HOW TO READ THE BODY LANGUAGE OF YOUR DOG?
Is your dog saying something, but you don’t get it? You probably don’t know how to read their body language. Dogs have an ability to communicate using non-verbally or through their body language depends on what they feel or what they want to say on someone. This non-verbal communication includes the wagging of their tail, the movement of their nose, the position of their eyes and facial expression.
Some people here love taking care of pets such as @bmjc98 and @JiroXShin I hope this can help them to read the body language of their pets. Having a knowledge about this can help you to decipher what they want to say.
In reading dog’s body language, it is necessary to look on the whole body of the dog not only on one part as it has different meaning, for example, the common is when they are wagging their tails, you will immediately that they are friendly, but in some instances, it is is not. It is important to know each meaning that is why we will discuss it now.
WHAT ARE THE SIMPLE BODY LANGUAGE OF YOUR DOG?
The Relaxed Mode
This type of body language can be considered as your pet feel relax and no harm is approaching. They don’t feel threatened and comfortable on what they feel. However, you still need to be careful because their behavior is suddenly changing.
Keys:
Tail down and relaxed
Ears up (not forward)
Head high
Mouth open slightly, tongue exposed.
Loose stance, weight flat on feet
Alert-Checking Things Out
If you see your dog on this position, they feel or saw something that may caught their interest and paying an attention if there is any threat, or they need to have an immediate action. You need to be careful on this body language because there’s a chance that they will unintentionally divert their attention to you and attack you.
Keys:
Tail is horizontal (not still or bristled), it may move slightly from side-to-side.
Ears forward (may twitch as if trying to catch a sound)
Widened eyes.
Smooth nose and forehead
Mouth closed.
Slight forward lean standing tail on toes
Dominant Aggressive
This type of body language means they are confident and giving you a warning that they could act aggressively anytime especially if you challenged them. We need to act normal in this kind of situation be more confident than them. On the other hand, this can help you with your relationship with your dogs and makes you familiarize on how you can react if a god has a language like that.
Keys:
Tail is stiff but may be seen to quiver or vibrate from side-to-side.
Tail raised and bristled.
Hackles raised.
Ears forward (may be spread slightly to the side to form a wide V shape.
Forehead may show vertical wrinkles.
Nose wrinkled.
Lips curled.
Teeth (and often the gums) are visible.
Mouth open and C-shaped, corner of mouth is forward.
Stiff-legged stance, body leaning slightly forward.
Aggressive but fearful
In this case, your dog might be afraid but still aggressive and can attack anytime. This body language are shown every time that they are facing someone that threatening them.
Keys:
Body lowered.
Hackles raised.
Ears back
Tail tucked (little or no movement)
Corner of mouth pulled back.
Lips slightly curved
Nose wrinkled.
Pupils are dilated.
Fearful and worried
This body language is commonly seen every new year where the there’s a lot of fireworks on the environment. Dogs felt a potential threat and worrying on what will happen. Also, if this is always happening, it means that they are not comfortable on their environment and feel anxious.
Keys:
Tail down (wagging slightly)
Body lowered.
May leave sweaty footprints.
Paws are raising.
Corner of mouth back.
Eye contact brief and indirect.
Playfulness
Lastly, being playful of your dog is common as they are considered as your best friend. This body language can have an exciting barks and playful attacks. You can feel their excitement every time they saw you and ask you to play through their body language.
Keys:
They will usually hold this position for only a moment before breaking into a run in some random direction.
Tail up and broadly wave.
Mouth open, tongue may be exposed.
Front end lowered by bent forepaws.
Conclusion
It is important to know the language of our pets because they are considered as “human's bestfriend”. Also, we can determine what they want to convey through their body language.
Additionally, we can identify if we need to be aware and alert on our surroundings especially if there's a dog or other creature on our environment.
Always take care and consider their feelings because they are also living things that has an emotion and want to communicate with us.
Sources:
https://www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/blog/10-amazing-facts-about-dogs
https://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/how-read-your-dogs-body-language/415
Laging dominant aggressive mga Chihuahua 🤧.