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Dogs obviously cannot communicate with words. Nevertheless, the four-legged friends have a lot to tell us. We just have to learn to understand them properly.
Dog language consists of sounds as well as physical signals. In many cases, the four-legged friends use a combination of these to communicate.
There are several popular assumptions when it comes to dog language, but under certain circumstances they may prove to be incorrect.
For example, a popular saying goes that a barking dog never bites. However, this is a misconception. Although barking can be a friendly greeting, it is also possible that it is a serious warning signal from an aggressive dog, in which case biting cannot be ruled out.
The same goes for the wagging of the tail, which is generally associated with joy, but can also have other meanings.
In order to understand dog language correctly and to avoid possible misunderstandings, it is therefore necessary to spend a little time on the subject and always keep an eye on the respective situation and the entire behaviour of the four-legged friend.
Posture is a very important part of dog language. Understanding it helps to avoid misunderstandings and to behave appropriately when dealing with the animal.
When it comes to the body language of dogs, particular attention should be paid to the tail, general posture, facial expression, position of the ears and the posture of the head.
Most people assume that a wagging tail in dogs is an expression of joy. However, this is not entirely true. Essentially the wagging only means that the four-legged friend is excited at the moment.
The reason for the excitement can of course be joy about an expected dog treat or the owner coming home. However, it is just as possible that the excitement is caused by stress and that for example the dog feels harassed.
In addition to the tail, the posture of the body and head are also an essential part of dog language. For example, a curled up dog is very likely to be scared. Laying on their back and showing their stomach is a gesture of submission.
If the four-legged friend wants to intimidate a potential opponent, however, it will straighten up in order to appear as large as possible and usually fix his counterpart with his eyes.
If a dog is relaxed, it often turns its head away from the person opposite. If it does not know exactly how to assess a certain situation, a tilted head can indicate insecurity.
In order to understand dog language, it is worthwhile not only to keep an eye on the posture and tail of your four-legged friend, but to pay attention to the facial expression and the position of the ears as well.
For example, if a dog pulls the corners of its mouth back and shows its teeth, this should normally be understood as a threat. If, on the other hand, the teeth remain invisible, this is a sign of submission.
The ears also play a role in how dogs communicate. If they point forward, the animal is usually alert and relaxed. If they are pointed back and laid back, it can mean that the dog is afraid.
Body language is very important for communication in dogs. In addition, it is well known that dog language also contains a whole series of vocal expressions, which can have different meanings.
Barking can have different meanings. It can be either a sign of aggressiveness or a joyful greeting. What exactly the barking of the four-legged friend intends to convey can be noticed in particular from the pitch. High barking usually indicates a friendly occasion and deep barking comes more likely from an aggressive animal that wants to warn his counterpart. What exactly high and low in individual cases means differs from dog to dog.
Incidentally, very frequent barking can also indicate boredom, insecurity or pain. Sometimes a visit to the vet can therefore be advisable or specific training measures are required to break the dog's habit of barking constantly.
Howling or whimpering is also a typical vocal expression that belongs to the repertoire of dog language. Like barking, howling can have different meanings. These include fear, loneliness and pain. But a dog can also howl with joy or it can be part of its territorial behaviour.
Sexually mature males also frequently whine when they sense a dam in heat nearby. As annoying as it may be, it is a normal behaviour that many males naturally display.
If a dog growls, it is a warning sign that shouldn't be ignored. The four-legged friend grows to communicate that something is displeasing it. In this case, possible triggers include fear, frustration or pain.
It's important to take a dog's growl seriously. For example, if the animal is cornered and starts to growl, it may well snap after a while because it doesn't know what else to do.
It goes without saying that all dogs communicate in a very similar way. If you understand your dog's language, it will not only help you in dealing with your own, but also with all other four-legged friends.
Nevertheless, there are definitely individual differences due to nature, breed or upbringing. Last but not least, these are also noticeable in terms of dog language.
For example, there are dog breeds that generally tend to bark more often, while others tend to be quieter.
If you want to understand your own or someone else's dog, it is not enough to just look at one body signal or one utterance in isolation. Instead, you should always try to perceive the body language and sounds of the four-legged friend as a whole.
As a rule, dog language does not consist of individual sounds and behaviours, but rather a combination of them. For example, a frightened dog will likely not only crouch, but also pinch its tail between its hind legs, do big ears and maybe whimper at the same time.
As you can see, dog language is surprisingly complex. However, it is definitely worth looking into, because the better you understand your dog, the less problems you will have with your four-legged friend and the easier it will be for you to ensure that your best friend feels completely at ease with you.
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