Curving – Dog Body Language

by Martha Knowles | Jul 30, 2019 | Dog Body Language

Curving – Dog Body Language

The deliberate dog body language of curving is used in polite greetings, negotiation, or as a calming signal. A head-on, frontal approach can be seen as confrontational. The curving could be the curving of the dog’s body (which makes a slight c-shape), or a directional curve in the path the dog walks on approach. Some have described it as a ‘banana walk’, an easy descriptive way to imagine the direction of walk, due to the shape of the path taken by the dog.

Curving of the body, however slight, results in the dog’s shoulders turning away from the other party in greeting. Keeping the shoulders square and front on could signify a bit of tension and may come across as confrontational or too direct. Turning the shoulder ever so slightly is polite. The curve, whether a curve in path or body, can be subtle and slight; on other occasions it can be exaggerated and there can also be a combination of curving of body and path.

When two dogs get close enough to greet and sniff each other’s rears, they will do so by curving their bodies and walking around each other in a curve. Normally they will take a quick sniff of each other’s rear ends and move on afterwards. Some dogs choose not to approach each other at all, but they will walk in a curve past each other as a negotiation signal, giving each other space and passing one another politely.

If a dog has a loose leash, enough leash to make choices, and the social skills, there are times when he may actually choose to curve when passing another party. It is worth bearing in mind how some equipment can interfere with the dog’s communication. There are times when we, as humans, do not realize the importance of curving in polite dog greetings and will walk directly with our dogs on a short leash towards another party. Unfortunately, the choice of curving may also not be considered when walking on a pavement where space is limited when approaching another party.

Humans can utilize acts of curving with dog interactions. To approach a dog politely, instead of walking straight towards the dog in our very human direct way, you could walk in a slight curve. On approach, turning your shoulder away ever so slightly can put a dog at ease and is polite.

To read further in more depth about curving, you could consult the following longer article reflecting on head-on and curved approaches: ‘Considering the effects of walking or running straight towards a dog’. At the end of the article there is a link to a video showing how subtly a dog may choose to curve.

For further information as to how to approach a dog politely, please read: ‘How do you greet a dog politely?’

Here are a few examples of situations where a dog may use curving as communication:

Two dogs spot each other across an open field. The one dog decides to stand still, and she faces the other dog. She looks slightly tall, with ears held up and forward, and her mouth is closed. The other dog decides to approach. He trots over towards her in a curve. As he gets closer, he slows down, still walking in a curve. He drops his head down and does a slight look away. As he gets near to her, she does a head turn and offers a lip lick. He then takes quite a sharp curve, both with body and direction of movement, in an attempt to go round her towards her rear end. She turns her head away in the opposite direction of his curve, effectively looking away from him. When he attempts to curve closer, she walks up towards him and cuts off his curve. They meet awkwardly nose to nose. His body is facing side-on to her, so his shoulder is facing her, his ears are slightly to the side, and his tail is body height. She faces him front on with a slightly lowered body, her back hunched over, her tail tucked, and her ears pressed to the side of the head. The weight of her body is balanced on her back legs, pushing her body in a slight backward direction. She drops her head and squints her eyes slightly as she sniffs his nose. His head raises slightly, ears to the side, and he gives slight head turns and fast tail wags. She does a paw lift, ducks her head, and moves away from him quickly. At this point, another dog runs up to the pair and splits the two by walking in-between them. The dog that first approached her has tried to be polite by curving, slowing his pace, and offering head turns on approach. Even with all the polite body language offered, she was already showing some discomfort at the beginning of the interaction by standing tall, facing him, and not approaching. Then, as he finally came near to her, she changed her body language drastically by lowering her body, hunching up (making herself smaller), with tail tucked, indicating her unease. She also cut off his attempt to sniff her rear end. The dog that intervened saw her discomfort, noticed she was struggling with the interaction, and came to split the pair.
Two people are walking their dogs in a wooded area; each is walking with their dog off lead. As they reach an open area, the people spot each other and approach to say hello. The dogs, unlike their guardians, choose not to stop, but both take a wider berth by curving around each other at distance and using the humans as a barrier between them. The Labrador walks next to his guardian with a loose body, tail wagging at a slow and steady pace. The German shepherd walks a little behind his guardian at a slower pace, his tail down, head slightly dipped, and ears to the side. As the two people stop to chat to one another, both dogs continue walking past each other slowly in a curve around the people. The shepherd takes a wider curve. The lab looks over to the shepherd, which avoids looking directly at the lab and gives a quick head turn. The lab then does a head turn and dips his head down to sniff the ground as he continues to slowly curve past the shepherd. Both guardians have now finished their quick greeting and carry on with their respective dogs in opposite directions from each other. Both dogs pick up pace again as they continue the walk with each of their guardians.
A person is walking his dog on a loose leash on a path in the park. As they walk down the path, another person walks towards them. The dog slows his pace and dips his head down (as if to sniff the ground) whilst keeping his eye on the approaching person. He crosses over behind his guardian as they near the person and uses his guardian as a slight barrier, walking slowly in a curve as he passes by.

