Body Language - Your Dog and You

By Jay Jacovitz

Dogs can't speak, have no hands or fingers to gesture, but they have a language all their own that every other dog understands. We as guardians can watch the parts of their bodies they communicate with to determine how they feel about the world around them in the moment.

Not as refined as a human in its expressions, it is still possible to be in tune with the dog's facial muscles. Another part in a complex system of body language, along with whining, barking, and growling, is the tail. The tail can tell us information such as the degree of happiness, alertness and agitation, aggression dominance and/or heightened state of interest. Interestingly, a dog is unlikely to wag when there's no one around to see.

Eyes are the window to the soul and can tell a story. Eyes brighten when looking at others the dog considers friendly, and pupils dilate and show widening areas of white to the eyes in times of fear. To a canine, the eyes represent an observable communication tool. Looking directly in the eye of a dog not conditioned to accept such a communication will be understood as a challenge to defend its position.

The ears do more than listen. When raised, they reveal a relaxed state, listening, or showing acceptance. If they are back, it could be signaling submission and deference or maybe, frankly, fear.

The pulling back of the lips in what we tend to recognize as a smile and the showing of teeth in an obvious non-threatening manner is an indication of happiness or wishing to play. It is interesting to note that dogs reserve this expression for humans and do not use this expression to communicate with other animals.

Dogs vocalize to convey a message. Yipping, barking, howling, growling, and whimpering are all tools of speech along with the communication achieved through body language.

A dog's posture tells a great deal about how it feels about the environment around it, and about the dog's relationship to other animals and people.

Knowingly or unknowingly, we send messages to our canines through our own postures and movements. Behaviors and postures we present in our interactions with dogs are construed or misconstrued by them in terms of body language. Be aware and practice good canine manners - and don't stare! In the canine world it is considered rude and aggressive.

If you would like to receive the complete and FREE report on the language your dog uses, it is available for the asking. CLICK HERE We have existed as a company since 1985, but it was a love of dogs, the dogs that have been a part of our life, and the passing of one dog in particular, Rusty, that inspired the creation of CalloftheDog.com and http://www.CalloftheDogShop.com -- created to provide the things your dogs and pets need. Visit us for great information and quality dog supplies! Be sure to see our About Us page as well. The two sites are dedicated to the dogs we have loved so deeply, and who have given us so much love in return. Purebreds and mixed breeds, but mostly rescues in need of a home. We educated them, but each one has had something to teach us in exchange.