpose is going to be incredibly excited. By that, we mean a dog who is doing what his genes tell him – a border collie being directed through an obstacle course, a terrier hunting out a small rodent, a retriever playing fetch. These dogs will run in circles from pure joy. They’ll bark, wag their tail, bark, and spin in circles.
Afraid
Many people mistake a dog signalling its fear for shame. This happens often when a dog has had an accident in the house, or has chewed up something that is not one of its own toys, and is on the receiving end of your frustration. A dog who is holding its body low to the ground, pinning its ears back, and tucking its tail between its legs is scared about what is going to happen.
Dogs show fear of someone they don’t know in a very different way – if they see something unfamiliar coming towards them, the defensive position they assume signals that they’re ready to fight. It will hold itself rigid and as tall as possible – trying to maximise its size – while its tail will likely be very stiff.
Have you noticed any of these strong signals from your four-legged friends? Let us know in the comment section below.