These are just a few examples; there may be many more. Start observing to see if you can notice curving 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

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

by Martha Knowles | Feb 1, 2019 | Dog Body Language, Eyes - 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

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.

Importance of allowing your dog to sniff

by Martha Knowles | May 14, 2018 | Thoughts & Reads

Importance of allowing your dog to sniff

I peek out the front door to check on my dog, who is sunning himself in his favourite spot in the sun. He is lying on an old moving trolley, since repurposed to give him a boost up to the sunrays, which don’t reach the ground at this time of morning. As I stick my head out the door, he lifts his nose, and I can see his nostrils gently flare in and out as he recognizes I am close. He does not see me with his eyes, as they are squinted shut due to the sun, but he sees me with his nose.

There are many more examples of my dog using his nose to see. When I return from the shops, and we greet enthusiastically, my human tendency is to reach out and touch to say hello, but he ducks away, preferring to sniff my hands first to see where I have been. (If you have not already read about the human as opposed to canine perspective of greeting, it is worth reading ‘How do you greet a dog politely’). When I return from volunteering at the dog shelter, he sniffs my shoes and clothes carefully. I get the full pat down with the nose. If I offer him something, whether it is an object or food, he does not use his eyes to examine the item further; he sniffs it.

On one occasion, when out on a walk with my dog, he stopped, hesitant to go further. I surveyed the pavement ahead. It seemed clear. I thought he was being overly sensitive and encouraged him to continue. As we passed the parked cars ahead, hiding behind the wheel of the last car was a cat. I felt very foolish. My dog was right – there was something ahead! He had seen it with his nose. I should have listened. Being human, I had immediately dismissed what I could not see with my eyes. On another occasion, he started sniffing the ground very attentively, seemingly following a trail back and forth, as he narrowed in on the direction of the scent trail. Looking ahead to see what had taken his interest, it was easy for me to quickly spot a scattering of nacho chips that had been discarded on the pavement. This time my eyesight won out against my dog’s nose, and I was able to divert him away.

Even with these simple observations, it is apparent how often my dog uses his nose and scent to make sense of and navigate his environment.

