Scratching – Dog Body Language

Scratching – Dog Body Language

Scratching – Dog Body Language

When a dog scratches his shoulder or neck with his hind leg, this could be due to his having an itch, perhaps caused by skin irritation or allergies. However, it is important to pay attention to how often and in what context the scratching occurs. If it is due to a skin irritation, it is likely the dog will scratch or nibble other parts of the body and not just scratch one area, such as the neck or shoulder, exclusively. Scratching, as body language, can often be overlooked by humans who are not aware this could be an unconscious communication/response that is defined as displacement behaviour.

Displacement behaviours are normal behaviours that occur out of context. They occur when the dog is experiencing conflicting emotions and attempting to deflect stress, uncertainty, anxiety, or frustration. Some of the possible causes of displacement behaviour could be tiredness, stress*, overstimulation, or a response to pressure.

In most cases, these behaviours are a reflection of the dog’s inner state rather than conscious communication, although occasionally the body language could possibly be interpreted as a dog trying to directly communicate discomfort or calm the situation. Therefore, it is vital to observe all body language displayed, circumstances, individuals involved, and environment before offering interpretations.

Here are a few examples of situations where a dog displays scratching as a displacement behaviour:

  • In a puppy class, there are a few dogs and dog guardians moving about practising some cues like ‘sit’ and ‘down’. The guardian of one of the puppies is getting somewhat frustrated, as the puppy does not seem to be responding to the cues. The puppy looks distracted; his movements are fast and seem jittery. He appears to be scanning the environment, does a few lip licks, and seems to be frequently sitting on the floor to scratch his neck with his hind leg. The scratching, along with the rest of the subtle body language, indicates the puppy is overwhelmed with this environment and situation

  • A young dog is being walked on a noisy high-traffic road by her guardian. As they approach the crosswalk, the traffic light turns red for pedestrians, and the dog and guardian have to wait on the sidewalk. The dog is asked to sit, which she does. She does a lip lick, and you can see her ears pivot to the side. Soon, she starts scratching her neck with her hind leg for a prolonged period. She then stands up and starts sniffing the ground. The noise and the frustration of sitting in one spot and not being able to escape this busy corner, cause her to show displacement behaviour because she is feeling uncomfortable with this environment.

  • Three dogs are playing. One dog walks away from the play, which continues between the two other dogs, and she sits a little away from them. The play between the two dogs seems to get noisier and rougher, with the one dog pushing the other over. The dog sitting apart from the others starts scratching herself, with her head turned away from the two playing dogs. In this case, the interpretation could be that the dog is trying to calm the situation down and does not wish to interact further with the other dogs in this manner, or the possible explanation could be displacement behaviour due to the dog feeling overwhelmed with the interaction.

What is meant by stress*?

When I mention stress, this does not necessarily imply negative emotion. I mean stress in the physiological sense. So certain body language signals can mean the dog is feeling some sort of emotional discourse. This discourse could range from positive to negative emotion. Both excitement and fear could have similar effects on the body, with various hormones being released and activating the sympathetic nervous system. The dog may be feeling uncomfortable/fearful or it could also be excited about something. When analyzing stress in body language, it is worth noting the frequency and intensity of the various body language signals.

A few notes to consider when observing dog body language:

Observation before interpretation

Interpretations should be offered only once you have observed the complete interaction and taken note of the wider picture. To offer an unbiased interpretation of the body language, observe and take note of the situation, taking into account the dog’s whole body, the body language signals, and environment first before offering an interpretation. List all the body language you see in the order that it occurs; try to be as descriptive as possible without adding any emotional language. For instance, saying a dog looks happy is not descriptive and would be seen as an interpretation rather than an observation.

You could, however, list what you observe: ears to the side, eyes almond shaped, slight shortening of the eye, mouth open, long lips, tongue out, body moving loosely, body facing side-on, tail wagging at a slow even pace at body level.

From the observation, I could interpret that the dog seems relaxed or comfortable. I still prefer to say relaxed rather than happy, as I feel you will truly never know exactly what the dog may be feeling on the inside emotionally. It is quite likely the dog may be feeling happy, but I prefer to comment on how the dog is behaving in response to the situation rather than presuming internal emotional states.

