Learn to Speak Dog
Learn to speak dog
A dog’s language is universal regardless of what part of the world a dog comes from. Two dogs can be introduced to another from a different part of the world and be able to communicate and understand one another. There is only one language. Needless to say, learning to speak dog can greatly enhance your understanding.
For instance: Dad calls Buddy over to him using a stern voice. He learned in class that Buddy needs to understand who is in charge. Buddy thinks dad’s voice is harsh and interprets this as aggression. Buddy try’s to communicate with dad by sending him a calming signal to make him stop being aggressive. Buddy yawns and turns his back to dad, which increase dad’s anger because he sees Buddy as pig-headed, stubborn and disobedient.
Dogs speak to one another through their bodies, face, and sounds; a simple glance, a wag of a tail or a lick of the lips are all forms of communication. Learning these signals can open up a whole new understanding of your dog and what their saying.
Calming Signals
1. Yawning- When your dog yawns they are telling you to calm down, chill out, your causing me stress and yawning helps me to relieve my tension.
2. Licking- Signifies that the dog is unsure; this tends to be used by black dogs or dogs with a lot of hair around their faces. There expressions are sometimes difficult to see but a quick lick of the tongue is all that’s needed and is usually returned by the other dog with a signal.
3. Turning away of the head- This includes diversion of the eyes; a dog will turn their head or body slightly or completely around so that the back and tail is facing whoever the dog is calming.
4. Play bow-Going down with front legs in can be an invitation to play if the dog is moving legs from side to side in a playful manner. Just as often, a standing dog will bow to calm someone down. When two dogs approach each other abruptly, you will often see that they go into a play bow, to help defuse a potentially dangerous confrontation.
5. Sniffing the ground- Sniffing the ground may be anything from moving the nose swiftly down toward the ground and back up or sticking the nose to the ground and sniffing persistently. Sniffing happens often when you are out walking your dog and someone comes towards you or when seeing objects that the dog finds intimidating.
6. Walking slowly- High speed is seen as threatening to many dogs and they might want to try to stop the one who is running. This is also a hunting behavior and can be triggered by the sight of a running human or dog. If the one running is coming straight at the dog, it involves a threat and a defense mechanism sets in.
7. Freezing- is when a dog stays still completely while standing, sitting or lying and will remain in that position. This may be a hunt prey behavior. When the prey is running, the dog attacks, when the prey stops, the dog will stop too. Freezing is also an indication of fear and a fearful or shy dog will do this upon being touched.
8. Sitting down/lifting one paw- Dogs lift their paw as a calming signal, but to sit down with the back turned towards someone - has a very calming effect.
9. Walking in curve- Dogs, when given a chance, will walk in curves around each other. This signal is frequently used as a calming signal and it is the main reason why dogs may react so strongly towards meeting dogs when they are forced to walk straight at someone. Their instincts tell them that it is wrong, some dogs needs large curves, while others only need to walk slightly curved.
10. Smiling- either by pulling the corners of the mouth up and back, or by showing the teeth as in a grin.
Urinating- a dog who is cowering and crawling toward his owner while wetting himself and wagging his tail, is showing three clear signs of calming and fear.
11. Laying down- with the belly against the ground. This has nothing to do with submission. Submission is when the dog lays down with the belly up. Lying down with the belly towards the ground is a calming signal.
12. Signs of Confidence- the dogs ears are relaxed, the tail up and wagging, overall the body is relaxed. There are times when a dog is excited and the hackles will go up this does not always mean aggression, just that there is excitement.
13. Signs of dominance- standing over another dog with its head, chin or paw. Mounting has multiple meanings; it can be a sign of domination or excitement and play. Some confident and dominant dogs will reassure a shy dog by exposing their bellies to initiate play.
14. Signs of fear- freezing, averting eyes, body arched while his head and butt are lowered, tail tucked, raised hackles and urination. When a dog shows multiple calming signals proceed with caution.
15. Aggression- stiff legs and body, lower head, ears back close to the head, eyes narrowed and fixed; lips may be drawn back and tail straight.
16. Dogs have teeth- showing teeth are not always a sign of aggression. Learning to put the other signals together with teeth is a good indicator. Teeth are also used for play and for snarling and snipping. Dogs can’t say “Hey you want to play”? They have teeth.
It is important to error on the side of caution. Frequent bite issues are due to people allowing their dog to just approach another dog with the impression that their dog will not bite. My word of warning, you don’t always know what the other dog will do even if the owner says it’s ok.
Can you match the picture (letter) to the Definition (number) above?
Answers:
1-m, 2-a, 3-l, 4-g, 5-o, 6-n, 7-b, 8-e, 9-p, 10-k, 11-j, 12-f, 13-p, 14-i, 15-c, 16-h
A dog’s language is universal regardless of what part of the world a dog comes from. Two dogs can be introduced to another from a different part of the world and be able to communicate and understand one another. There is only one language. Needless to say, learning to speak dog can greatly enhance your understanding.
