Aside from bringing your dog to the pet clinic once in a while, you need to learn its body language as well. You may not be aware of it, but your dog certainly has an effective way of communicating with you, at least non-verbally – you just need to decipher it. In this entry, let's give the name Spike to your dog and learn about how he can communicate with you through his body. Here are some examples of common emotional canine states and their corresponding body language:
Approachable and relaxed
Be sure to check that Spike is in this emotional state this every time you visit the pet clinic, especially since visits will be frequent at this time of the year! Having said that, a relaxed dog is an approachable dog, meaning that it can be petted, hugged and played with. A dog is like this when there is nothing going on in his environment and hasn't detected any nearby threat. If Spike is in this state, he is usually like this:
- His ears are up and not pointing forward. If Spike is a Saluki or a poodle, then you should refer to other body language signs.
- Its tail is down and relaxed. No signs of tension or force going through it.
- Feet are flat and placed loosely with no signs of force or tension.
- Its mouth is open – it could be exposing its tongue and panting.
Alert and aroused
When Spike sees or hears anything unusual in its environment, like when someone from the pet clinic visits, he is in this emotional state. Dogs are usually like this when they hear someone coming up the front porch or see something in the distance, like another dog for example. If Spike is in this emotional state:
- His mouth is completely closed.
- His ears would twitch and would point forward, as if trying to catch the sound of the thing that caught his attention.
- Standing tall and slightly leaning forward.
- His eyes are wide, given that he'll be looking and studying the object.
- The tail would be horizontal, but not stiff or tensioned.
Playful
Dogs are naturally playful animals, but be sure to monitor Spike's playtime so as to prevent untoward incidents that could make you drive him to the pet clinic. If he's in a playful mood (and wants to play with you), he'll be like this:
- His posture seems like he's about to move any minute.
- He'll bark playfully, run at you and suddenly retreat.
- Tail up, wagging and waving broadly.
- Its ears will be up.
- Pupils dilated, much like humans when they see an object of their affection.
- The front part of his body is lowered and his front feet bent
This is basically an invitation to play with him. Be sure to always respond positively!
Submissive
From the words of dog behaviorist Cesar Milan, a dog should always be calm and submissive when it is with its owner, especially during checkups in the animal clinic. If Spike is submissive toward another dog or individual, he will display the following:
- He'll try to make his body look a lot smaller.
- He'll hunch and make his body close to the ground.
- Tail between the legs, or it could be low or wagging furiously.
- His ears are turned back while his eyes will look at other things. Eye contact is a sign of dominance or aggression.
- He'll try to flick his tongue as well.
If you're reprimanding Spike and he's like this, be sure to stop and reward him. Also remember not to shout. Stay calm and dominant – dogs will usually get the message and stop whatever they're doing!
Aggressive and ready to fight
When Spike is in this posture, it is important to find a way to make him calm so as to not endanger himself and other dogs and individuals. If Spike is ready to jump in and bite, he'll be like this:
- Ears are laid back.
- Tail is tucked between the rear legs with little or no movement.
- Lips are slightly curled and the teeth will be visible.
- The fur on his back is raised
Dogs convey messages in very specific ways. Be sure to remember this entry every time you interact with Spike!
1 comments:
This is awesome post which increase my knowledge with such a rich information.
The animal clinic
Post a Comment