The importance of viewing body language within context

Interpretations can vary depending on the context. It is possible for certain body language to be used in different contexts and have subtle differences in meaning within those contexts. Individual body language signals should not be observed in isolation; the wider picture should be considered. Take note of what the dog’s body as a whole is saying. Keep in mind each dog is an individual with varying skills and experiences. What may be typical for one individual may not be for another. In order to observe body language in context, consider the following: the situation, body language signals, the body language expressed by all parts of the dog’s body, environment, and individuals involved. It is worth noting how the body language changes with feedback from the environment or the other individuals interacting.

Martha Knowles

Martha Knowles

Author

My vision is to create a community of dog guardians who share their observations and interpretations of their dogs’ silent conversations. Hopefully, these experiences and stories will provide some insight into dog communication, which is often overlooked by the untrained eye because it is unfamiliar to humans. We are accustomed to communicating mainly with sound, so we are not attuned to the silent subtle gestures and body language used by dogs to communicate. If you take the time to observe, you will start to see these 'silent conversations' going on around you. My dream is for dog communication to become common knowledge with all dog guardians and as many people as possible. Surprisingly, there are still some professionals working in various dog-related careers who are uneducated about dog body language. Greater awareness of how dogs communicate will help to provide better understanding and improve the mutual relationship between dogs and humans. This will promote safer interactions between our two species and hopefully remove some of the expectations placed on dogs within human society. I would like dog guardians to feel empowered with their knowledge of dog communication so that they can be their dogs’ advocates and stand up for themselves and their dogs when it really matters.

Reasons for walking your dog on a longer leash

Reasons for walking your dog on a longer leash

Reasons for walking your dog on a longer leash

The reason for a longer leash is to allow the dog to express his natural behaviour and communication. The dog is able to interact with the environment by moving authentically. Dogs use their bodies to communicate. The dog should be able to express natural behaviour when on leash, such as investigating, sniffing, marking, and making choices. Scent is one of the dog’s predominant senses; it is important for the dog to be able to navigate and interpret the environment through scent. Choice is essential for the dog; it is key for confidence building, learning and mental well-being.

There is complexity to long leash handling on both ends of the leash. Before considering leash handling, the dog’s stress levels and skill set are important factors to bear in mind. The dog guardian should choose a suitable environment that will be appropriate for the dog’s skill set. If the dog is allowed to make choices at a level they can manage, and the choice has a positive outcome for the dog, this provides valuable intrinsic learning, encouraging the dog to think for himself and problem solve.

From the dog guardian’s side of the leash, a longer leash provides the dog space to communicate and affords the dog guardian the opportunity to observe the dog – an opportunity lost if the dog is performing trained behaviours. Dogs have a space bubble when on leash; at times humans can interfere with the dog’s natural body language and also be unaware they are inadvertently pushing the dog into situations they might not be comfortable with. The handler/dog guardian can also block the dog’s option of avoiding the situation or choosing an escape route. This is why the guardian’s body language, position and space usage play a role in leash handling. At times it may also be appropriate for the guardian to move up the leash to shorten it and provide support in situations where the dog may need it.

This does not even begin to address actual leash handling techniques like how to loop up the leash, how to shorten the leash, how to stop gently, leash handling in tricky situations, and so on. If you are not aware of correct long leash handling mechanics, this can lead to injuries. You should always have both hands on the leash, which is continuously being readjusted by your guiding hand, as it slides down the leash and loops it up in your looping hand, then lets the leash slide through your guiding hand to release it at moments where it is safe to do so. Not to mention that the long leash should always be ‘smiling’ – not dragging on the ground – no matter how extended it is. (Visit the Smiling Leash Project @smilingleash).

Analysis of environment, and how to navigate and use it to the dog’s advantage, is an important consideration. All that has been discussed so far indicates how extensive and nuanced long leash handling can be. Many of these leash handling techniques will seem effortless and invisible to an untrained eye. It takes time on both ends of the leash to learn and find comfort. I certainly am still learning something new with every occasion I get to practice long leash handling.

