Dog communication

It's important to look at the dog's whole body and not just the mouth or tail before deciding what the dog is trying to communicate. What appears initially as aggression might be an invitation to play.

Dog communication refers to body movements and sounds dogs use to send signals to other dogs, and other animals (usually humans). Dog communication comes in a variety of forms, and is part of the foundation of dog social behavior (see Dog Society). Dogs use certain movements of their bodies and body parts and different vocalizations to send signals. There are a number of basic ways a dog can communicate. These are movements of the ears, eyes and eyebrows, mouth, head, tail, and entire body, as well as barks, growls, whines and whimpers, and howls.

Interpreting animal body language

A dog might stretch after taking a nap, just as people do, or might drop into a stretch to lead into a play bow or to calm a person or other dog.

It is important to note that while many gestures and actions have common, stereotypical meanings, researchers regularly seem to find that animal communication is often more complex and subtle than previously believed, and that the same gesture may have multiple distinct meanings depending on context and other behaviors. So, generalizations such as "X means Y" are often, but not always accurate. For example, even a simple tail wag may (depending on context) convey many meanings including:

• Excitement
• Anticipation
• Playfulness
• Contentment/enjoyment
• Happy, self-confidence

But also:

• Anxiety
• Questioning another animal or a human as to intentions
• Tentative role assessment on meeting another animal
• Reassurance ("I'm friendly, are you?")
• Reconciliation (after an aggressive interaction: "I still want to be friends")
• Uncertainty/apprehension
• Submissive placation

Combined with other body language, in a specific context, many gestures such as yawns and direction of vision all convey meaning. Panting may mean "Too hot"; it might also mean either emotional anxiety or happiness. Thus statements that a particular action "means" something should always be interpreted to mean "often means" something. As with human beings, who may smile or hug or stand a particular way for multiple reasons, many animals reuse gestures too.

Canine nose-to-anus greeting

Descriptions in this article are therefore best viewed as common generalizations, to which a more experienced observer will be able to add further detail or understanding.

Ethology is a science which studies animal behavior.

Greeting Ritual

One of the first forms of communication that will be observed is the greeting ritual. When a dog first encounters another dog, a brief assessment of aggression or friendliness is made. If one dog growls or barks, for instance, the encounter will usually end quickly, either by the other dog avoiding the encounter, or by a fight ensuing. If this test is passed, the dogs usually attempt to greet each other. This is done first by sniffing each other's odors. Dogs often sniff each other's rear-ends simultaneously, and this is the clearest indication of the greeting ritual. This greeting ritual establishes the identities of the dogs, and is the dogs' way of saying 'hello' to each other.

If the dogs are satisfied with the encounter (it is not unusual for dogs to take a sudden dislike to each other at this stage), then they may either move on in disinterest, or proceed further in the greeting ritual by showing affection. Affection is shown by some or all of the following: Wagging the tail, licking the face, playful barking, panting, or jumping (including playful jumping on the other dog). Dogs that show affection in this way will usually get along fairly well, and this display can be considered a display of friendship.

Dogs who know each other well, having met many times, may recognize each other from farther away by sight or by smell. If they have established themselves as friends, they may run to each other and bypass the anus-sniffing part of the ritual to begin playing and showing affection immediately.

Hand-sniff Greeting

Humans can also participate in a greeting ritual with a newly met dog, by bending down in front of (not looming over) or kneeling down to the dog, and slowly but confidently extending the hand to be sniffed in front of and just below the dog's snout. If the dog is timid or has a habit of snapping at strangers, it is best to allow the dog to come sniff your hand, rather than extending it into the dog's space (this can scare the dog away or incite aggression as a defensive measure). To limit the chance of getting bitten, keep the hand palm-down with fingers cupped downward or the hand fully closed in a loose fist, making it difficult for the dog to grab hold of a finger in a bite. Be watchful of the dog's demeanor and be ready to pull your hand back quickly if the dog makes a sudden snap at it. However, if performed in a calm, friendly, and confident manner, the dog is much less likely to get frightened and will more than likely sniff your hand in a friendly manner.

After the dog has completed the hand-sniff, it is possible to proceed to the affection/friendship part of the ritual by gently petting the dog on the top of the head. Again, it is possible to get snapped at, so care should be taken to quickly pull the hand back at the first sign of a snap. If the dog does snap, it is again possible to re-establish the greeting ritual by extending the hand to be sniffed once more. If the dog completes the sniff without snapping or barking, another attempt to pet the dog on the top of the head can be made.

Once the dog allows the affectionate petting of the head, it will more likely only take a quick hand-sniff on the next meeting for the person to attempt petting the dog. The dog considers the person a friend, rather than a threat. Petting can at this time become more playful without risking the dog snapping at the person.

