Canine Body Language

Keats

Keats

Active member
I'd love to discuss dog body language because it is such an important method of communication. However, there is so much written about it, so many dog owners put their own interpretation on what their dog is "saying" that it can get confusing.

There are obvious things like the baring of teeth, lunging, bolting, looking away, hackles rising.

What body language indicates stress? Or boredom? Or discomfort?
 
Great topic and for now I'll point you to the body language section to get a head start on more info.

Also for an FYI, most look to Turid Rugaas when it comes to body language. DR has a very good section and covers lots of body language along with lots of trainers lingo. Learning some basic body language is so important to help set more human and canine relationships up for success. One thing to keep in mind is that all these signals usually happen in sequence such as; Hackles raise, dog freezes and agonistic pucker for example.

What I always suggest is learn one body part and watch a dog for a week in different environmental context and observe that part of the body that you picked. It truly is the only way we can know how a dog might feel or be thinking of doing by observable body language and environmental context.
 
Thank you for those links @Vinny - both were very informative. I'm going to start watching out for the sequence of signals as you mention above and the orientation signals that I read about on the Doggie Residence blog with a focus on head postion and movement.
 
I'm glad you asked the question @Keats. I've often wondered if my dog is bored, content, or stressed. Some of the cues are subtle if you don't know what to look for.

Thanks for posting the links @Vinny. I always thought lip licking expressed hunger, but I see it's more of a calming movement. That actually makes more sense considering Sadie does it when meeting new dogs and new people.
 
I often look at the tail and mouth of dogs for their intentions. Waggling of tail and a tongue out is common to all as the dog being friendly to us. The upright tail tells us that we need to back off and a tail between the legs tells us of its submission. There is a specific barking and howling in which my dog is telling me that it is hungry.

My dogs are actually my teachers on how to properly take care of them as long as take notice of their behavior.
 
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