For instance: Dad calls Buddy over to him using a stern voice. He learned in class that Buddy needs to understand who is in charge. Buddy thinks dad’s voice is harsh and interprets this as aggression. Buddy try’s to communicate with dad by sending him a calming signal to make him stop being aggressive. Buddy yawns and turns his back to dad, which increase dad’s anger because he sees Buddy as pig-headed, stubborn and disobedient.
Dogs speak to one another through their bodies, face, and sounds; a simple glance, a wag of a tail or a lick of the lips are all forms of communication. Learning these signals can open up a whole new understanding of your dog and what their saying.
Calming Signals
1. Yawning- When your dog yawns they are telling you to calm down, chill out, your causing me stress and yawning helps me to relieve my tension.
2. Licking- Signifies that the dog is unsure; this tends to be used by black dogs or dogs with a lot of hair around their faces. There expressions are sometimes difficult to see but a quick lick of the tongue is all that’s needed and is usually returned by the other dog with a signal.
3. Turning away of the head- This includes diversion of the eyes; a dog will turn their head or body slightly or completely around so that the back and tail is facing whoever the dog is calming.
4. Play bow-Going down with front legs in can be an invitation to play if the dog is moving legs from side to side in a playful manner. Just as often, a standing dog will bow to calm someone down. When two dogs approach each other abruptly, you will often see that they go into a play bow, to help defuse a potentially dangerous confrontation.
5. Sniffing the ground- Sniffing the ground may be anything from moving the nose swiftly down toward the ground and back up or sticking the nose to the ground and sniffing persistently. Sniffing happens often when you are out walking your dog and someone comes towards you or when seeing objects that the dog finds intimidating.
6. Walking slowly- High speed is seen as threatening to many dogs and they might want to try to stop the one who is running. This is also a hunting behavior and can be triggered by the sight of a running human or dog. If the one running is coming straight at the dog, it involves a threat and a defense mechanism sets in.
7. Freezing- is when a dog stays still completely while standing, sitting or lying and will remain in that position. This may be a hunt prey behavior. When the prey is running, the dog attacks, when the prey stops, the dog will stop too. Freezing is also an indication of fear and a fearful or shy dog will do this upon being touched.
8. Sitting down/lifting one paw- Dogs lift their paw as a calming signal, but to sit down with the back turned towards someone - has a very calming effect.
9. Walking in curve- Dogs, when given a chance, will walk in curves around each other. This signal is frequently used as a calming signal and it is the main reason why dogs may react so strongly towards meeting dogs when they are forced to walk straight at someone. Their instincts tell them that it is wrong, some dogs needs large curves, while others only need to walk slightly curved.
10. Smiling- either by pulling the corners of the mouth up and back, or by showing the teeth as in a grin.
Urinating- a dog who is cowering and crawling toward his owner while wetting himself and wagging his tail, is showing three clear signs of calming and fear.
11. Laying down- with the belly against the ground. This has nothing to do with submission. Submission is when the dog lays down with the belly up. Lying down with the belly towards the ground is a calming signal.
12. Signs of Confidence- the dogs ears are relaxed, the tail up and wagging, overall the body is relaxed. There are times when a dog is excited and the hackles will go up this does not always mean aggression, just that there is excitement.
13. Signs of dominance- standing over another dog with its head, chin or paw. Mounting has multiple meanings; it can be a sign of domination or excitement and play. Some confident and dominant dogs will reassure a shy dog by exposing their bellies to initiate play.
14. Signs of fear- freezing, averting eyes, body arched while his head and butt are lowered, tail tucked, raised hackles and urination. When a dog shows multiple calming signals proceed with caution.
15. Aggression- stiff legs and body, lower head, ears back close to the head, eyes narrowed and fixed; lips may be drawn back and tail straight.
16. Dogs have teeth- showing teeth are not always a sign of aggression. Learning to put the other signals together with teeth is a good indicator. Teeth are also used for play and for snarling and snipping. Dogs can’t say “Hey you want to play”? They have teeth.
It is important to error on the side of caution. Frequent bite issues are due to people allowing their dog to just approach another dog with the impression that their dog will not bite. My word of warning, you don’t always know what the other dog will do even if the owner says it’s ok.
Can you match the picture (letter) to the Definition (number) above?
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Picture A |
Picture B |
Picture C |
Picture D |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Picture E |
Picture F |
Picture G |
Picture H |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Picture I |
Picture J |
Picture K |
Picture L |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Picture M |
Picturer N |
Picture O |
Picture P |
Answers:
1-m, 2-a, 3-l, 4-g, 5-o, 6-n, 7-b, 8-e, 9-p, 10-k, 11-j, 12-f, 13-p, 14-i, 15-c, 16-h