I was very fortunate to have stumbled upon Turid Rugaas’ book, “On Talking Terms with dogs: Calming Signals”, at the right moment in time. Seeking to see Turid in person, I went to a Dog Reactivity seminar by her. Sheila Harper was hosting the seminar in the UK; this was round about 2011. In the process, I became familiar with Sheila and attended a few of her shorter courses. The level of observation in these courses convinced me to complete further comprehensive study with Sheila Harper. I immediately felt at home with the principles of Sheila’s courses, in which the dog’s perspective was valued when facilitating the learning process, and dogs could express their natural behaviours and communication, enabling them to make choices and have a say in outcomes. The priority was building the life skills of the dog, rather than performed behaviours.

I learnt long leash handling from Sheila, the shortest leash being about 3m*, with the dog wearing a comfortable Y-shaped harness (* 3m/9ft is good for a novice handler, while 5m/16ft or longer is good for someone who has started to hone their long leash handling skills). Sheila has been teaching long leash practical theory since approximately 1990s. This practice of long leash handling is not for special occasions it is for day to day use on all walks with the walks being chosen from the dogs point of view and skill set.

If you are new to long leash handling or would like to start learning more about it, I would encourage you to seek coaching. My recommendation would be learning from Sheila Harper, as I have had the most personal experience of Sheila’s coursework and can attest to the quality of her teaching. Sheila is also one of the founding organizational committee members of The International Companion Animal Network (@ICANwelfarefirst).

Turid Rugaas has taught long leash handling and advocated for longer leashes for a long time; she has just recently celebrated a 50-year anniversary of working with dogs. Turid is a founding member of the Pet Dog Trainers of Europe (PDTE) and most of her practicing students can be found via the PDTE website. The Smiling Leash members have all studied with Turid Rugaas.

Grisha Stewart’s recent BAT 2.0 leash handling seems to share some simularities with the principles of Turid’s leash handling with regards to long leashes, some of the long leash handling techniques, and the use of social walks (or “BAT set ups” as Grisha has called them). However, it is not completely the same, as BAT does mix in a few elements of classical training to it along with offering long leash handling techniques.

All three teachers/trainers may offer slightly different nuances when teaching long leash handling. I feel most comfortable recommending Sheila’s courses due to my personal experience as I have completed substantial study with Sheila, and have not completed any longer courses with Turid or Grisha, apart from shorter seminars. So I am unable to compare the differences entirely and may not be aware of some of the nuances of what is taught along with long leash handling, between the three.

Both Turid Rugaas and Sheila Harper students use social walks frequently when working on dogs’ confidence and social skills. Social walks can also be used to the benefit of reactive dogs. The name ‘Social walk’ can be a deceptive title, as some of the walks are not that “social”, depending on the dog and begin at great distances over multiple sessions. How to set up social walks is an extensive subject in of itself and has many variables, depending on the needs of individual dogs. The social walks are on harness and long leash, allowing the dog to communicate and make appropriate choices within a suitable environment and appropriate setup.

I hope I have managed to convey that long leash handling is a topic with extensive depth to it. It is not about picking up a long leash and a little bit of leash technique, there is far more to consider; both from the individual dogs needs and consideration from the dog guardians with regards to planning, observation and support offered to the dog.

Martha Knowles

Martha Knowles

Author

My vision is to create a community of dog guardians who share their observations and interpretations of their dogs’ silent conversations. Hopefully, these experiences and stories will provide some insight into dog communication, which is often overlooked by the untrained eye because it is unfamiliar to humans. We are accustomed to communicating mainly with sound, so we are not attuned to the silent subtle gestures and body language used by dogs to communicate. If you take the time to observe, you will start to see these 'silent conversations' going on around you. My dream is for dog communication to become common knowledge with all dog guardians and as many people as possible. Surprisingly, there are still some professionals working in various dog-related careers who are uneducated about dog body language. Greater awareness of how dogs communicate will help to provide better understanding and improve the mutual relationship between dogs and humans. This will promote safer interactions between our two species and hopefully remove some of the expectations placed on dogs within human society. I would like dog guardians to feel empowered with their knowledge of dog communication so that they can be their dogs’ advocates and stand up for themselves and their dogs when it really matters.

