Interpreting and Reading Dog Behavior
Learning and interpreting dog behavior will drastically increase the happiness and ease of living together, as dogs communicate with us through actions.
Consider your pet as a family member, and you will be rewarded with the ultimate bond of unconditional love.
Interpreting dog behavior is pretty simple.
They have limited actions and verbal noises, and once you are able to start interpreting dog behavior, will make both your lives easier. You will then know when your pet is happy or distressed.
Interpreting dog behavior is what most devoted dog owners can immediately do and know what their dogs are feeling by different body language signals.
Below are some examples of interpreting dog behavior:
Interpreting Happy Dog Behavior
A Friendly Tail Wagging Dog's tail will make wide sweeps or almost a circle movement, with the tail hanging down, and not held straight up and wagging stiffly. The ears are relaxed and fur will be smooth down the spine and shoulders.
A happy dog doesn't make eye contact, but will sniff and check things out in a relaxed and easy manner.
Ask the owner if it is okay to pet their dog after the sniffing routine is finished, then offer the back of your hand to smell first before petting.
Just stand with your fist turned towards the unknown dog at this point, staying fairly still with arms hanging down at snout level. Allow the dog to approach you rather than sticking your fist out towards him.
Interpreting an Aggressive Dog Behavior
If a dog's tail is stiff and held high, and the ears seem alert, and he stares directly into your or your dog's eyes, then you are encountering a hostile dog. The hackles are raised. - ( the fur down the spine and around the shoulders ).
If you meet another dog while out with yours, or even if you are just out alone don't assume he is friendly because his tail is wagging. Although the strange dog is not growling, showing it's teeth and snapping at you, he can be dangerous.
Try to get out of the immediate area, without running and bringing attention to yourself, in a quiet controlled manner.
Interpreting a Happy Playful Pup Behavior
Your dog bows down and rests on the chest and front elbows, with the butt swinging happily up in the air. Sometimes after a short display of this, they get up, bark, run in circles, do a quick roll around, and return to the position.
Most people will recognize this type of dog language, even people who aren't dog people. Let's play.
Interpreting A Very Unhappy Fearful Dog Behavior
The ears are usually laid back and tight against his head, and the fur is raised along the back and shoulders. The whole body will be lowered, and tucking the tail to cover it's scent will be a good indication that your dog is afraid of something.
Fear biting is sometimes a result when a dog is afraid. This is a dog you want to retreat from quietly and quickly.
Interpreting A Submissive Dog Behavior
When a dog is being submissive, it may lie on his back and expose the belly.
This is not a sign of cowardice. This is your dogs way of giving you top position, which in turn leaves him the ease of being relaxed and enjoying his wonderful life. This type of laid back, relaxed dogs are saying I just want love, and are not looking for a fight.
This is a good dog to bring into your home and become one of the pack.
As long as there are no other symptoms to go along with this behavior that would indicate the dog shows obsessive behavior along with this body language, or is so timid that is hides all the time and is truly a "scaredy dog".
In Conclusion
Obviously these few examples above of "dog body language" are just that - a few. Dog's have many actions, expressions and stances that indicate different wants and needs. Traits that are explained here, and many more, are genetically passed on and were orginally wild dogs way of communicating with each other, rather than humans.
Interpreting the different variations within your dog's behavior makes living together a very rewarding endeavor.