For timid or mildly aggressive dogs, it may not be possible to establish friendship in one greeting ritual. Friendship cannot be forced, and may require repeated attempts over time. Indeed, the dog may simply dislike 'your smell', and may always consider you a stranger or a threat.

Caution against aggression during the greeting ritual

Some breeds of dog have a more suspicious or aggressive temperament by nature and are more difficult or dangerous to approach with the greeting ritual. Dogs that have been physically abused tend to be much more timid and defensive than a well-treated dog, so great care should be taken before trying to perform the greeting ritual with such a dog, as these dogs are more quick to aggression. Some dogs are also trained to be aggressive, such as guard dogs. A safer route to gaining the dog's trust would be to provide it with food, and to slowly acclimate the dog to your presence. The best might be to avoid aggressive dogs altogether.

Dominance and submission

Dominance only occurs when resources like food and space are limited. Therefore dominance can be displayed in canines that are in captivity. In the wild dominance is rare; the most suited one will become the "pack leader".

Body movements

See also: Wolf body language

Tail

How high or low the tail is held, in relation to how the dog's breed naturally carries their tail, and how it is moved can signify the dog's mood. When the tail is held high, shows that the dog is alert; Tail between the legs means that the dog is afraid. If the fur on the tail is also bristled, the dog is saying they are willing to defend.

Small, slow wags of the tail says the dog is questioning things around them. Either they aren't sure if the target dog or person is friendly, or they aren't sure what is going on or what is expected of them.

Large, fast wags of the tail is a sign of a happy or excited dog. If the wags are large enough to pull the dog's hips with them, the message includes a bit of submission to someone they view as pack leader.

Dogs with docked tails, as some Dobermans may have, tend to have some problems communicating with other dogs, since their tail movements are extremely difficult to detect. Dogs with docked tails will usually compensate for this by wagging their entire rear end.

Left-right asymmetry of the tail wags is likely to also convey information along the approach/avoidance axis.^[1]

Aggressive/ violent

These dogs are showing the major signs of aggression, but they are not fighting, so body language should not be inferred on isolated signs

This dog is not "smiling" but warning an attack is imminent if the photographer comes closer to his bone.

When dogs show their teeth or fangs, it is a sign of violence, or aggression. Dogs show their teeth to warn someone that if they come closer, the dog will attack for defensive reasons.

But many dogs will "smile" showing teeth when they are expressing signs of submissiveness. A smile is different from a snarl in several ways. One of the main differences is how many teeth are showing. A submissive smile shows only the front teeth while aggression is shown by most of the dog's teeth. An aggressive dog will show not only their front teeth, but the back ones as well^{[citation needed]}. The dog's gums could also be shown.

Ears

Ear position relates the dog's level of attention, and reaction, to a situation or animal. Erect ears facing forward means the dog is very attentive, while ears laid back suggests a negative, usually fearful or a timid reaction. They also lay their ears back for the sounds surrounding them. Dogs with drop ears, like Beagles, can't use these signals very well, as the signals first developed in wolves, whose ears are pricked. Wolf-like dogs (such as the Samoyed or Husky) will, when content and happy, often hold their ears in a horizontal position but still forward. This has been referred to as the "wolf smile".

Mouth

A dog showing all signs of being anxious - white half moon eyes, nose licking, sideways glance etc

Mouth expressions can provide information about the dog's mood. When a dog wants to be left alone, it might yawn (although yawning also might indicate sleepiness, confusion, or stress) or start licking its mouth without the presence of any food. When a dog is happy or wants to play, it might pant with lips relaxed, covering the teeth and with what sometimes appears to be a happy expression (it might appear as a smile to some observers) or with the mouth open. Mouth expressions that indicate aggression include the snarl, with lips retracting to expose the teeth, although some dogs also use this during play.

It's important to look at the dog's whole body and not just the mouth or tail before deciding what the dog is trying to communicate. What appears initially as aggression might be an invitation to play, or vice-versa.

Tongue (Licking)

A very common form of communication is for a dog to lick another dog, or a person. Dogs lick other dogs' faces and mouths when they greet each other to indicate friendliness. Dogs like to lick human skin not only for the salt from the sweat, but also as a form of greeting, such as by briefly licking a person's hand after sniffing it. Licking is also used as a social communication analogous to primate social grooming and stroking. This can indicate intimacy, friendship, or hierarchy. Such licking is longer and slower, as compared to the brief licking of faces during a greeting.

