If you have a dog you will surely have wondered what your puppy wants to communicate with his funny expressions and wagging tail. As in any relationship, good communication strengthens trust; knowing how to recognize the behavioral signals that are part of the dog's language will make you more confident in managing his reactions.
In fact, usually before biting, barking or doing any dangerous action the animal carries out behaviors which, if recognized in time, can prevent dangerous situations for the animal itself and for those around it.
In this article…
How dogs communicate: verbal language and body language
Canine language , just like in humans, is composed of verbal and nonverbal language.
In the first case there are different types of vocalizations, such as yelping, barking and howling. The dog has a large number of sounds: the bark to request attention, the submissive and painful whine, the dominance growl and the howl which is used to seek long-distance social contact.
In the second case, the communicative signals are multiple, precisely because the dog uses its entire body to express mood, emotions and intentions.
In this article we will give greater importance to posture, in fact being aware of the various meanings linked to the position of the body and its interaction with space is essential to recognize the puppy's moods and prevent possible dangerous situations.
How to understand dog language: posture
Speaking with Marika Gravili , dog trainer also known on social media as Unusual Dog Sitter , we discovered that an element to take into consideration when you want to decipher the moods and intentions of your dog is the observation of the posture and position of the dog. his body in space. The dog's posture can provide us with information in relation to the surrounding environment and other individuals.
Marika states, for example, that a self-confident dog is not afraid to position himself in the center of a room in a new context, while an introverted dog will be more inclined to position himself on the edges and perhaps with his back to the wall in search of protection. By analyzing the dog's posture we can be able to understand his intentions for example:
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Stand in front:
A dog that positions itself frontally with respect to another is a decisive, determined dog, this posture can also indicate threatening or competitive attitudes. -
Stand next to:
It means that the dog is open to collaboration and alliance. -
Get behind :
It is a request for protection or indicates the desire to delegate the other individual to manage the situation. -
Stand in front:
It means taking responsibility, protecting. -
Turn your back:
Cuts off communications.
Likewise, the trajectory and the way in which a dog approaches another animal or a person can make us understand something more about his intentions.
For example, approaching head-on and directly can indicate competition or threat. A dog that, instead of going straight towards another dog, makes a turn, wants to avoid conflicts. A dog that walks next to another is a dog open to collaboration and in the same way it is open to collaboration with the owner when he walks sideways. When a dog approaches a dog or a person hastily and with an irregular rhythm it could be a symptom of nervousness or threat, while on the contrary if it approaches in a calm manner it indicates respect and relaxation.
What do the tail movements mean?
Tail movement is another useful element to observe when you want to understand your dog's mood. Even the tail, in fact, is used to communicate one's emotional state to others, the movements are never random but have a very specific meaning. Although there are different shapes and sizes, the different tail movements usually have the same meaning in all breeds.
Here are some examples that may be useful to better understand your puppy's intentions:
- The lively and wagging tail, with its wavy and fluid movement, is the easiest to recognize; in fact, it is usually associated with a cheerful dog who is happy to see us again .
- We recognize an anxious or insecure dog by a slow and rigid tail movement , or it can be a sign of potential aggression on the way.
- A symptom of real aggression, or vigilance , is instead a very straight tail raised upwards, when we recognize it it is good to be on alert.
- An alarmed dog , on the other hand, has an immobile posture, pricked ears and a tail perpendicular to the ground.
- Pay attention to the short and fast wagging of the tail, it indicates that the dog is agitated or that he is about to get up to some mischief .
- We recognize a calm and relaxed puppy or one in total submission to those around him by a tail tending downwards.
Knowing how to interpret your dog's intentions is essential when interacting with other dogs or people to maintain control of the situation and know how to optimally manage your animal. This little guide will surely help you on many occasions.