It is understandable why the use of olfaction may be the predominant sense for dogs. It is estimated that dogs have 300 million olfactory receptor cells; in comparison humans have about 5 million. Dogs have the ability of smelling with each nostril on an individual basis, allowing them to distinguish the direction of the scent. The slits on the side of the nose allow for the old air to exit at the same time as the dog is breathing in new air through the nostrils, allowing the dog to take in scent continuously. The air is separated and passes through an area at the back of the nose that has a labyrinth of scroll-like bony structures called turbinates. The air is filtered through the turbinates for olfaction, while some of the air follows a separate route down the pharynx for respiration. The air that humans take in for respiration and scent is not separated, going in and out with the air that we smell. Additionally, dogs have a secondary olfactory organ called the vomeronasal organ that allows dogs to detect pheromones and non-volatile chemicals. There are times where you can spot the dog using his vomeronasal organ, as he will display a tonguing response. The dog may chatter his teeth or drool a bit at the mouth as he deciphers the components of the scent. To interpret all this information, a larger percentage of the dog’s brain is used to process scent, with the olfactory bulb taking up more area of the brain than it does in humans. The dog can detect smells at concentrations of 100 million times less than our noses can detect.

In Alexandra Horowitz’s book, ‘Being a Dog: Following the Dog Into a World of Smell’, she gives an example of scientific research to test scent thresholds of detection dogs. One of the tests was how diluted an odour could become before the dog would struggle to detect the odour. The scent of amyl acetate (smell of banana) had to be distinguished from non amyl acetate canisters. The dog kept finding the scent until it was diluted to the equivalent of a couple of drops of amyl acetate to one trillion drops of water.

It is estimated that dogs have 300 million olfactory receptor cells; in comparison humans have about 5 million.

The following Ted-Ed video lesson by Alexandra Horowitz gives a good summary of the dog’s sense of smell and why dogs are physically able to process scent so efficiently. For an in-depth look at how dogs perceive the world with their noses, it is well worth reading Alexandra Horowitz’s book, ‘Being a Dog: Following the Dog Into a World of Smell’.

Imagine visiting an art gallery if every time you attempted to look at a painting, you were forced to move along and had your eyes covered, missing the chance to get a glimpse of the painting. How frustrating an experience would that be? As humans, we do not have the same level of perception and therefore discount dogs’ levels of sensory perception far too many times, especially when giving them opportunities to interact with the environment. Too often I have seen guardians impatiently yanking their dogs away if the dog stops to sniff even for a moment. I have observed dogs that are walked obediently to heel and not permitted to stray to sniff, dogs walked with equipment that does not allow them to dip their noses down or move their heads or bodies with ease, or walks that are carefully curated from a human perspective, where the walk is a quick march for exercise purposes and stopping is not tolerated. The mental stimulation from sniffing and exploring can be just as tiring as physical exercise.

If my dog responds to an environment in a manner in which he is comfortable to investigate it – in an in-depth manner with calm sniffing – this indicates that the walk is going well and the environment is suitable for him. If my dog is pulling, moving erratically and choosing not to engage with the environment by sniffing, this is a telltale sign that he is not coping for some reason. So sniffing calmly and engaging with the environment can give clues as to the internal state of your dog. A good walk for my dog would be one in which he meanders with a calm, loose, slow-moving body, taking his time to stop at various spots to sniff and investigate. To do so, the leash needs to be long enough for him to move comfortably, and the equipment he is wearing should not hinder him from being able to reach the ground with his nose easily. The choice of walk should be individual for each dog; certain environments or times or the duration of a walk can be too stimulating for some dogs. A dog may not have the appropriate skill level or coping skills for a particular environment, or the dog’s stress level may be too high to cope with a particular walk.

How your dog engages with the environment by sniffing, and in which context he does so, can give vital clues as to how comfortable your dog is feeling and if he is coping within an environment.

There is another important reason to pay attention to your dog’s sniffing. On certain occasions, sniffing plays a part in how dogs communicate. If you have not already read the dog body language article about sniffing, you can read about it here.

The dog may stop to sniff as a calming signal or negotiation. For example, a dog may use sniffing the ground at a distance in the beginning stages of approaching another dog. A slow non-direct approach is polite, and it gives each party the opportunity to negotiate at a distance. In another context, sniffing could be used as a way to defuse a situation; one dog may walk away sniffing the ground, encouraging the other dog to mirror him, defusing the interaction.