Eyes and eyebrows

While dogs don't have actual eyebrows, they do have a distinctive ridge above their eyes, and some breeds, like the Rottweiler and the German Shepherd, have markings there. A dog's eyebrow movements usually express a similar emotion to that of a human's eyebrow movements. Raised eyebrows suggest interest, lowered brows suggest confusion or mild anger, and one eyebrow up suggests bewilderment. Slitted eyes translate that the dog shows a friendly attitude towards the thing that its looking at

Feet and legs

Real brothers stamping feet, maybe to gain attention

Although a dog's feet cannot manipulate like human hands, a person can use them as an avenue of communication. A dog might stamp its feet, alternating its left and right front legs, while its back legs are still. This occurs when the dog is excited, wants something, or wants its owner's attention. Pointers tend to tuck one front leg up, when they sense game nearby. This behavior might not be communication so much as the dog freezing mid-step as a result of its instinct telling it to immediately become still. It is also common for dogs to paw or scratch for objects they desire. Many dogs are trained to mimic a human handshake, offering a paw to a human stooping down and offering their own hand in exchange.

Head

Leaning of head and forward ears on hearing the shutter sound of camera for the first time

The leaning of a dog's head to the right or to the left often indicates curiosity and/or a sound it has not heard before. This, however, may also be a sign of recognition to an unfamiliar word, or even that the dog is trying to understand a word or situation.

If the dog's head is held high with its neck craning forward, it is showing interest, although, it could also mean a challenge if other body language is present.

Vocalizations

Barks

Main article, including bark control training: Bark (dog)

Dogs bark for many reasons, such as when perceived intruders (humans, dogs, or other animals) approach its territory, for identification, when hearing an unfamiliar or unidentified noise, when seeing something that the dog doesn't expect to be there, or when playing. Barking also expresses different emotions for a dog, such as loneliness, fear, suspicion, stress, and pleasure. Play or excited barks are often short and sharp, such as when a dog is attempting to get a person or another dog to play.

Dogs generally try to avoid conflict; their vocalizations are part of what communicates to other dogs whether they mean harm or are in a playful mood.

The bark of a distressed or stressed dog is high pitched, repetitive, and atonal; it tends to get higher in pitch as the dog becomes more upset. For example, a dog left home alone and who has separation anxiety might bark in such a way.

Some research has suggested that dogs have separate barks for different animals, including dog, fox, deer, human, squirrel and cat.^[2]

Growls

Main article: Growling

Growls can be used to threaten and to invite play. Growling should be watched with special attention because it can indicate aggression. A soft, low-pitched growl often indicates aggression; the dog may feel threatened and may be provoked to attack. An intense growl, without showing any teeth, may often indicate a playful attitude. Always consider the context of a growl, and exercise caution.

Howls

Howling provides long-range communication with other dogs or owners. Howling can be used to locate another pack member, to keep strangers away, or to call the pack for hunting. Dogs howl as a sign of separation anxiety like when a dog is away from their owner or trying to find their owner in their home. Dogs also howl to say "here I am" and to find their family, as in the wolves history.

Whines

Whining is a high-pitched vocalization, often produced nasally with the mouth closed. A dog may whine when it wants something, such as wanting food, wanting to go outside for a walk or to 'go to the bathroom', wanting to be let off the leash (for example, to go and greet another dog or a person the dog sees), or just generally wanting attention. A very insistent dog may add a bark at the end of a whine, in a whine-bark, whine-bark pattern.

Whimpers

A whimper or a yelp often indicates the dog is in pain. This is often heard when dogs play-fight if one dog bites the other dog too hard. Dogs also whimper when they are physically abused or neglected by people. Whimpers are often associated with the lowering of the tail between the legs. Whimpers can also indicate strong excitement when a dog is lonely and is suddenly met with affection, such as when a dog is left alone in a house during the day and the owner comes through the door late at night. Such whimpering is often accompanied by licking, jumping, and barking. Whimpering is distinct from barking in that it is softer, higher pitched, and lower volume.

Human speech

Though the phenomenon is often undiscussed, some dogs may try to repeat human speech sounds, or are trained to do so. This kind of vocalization does not have a set meaning, and is unique to its situation. Recent examples have included a talking pug on the Late Show with David Letterman. A Hungarian Vizsla was also trained to speak a few words. The Vizsla can say "Food", "Help", and "Play" although these words often sound a little bit garbled and are sometimes hard to understand. This does not appear to be limited to any particular breed, though to quote trainer A.J. Haggerty:

"Generally, dogs that have a brachycephalic head — a wide head with a short muzzle — like the Bulldog, are good candidates for talking. They have cavernous mouths that make it easier for them to produce rounder sounds. I have found that Rottweilers are among the best talkers, because of the shape of their heads, and the fact that they have a high energy level. Terriers can also be good talkers, because they’re high energy dogs."

A short video that shows a small example of the range of human sounds they can recreate with moderate success can be viewed here. [1]

See also

• Animal communication
• Bark (dog) for information on the evolution of the dog's bark, and bark control (retraining dogs which cause a nuisance)
• Cat communication

References

• How to Speak Dog by Stanley Coren ISBN 0-7432-0297-X
• My Doggie Says...; Messages from Jamie by Fred Haney ISBN 0-9785515-0-8
• On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas ISBN 0-9674796-0-6

Notes

External links

• International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP)

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