Eyes – Whale Eye – Dog Body Language

Eyes – Whale Eye – Dog Body Language

Eyes – Whale Eye – Dog Body Language

‘Whale eye’ is a term used to describe dog body language referring to the dog’s eyes. This is when the whites of the eye (know as sclera) become pronounced. Whale eye is the most common term, but it can also be referred to as ‘half moon eye’.

Depending on the direction in which the dog’s eyes move, it is most likely to occur on either the inner corner or outer sides of the eye. In most cases, whale eye can be seen when the dog is experiencing some form of discomfort or anxiety.

The reason the whites of the eyes are visible is that the dog is most likely trying to avert his gaze, perhaps slightly turning his head away from what may be of concern to him, but he is also too cautious to take his eyes off the thing of concern. This action of slight head movement whilst trying to keep an eye on things causes the whites of the eyes to become evident. A fearful or aroused dog’s eyes become wider – another reason why the sclera becomes more pronounced. It is also likely in such cases that there will be muscle tension and ridges in areas of the face, pulling the eyes open wider.

If a dog is relaxed, the eyes appear slightly squinted or almond shaped. Certain dog breeds naturally have slightly bulging eyes, allowing the whites of the eyes to be visible at times, but, with such dogs, generally the amount of sclera visible is not as pronounced as true ‘whale eye’. This is why it is important not only to observe the eyes but the dog’s whole body and body language to correctly interpret what you have observed.

Whale eye should be treated with caution. Depending on the body language and context, it may mean the dog is feeling threatened, and there is a possibility the situation could escalate to a bite.

Here are a few examples of situations where ‘whale eye’ may be observed:

  • In an informal outdoor restaurant area, a few people are mingling and enjoying a drink. One person has brought her dog to the event. The dog is a sweet-looking poodle and attracts some attention from the people in the party. A person is keen to greet the dog and reaches over to pet him. The dog ducks down a bit and turns his head away from the person slightly. Whale eye is visible. He freezes ever so slightly and does a lip lick as the person pets his head. After the person stops petting, the dog does a quick shake off. From the body language observed, it seems the dog is not too comfortable with this stranger leaning over to pet him.
  • A dog is uncomfortable with a person approaching as she eats her food from her bowl. She perceives the approach as a threat to having her resource (the food) taken away. As the person approaches, the dog stops eating; her head dips down and turns ever so slightly in the direction of the bowl. Although her head is turned slightly towards the bowl, she keeps her eyes on the approaching person. The eyes are fixed, with a hard stare, and the whites of the eye (whale eye) are visible. Her body stiffens and freezes in place. Her ears are pushed forward and her mouth is closed. The stance of her body seems square, with a slight forward weight over her bowl and braced legs. A few seconds later, she is still frozen, and her lip starts curling, as she lets out a growl – giving a vocal warning as well as the body language to communicate her discomfort with the approach while she is eating.
  • A dog is being scolded by his guardian. The dog’s movements slow, and he pauses by standing with his body slightly curved away from his guardian. The dog’s body looks slightly lowered, with a rounded back, slightly dipped head, and tail tucked down. His mouth is closed, and his ears are pressed to the sides of his face. There seems to be a bit of tension and furrowing of the area around the eyes. His head is ever so slightly turned away from his guardian, and, as he looks up to his guardian, whale eye is visible.

These are just a few examples; there may be many more. Start observing to see if you can notice whale eye occurring in different contexts. As discussed below, interpretations such as the above examples should not be attempted without careful observation and consideration of all aspects of the situation.