Depending on context, sniffing the ground could also be displacement behaviour or a stress response. If the dog is unsure of something ahead, he may slow and start sniffing the ground, showing he may be feeling conflicted. It is vital to allow your dog to express himself and to observe your dog’s body language so you can offer support in such situations.

I mentioned an example of when my dog chooses to sniff the ground as displacement when he feels uncomfortable, in this article: ‘Considering the effects of walking or running straight towards a dog’.

The body language that occurs when a dog starts sniffing due to displacement can be subtle. It is crucial to observe changes in the environment, noting the dog’s whole body and body posture, as well as movement and body language signals. For instance, a dog may see something ahead, pause, and then subtly curve his body away from the object that is causing discomfort. He may then do some displacement sniffing. It is worth observing how he sniffs; some displacement sniffing may seem less focused than when a dog is actively investigating a scent. In other instances, it can seem out of place, as the dog suddenly finds a spot to sniff intently. The dog may use the moment of sniffing as a surreptitious way of surveying the environment, so it is important to observe where the gaze of the eyes falls. The dog may also move his ears, perhaps to the side slightly, in order to use his other senses to gather further information. One should pay attention to the subtleties.

Scent is the predominant way in which dogs make sense of their world. Sniffing is vital to the way dogs gather information and interact with their environment. At times, depending on the context, a dog is not just sniffing a scent; he is communicating. What he is communicating can vary according to the circumstances, so it is worth paying attention in order to be a supportive partner. Allowing your dog to interact fully with his environment and express himself with ease ensures a stronger, mutually connected relationship between dog guardian and dog.

A video tribute to the twitching nose and the scents in the breeze.

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.

Sitting – Dog Body Language

by Martha Knowles | Sep 22, 2017 | Dog Body Language

Sitting – Dog Body Language

In dog body language, sitting is a very clear body language signal that is unmistakably visible when offered. It may be used to communicate clearly to another dog that no harm is intended. It could be offered as a gesture of goodwill to a dog that may be feeling a bit uncomfortable within an interaction, or it may be used to calm an interaction down.

Here are a couple of examples of situations where a dog may offer a sit:

A young pup is interacting with a variety of passing adult dogs in an off lead area. She is keen to interact and greet each passing dog but finds herself a bit out of her depth at times, so I can see why she may have chosen to sit as a strategy of communication when greeting. Still honing her skills of polite greetings, she wavers between being slightly unsure and obviously nervous, which may come across in her bounding about in a playful puppy manner at times if a situation becomes a little awkward. With this particular interaction, an adult dog is rather pushy with his greeting. The adult dog approaches the puppy quickly, coming in quite close to her. His tail is wagging really fast, his ears are to the side and slightly raised, and his head is up. He tries to sniff the puppy’s face and back and keeps bumping into her while attempting to place his chin on her shoulder. His movements are jerky and quite fast. This behaviour could be interpreted as bullying. She immediately chooses to sit, crouching down slightly. Her ears are back, and with soft, blinking eyes, she attempts several head turns. Interestingly, at this point a third dog intervenes to split the pair, moving the adult dog on. Perhaps both the puppy and the adult dog are struggling and do not have the skills to cope with the interaction. Read more about splitting behaviour in this relating story.
Two dogs approach each other in a curve to greet. One dog pauses, whilst the other dog stops and sniffs the face of the first dog. As she gently sniffs around his face, he does a head turn. They both curve around, and she sniffs underneath him and then starts sniffing his rear end. He does quick head turns and keeps his eye on her. She sniffs his rear end for a while. He takes a few steps away and sniffs the ground, but she follows and continues sniffing. He does a lip lick, his ears are slightly back, and, with his body slightly crouched, he curves around to look back at her. He decides to sit, and then she curves away, walking on to sniff an area nearby. The message is clear: he sits to communicate his discomfort with the prolonged sniffing and wants to calm the situation. She listens to his clear message and decides to walk away and give him a bit more space.
There is a dog sitting quite still in the corner of the room, at the far end. He is avoiding eye contact with anyone in the room and is choosing to stay as far away as possible. He is not feeling comfortable and is trying to be as inconspicuous as he can because he does not wish to interact. Another dog tries to befriend him. She approaches slowly in a curve but tries to sniff his face. He snaps at her, giving her a warning to back off. Immediately afterwards, he turns his head away and remains still. She hops away from the snap, gives him space, and sits a distance away, avoiding any eye contact and keeping her body parallel and side-on to him. She sits for a while, hoping this will calm the situation and he will realize she means no harm. He continues to keep his head turned, so she decides to get up and walk away, as it is clear he does not wish to interact, even with her calming signal of sitting. In this situation, there are two different sits occurring: the one dog sits to show he is no threat but wishes to be left alone, and the other dog sits in the hope of facilitating interaction by offering a calming signal that communicates no threat.
A puppy is trying to play with an older dog and jumping around in front of her. The older dog is not interested and has given the puppy a few head turns to try to calm the situation and show she does not wish to interact in this manner. He continues and is not listening. She walks away and sits down with her back to him, communicating even more loudly that she is not willing to interact with him until he calms down.

