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How To Read A Dog's Body Language

Nick de moraes

Dogs are brilliant but emotional animals; you mustn't treat them like any mindless animal. While they do not have a complex language structure like humans, they have their unique way of communicating with other dogs and animals using barks, whines, growls, and body language. While everyone knows that dogs communicate through barks and growls, more often than not, they are more likely to communicate via body language, something many people do not notice. It is in the same vein as an eye twitch, a yawn, or a smirk.


Communication goes both ways, and just as you would want your dog to be able to listen to your commands and read your body language, you must also understand your dog. That is why you must pay attention to signs such as the waging of the tails or the bow, and if you are hoping to communicate effectively with your dog, you need to understand these signs. Here's what you should look for to learn how to read a dog's body language.


Tail-Wagging

This is the most apparent and well-known body language of a canine. People often think that if a dog's tail wags, it must be happy, but this is false. It is not strictly untrue, but it is an incomplete estimation. A wagging tail doesn't necessarily mean that the dog is happy, but rather, it is emotionally stimulated. This emotional arousal can be due to a range of emotions ranging from excitement to frustration and anxiety. To accurately determine the canine's emotional state, you must first observe the speed and direction of the tail's wag and its position.


A fast helicopter-like wag usually characterizes a happy wag, and a relaxed wag, usually to the right, shows the dog is more comfortable around you. Tail wags can also have a negative meaning, and you might notice it in the form of faster-twitching wagging, which usually indicates frustration or dislike of a person's presence. The position of the tail often determines the mood of the canine. A dog with an upright tail is confident and assertive, while one with a tucked tail feels anxious or stressed.


Facial Expressions.

Canines, like humans, are capable of conveying a range of emotions through their facial expressions. But despite possessing features similar to ours, their expressions don't mean the same thing. For example, people yawn when tired, but dogs do that instead of when stressed. Also, while a smiling dog can seem aggressive, it can showcase submission, especially when it bares its front teeth.


Eye Movement.

The eyes mirror an animal's inner mind, and you can tell a lot about the internal state of a dog by observing its eyes. A dog's eyes can be either soft or hard, and when they are smooth as if they are squinting, it usually means they are calm and happy. But when their eye goes cold, or they begin to glare at something intently, it means they are aggressive. A dog can also showcase that they are anxious or stressed whenever they avoid eye contact or show the whites of the eyes.


Posture.

Another way for a dog to communicate its mood is via its posture. A dog that is hunched or trying to appear smaller means that it is either stressed or is trying to convey that it is harmless. On the other hand, a dog that takes a forward pouncing posture with an upright tail means that the dog is trying to communicate that it is a threat by appearing larger. Another body language many people know is submission and happiness when people roll onto their backs. You can reward this by giving them belly pats or rubs; it helps calm them down. 


Piloerection.

The raised hackles or piloerection refers to a phenomenon in which a dog fluffs its fur to appear more prominent. This might seem like an attempt to communicate that it is a threat, but it is not always true. Sometimes, it might just mean the canine is stressed or anxious, like when a human gets goosebumps.


Enhance Your Bond with Equilibrium Canine's Expert Training

Forging a solid and trustworthy bond with your dog requires understanding its body language. Our guide at Equilibrium Canine can help you decipher your dog's signals, from tail wags to posture shifts. If you learn how to interact with your dog correctly under our supervision, you and your dog will lead a better, more peaceful life together.


Contact Equilibrium Canine for a training session to learn the mysteries of canine communication. We can help you strengthen your bond with your dog with professional training and individualized assistance. Contact us right now to begin getting to know your pet better!

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