A few notes to consider when observing dog body language:

Observation before interpretation

Interpretations should be offered only once you have observed the complete interaction and taken note of the wider picture. To offer an unbiased interpretation of the body language, observe and take note of the situation, taking into account the dog’s whole body, the body language signals and environment first before offering an interpretation. List all the body language you see in the order that it occurs; try to be descriptive as possible without adding any emotional language. For instance, saying a dog looks happy is not descriptive and would be seen as an interpretation rather than an observation.

You could however list what you observe: ears to the side, eyes almond shaped, slight shortening of the eye, mouth open, long lips, tongue out, body moving loosely, body facing side-on, tail wagging at a slow, even pace at body level.

From the observation I could interpret that the dog seems relaxed or comfortable. I still prefer to say relaxed rather than happy, as I feel you will truly never know exactly what the dog may be feeling on the inside emotionally. It is quite likely the dog may be feeling happy, but I prefer to comment on how the dog is behaving in response to the situation rather than presuming internal emotional states.

The importance of viewing body language within context

Interpretations can vary depending on the context. It is possible for certain body language to be used in different contexts and have subtle differences in meaning within those contexts. Individual body language signals should not be observed in isolation; the wider picture should be considered. Take note of what the dog’s body as a whole is saying. Keep in mind each dog is an individual with varying skills and experiences. What may be typical for one individual may not be for another. In order to observe body language in context, consider the following: the situation, body language signals, the body language expressed by all parts of the dog’s body, the environment, and the individuals involved. It is worth noting how the body language changes with feedback from the environment or the other individuals interacting.

Martha Knowles

Martha Knowles

Author

My vision is to create a community of dog guardians who share their observations and interpretations of their dogs’ silent conversations. Hopefully, these experiences and stories will provide some insight into dog communication, which is often overlooked by the untrained eye because it is unfamiliar to humans. We are accustomed to communicating mainly with sound, so we are not attuned to the silent subtle gestures and body language used by dogs to communicate. If you take the time to observe, you will start to see these 'silent conversations' going on around you. My dream is for dog communication to become common knowledge with all dog guardians and as many people as possible. Surprisingly, there are still some professionals working in various dog-related careers who are uneducated about dog body language. Greater awareness of how dogs communicate will help to provide better understanding and improve the mutual relationship between dogs and humans. This will promote safer interactions between our two species and hopefully remove some of the expectations placed on dogs within human society. I would like dog guardians to feel empowered with their knowledge of dog communication so that they can be their dogs’ advocates and stand up for themselves and their dogs when it really matters.

Eyes – Blinking – Dog Body Language

Eyes – Blinking – Dog Body Language

Eyes – Blinking – Dog Body Language

The dog body language signal of blinking the eyes relies very much on the context in which it occurs and the dog’s whole body language in order to be interpreted correctly. Generally, blinking can be seen as a calming signal and may be used as part of other body language to negotiate with another individual. At times, blinking can occur due to stress or fear. In other situations, it may be offered as appeasement. Depending on the combination of body language, it may also be offered to show good will, whilst trying to calm an interaction down.

Direct eye contact in dog body language is impolite; it is used to warn or can be interpreted as confrontational. The purpose of a direct stare is to create space and encourage the other party to move away. A warning may be shown with direct eye contact (known as a hard stare or hard eye). The eyes will most probably be quite round, wide, fixed and still, without any blinking. So blinking is the opposite of that. As staring is impolite in dog body language, a blink may be used as a strategy when giving selected short bursts of polite eye contact. The blinks that are used as part of communication may be exaggerated by using slow deliberate blinks, or they may occur frequently in quick succession.

Here are a few examples of situations where a dog may offer blinking:

  • Two dogs are within close vicinity of one another in an open dog park. Suddenly, the one dog draws his attention towards the other dog. He does a three-quarter turn towards her and looks slightly tall, with his ears moving forwards and his tail up. He gazes over to the other dog and their eyes meet momentarily. Her reaction to the sudden eye contact is to turn her head marginally to the side, and, squinting her eyes slightly, she blinks a few times. He responds by blinking and turning his gaze away too. The other dog is trying to negotiate by blinking and turning her gaze away. She is saying she does not want to cause trouble and does not wish to interact.
  • A dog that is sitting on the ground is being scolded by his guardian. The dog’s mouth is closed, and his ears are back and flat to his head. He turns his head to the side, then he turns it back to face his guardian and does a lip lick. His eyes are squinted when facing his guardian and he yawns. He continues to face his guardian with ears back and eyes squinted; then he displays a succession of quick eye blinks, followed by further lip licks and more eye blinks. This is the typical body language that is misinterpreted as the ‘guilty look’. The dog is showing appeasement with his body language; he is responding to his guardian’s aggressive sounding voice and body postures. By using appeasing body language, he is trying to calm the situation down and communicating to his guardian he means no harm. Here is some further reading explaining the guilty look and a study conducted by Alexandra Horowitz, proving ‘the look’ does not correspond with the dog’s knowledge of the ‘bad’ behaviour.
  • This is an observation of a dog new to the shelter. She has only spent a couple of days in this unfamiliar environment and is fearful of the new surroundings and strangers at the shelter. A volunteer is trying to gain the dog’s trust and is sitting quietly across from her. The dog remains seated on the opposite side of the room and is keeping her distance from the person. The dog’s body is hunched over, with her head slightly down and her mouth closed. She seems very still, apart from occasionally turning her head slightly away from the person and giving a few blinks. On the previous occasion when the person spent time in the room, the dog’s eyes were wide and fixed on the person, and she displayed the same frozen looking body language. Although this dog is still frightened, the blinking is progress, as she is at least showing signs of communication and expressing herself. She is trying to communicate that she means no harm and does not want to be harmed. Taking into account the observations of the rest of her body language, it is apparent that the dog is still feeling fearful.
  • A dog is sitting in front of her guardian, who is filming her. There seems to be no tension in the dog’s body as she sits. Her tail is wagging in circles low to the ground. Her mouth is closed with no tension in the face muscles. Her ears are pointy, and they are in a neutral position, held up but ever so slightly positioned off to the side. As she looks up at her guardian, who is pointing the camera at her, the dog blinks at quite a rapid rate and does a subtle small movement of the head to the side. The tail wag and the relaxed body indicate that the dog seems comfortable with her guardian, but because the guardian is standing over her with a camera, and most probably facing front on to film the dog, she feels the need to blink as a calming signal. The pressure of having all the focus on her in such a direct manner may have gotten her to respond with blinking.
  • A person pets a dog, which sits in an enclosed cage. As the person leans into the cage area, the dog has no way of escaping and presses himself into the corner; he is sitting hunched over with his one paw lifted. His mouth is closed, and his movements are slow; he seems quite still. His ears are pulled back against his head, and he turns his head away and blinks as the person pets him on the shoulder. The dog does not feel comfortable and is slightly fearful of being petted. His discomfort is revealed by the combination of all his body language – the paw lift, the stillness of the dog, his hunched position (as he makes himself as small as possible), the blinking, and the way he backs himself to the rear of the cage.
  • A dog is sitting on the ground. His body is relaxed. His guardian asks him to do something. He responds by turning his head away and doing one slow blink. He may be feeling a bit of pressure at the guardian’s request and is indicating this by responding with the head turn and a slow blink.

These are just a few examples; there may be many more. Start observing to see if you can notice any blinking in different contexts. As discussed below, interpretations such as the above examples should not be attempted without careful observation and consideration of all aspects of the situation.

A few notes to consider when observing dog body language:

Observation before interpretation

Interpretations should be offered only once you have observed the complete interaction and taken note of the wider picture. To offer an unbiased interpretation of the body language, observe and take note of the situation, taking into account the dog’s whole body, the body language signals and environment first before offering an interpretation. List all the body language you see in the order that it occurs; try to be descriptive as possible without adding any emotional language. For instance, saying a dog looks happy is not descriptive and would be seen as an interpretation rather than an observation.

You could however list what you observe: ears to the side, eyes almond shaped, slight shortening of the eye, mouth open, long lips, tongue out, body moving loosely, body facing side-on, tail wagging at a slow, even pace at body level.

From the observation I could interpret that the dog seems relaxed or comfortable. I still prefer to say relaxed rather than happy, as I feel you will truly never know exactly what the dog may be feeling on the inside emotionally. It is quite likely the dog may be feeling happy, but I prefer to comment on how the dog is behaving in response to the situation rather than presuming internal emotional states.

The importance of viewing body language within context

Interpretations can vary depending on the context. It is possible for certain body language to be used in different contexts and have subtle differences in meaning within those contexts. Individual body language signals should not be observed in isolation; the wider picture should be considered. Take note of what the dog’s body as a whole is saying. Keep in mind each dog is an individual with varying skills and experiences. What may be typical for one individual may not be for another. In order to observe body language in context, consider the following: the situation, body language signals, the body language expressed by all parts of the dog’s body, the environment, and the individuals involved. It is worth noting how the body language changes with feedback from the environment or the other individuals interacting.

Martha Knowles

Martha Knowles

Author

My vision is to create a community of dog guardians who share their observations and interpretations of their dogs’ silent conversations. Hopefully, these experiences and stories will provide some insight into dog communication, which is often overlooked by the untrained eye because it is unfamiliar to humans. We are accustomed to communicating mainly with sound, so we are not attuned to the silent subtle gestures and body language used by dogs to communicate. If you take the time to observe, you will start to see these 'silent conversations' going on around you. My dream is for dog communication to become common knowledge with all dog guardians and as many people as possible. Surprisingly, there are still some professionals working in various dog-related careers who are uneducated about dog body language. Greater awareness of how dogs communicate will help to provide better understanding and improve the mutual relationship between dogs and humans. This will promote safer interactions between our two species and hopefully remove some of the expectations placed on dogs within human society. I would like dog guardians to feel empowered with their knowledge of dog communication so that they can be their dogs’ advocates and stand up for themselves and their dogs when it really matters.

Eyes – ‘Shortening of the Eye’ or Squinting – Dog Body Language

Eyes – ‘Shortening of the Eye’ or Squinting – Dog Body Language

Eyes – ‘Shortening of the Eye’ or Squinting – Dog Body Language

‘Shortening of the eye’ is a dog body language term used to describe when a dog squints his eyes slightly to deliberately soften them when interacting with another individual. It is used as a non-confrontational signal to indicate peaceful intentions in situations were there may be direct eye contact. In dog body language, direct eye contact or staring could be seen as confrontational; a hard stare in combination with a freeze of body is used as a warning. When a dog is relaxed, the eyes appear almond shaped and soft. To clearly indicate peaceful intentions, the dog may accentuate the eyes even further by squinting.

Depending on the context, body language signals, and what the rest of the dog’s body position is conveying at the time, squinting may also be used when a dog is displaying appeasement. In the case of appeasement, the eye may be squinted almost totally shut, which is different to the subtle slight squint involved in ‘shortening of the eye’. A dog that is showing appeasement signals may also be feeling some fear and may either freeze or crouch. It is best not to approach a fearful dog. There is a big difference in body language between a dog showing appeasement and a dog squinting his eyes to be polite. A dog that is comfortable and squinting his eyes to be polite might approach, whereas a fearful dog will keep his distance. There will be further differences with regard to body movement, as the comfortable dog will have a looser body and move with ease, whereas the fearful dog may seem frozen or stiff, showing little movement.

When interacting with a dog, you can squint your eyes ever so slightly to be polite; a slow blink can also be used. It is best to avoid direct eye contact by using peripheral vision and turning your head away slightly. A combination of this body language may be used to show polite intentions, especially towards a dog that is not at ease. It is always best to give any dog space and not approach. Read more about social interactions with dogs in this article: ‘How do you greet a dog politely?’

Since this article pertains to one area of the body, bear in mind the importance of observing the dog’s full body language and signals, as well as the context in which they appear, before attempting an interpretation. There may be different interpretations, depending on the combination of full body language observed.

Here are a few examples of situations where a dog may offer shortening of the eye:

  • A person is sitting on the ground and taking photos of the dogs in the park. One of the dogs, a retriever, is familiar with the person. The retriever spots the person with the camera and decides to approach them, as all the dogs he has been socializing with have moved on. He approaches with a loose flowing body, trotting up with his tail at about level with his back, giving a slow, sweeping wag. There is a slight curve in his body on approach. He lowers his head ever so slightly; he gently squints his eyes slightly on approach. His ears are relaxed and at the side, and his mouth is open and relaxed with a slight panting tongue. The retriever is at ease and trying to be polite by approaching with the slight curve of his body and shortening of the eye.
  • While sitting on the ground, a dog is being scolded by a person. As the person raises her voice, he pushes his ears back tightly against his head and squints his eyes shut. His mouth is closed and he gives a few careful lip licks. He remains still and occasionally opens his eyes slightly, giving a few blinks before squinting his eyes again. As the scolding tone of the person’s voice eases off, the dog wags his tail low to the ground, quickly from side to side. The dog is offering appeasement in response to his guardian’s raised voice and is trying to communicate he means no harm.
  • A dog is sitting near a group of people on the grass in a park. One person, who is sitting quite close, is looking at the dog and giving direct eye contact. The dog averts the gaze of the person by turning her head ever so slightly away and softening her eyes by squinting. The dog is trying to give a non-confrontational response to the direct eye contact.

These are just a few examples; there may be many more. Start observing to see if you can notice any squinting or shortening of the eye in different contexts. As discussed below, interpretations such as the above examples should not be attempted without careful observation and consideration of all aspects of the situation.

A few notes to consider when observing dog body language:

Observation before interpretation

Interpretations should be offered only once you have observed the complete interaction and taken note of the wider picture. To offer an unbiased interpretation of the body language, observe and take note of the situation, taking into account the dog’s whole body, the body language signals and environment first before offering an interpretation. List all the body language you see in the order that it occurs; try to be descriptive as possible without adding any emotional language. For instance, saying a dog looks happy is not descriptive and would be seen as an interpretation rather than an observation.

You could however list what you observe: ears to the side, eyes almond shaped, slight shortening of the eye, mouth open, long lips, tongue out, body moving loosely, body facing side-on, tail wagging at a slow, even pace at body level.

From the observation I could interpret that the dog seems relaxed or comfortable. I still prefer to say relaxed rather than happy, as I feel you will truly never know exactly what the dog may be feeling on the inside emotionally. It is quite likely the dog may be feeling happy, but I prefer to comment on how the dog is behaving in response to the situation rather than presuming internal emotional states.

The importance of viewing body language within context

Interpretations can vary depending on the context. It is possible for certain body language to be used in different contexts and have subtle differences in meaning within those contexts. Individual body language signals should not be observed in isolation; the wider picture should be considered. Take note of what the dog’s body as a whole is saying. Keep in mind each dog is an individual with varying skills and experiences. What may be typical for one individual may not be for another. In order to observe body language in context, consider the following: the situation, body language signals, the body language expressed by all parts of the dog’s body, the environment, and the individuals involved. It is worth noting how the body language changes with feedback from the environment or the other individuals interacting.

Martha Knowles

Martha Knowles

Author

My vision is to create a community of dog guardians who share their observations and interpretations of their dogs’ silent conversations. Hopefully, these experiences and stories will provide some insight into dog communication, which is often overlooked by the untrained eye because it is unfamiliar to humans. We are accustomed to communicating mainly with sound, so we are not attuned to the silent subtle gestures and body language used by dogs to communicate. If you take the time to observe, you will start to see these 'silent conversations' going on around you. My dream is for dog communication to become common knowledge with all dog guardians and as many people as possible. Surprisingly, there are still some professionals working in various dog-related careers who are uneducated about dog body language. Greater awareness of how dogs communicate will help to provide better understanding and improve the mutual relationship between dogs and humans. This will promote safer interactions between our two species and hopefully remove some of the expectations placed on dogs within human society. I would like dog guardians to feel empowered with their knowledge of dog communication so that they can be their dogs’ advocates and stand up for themselves and their dogs when it really matters.