These are just a few examples; there may be many more. Start observing to see if you can notice any sitting 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 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, 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

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.

Displacement behaviour in dogs

by Martha Knowles | Jul 10, 2017 | Dog Body Language

Displacement behaviour in dogs

Displacement behaviours are normal behaviours that seem displaced and are displayed 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. These behaviours are a reflection of the dog’s inner state rather than conscious communication. However, depending on the context and interpretation, some dog body language that is classified as displacement behaviour could also be used as direct communication, or could be classified as unconscious communication/response due to stress. Therefore it is vital to observe all body language displayed, circumstances, individuals involved, and environment before offering interpretations.

The particular body language that is used for communication or could potentially be classified as displacement behaviour, depending on interpretation, includes sniffing the ground, a shake off, a lip lick, and a yawn. I classify the lip lick and yawn as lower level displacement behaviours and very rarely refer to them as displacement. My preference is to interpret them as a stress response in certain contexts. I have chosen to add them to the list as some dog behaviour professionals may classify them as displacement, depending on the context.

Here are three differing interpretations of a lip lick, depending on context: A dog may give a few lip licks as an unconscious stress response if he feels uncomfortable, for instance if he is sitting at a vet’s office. Alternatively, a dog may directly communicate discomfort or try to calm the situation down by offering a lip lick as a calming signal to the person/dog he is interacting with. The lip lick can also be seen as displacement behaviour due to some internal conflict; for example, a dog is given the cue to ‘stay back’, and when asked to do so, he offers a lip lick. He may be offering the lip lick due to feeling conflicted because he would rather move forward. Some may interpret this as displacement and others may interpret it as a slight stress response.

If displacement behaviours are occurring frequently, it is worth keeping a 24-hour diary noting the daily activities of your dog, including rest, and the occasions when the displacement behaviour occurred. Keeping a diary will provide an overview of daily routines and might help you to see if there is a particular event, sequence or routine that sets off the behaviour. Maintaining accurate notes in the diary of your household and dog’s activities gives an opportunity to analyse and spot areas that may be out of balance. If you are experiencing serious displacement behaviours, it is best to consult a qualified dog behaviourist, who will assess the situation, give you an accurate overview, and provide ongoing support.

Here is a list of some of the possible displacement behaviours:

biting the lead
scratching
mouthing (mouthing peoples hands, legs or clothing)
mounting/humping
picking up things to rag
chewing
rolling on the ground
licking or chewing body parts
dog checking his/her uro-genital area
hyped-up running/zooming around
hyperactivity
scratching the ground with back legs
sniffing the ground
shake off
lip lick
yawn

Here are a few examples of situations where some dogs have shown displacement behaviour:

Two people are chatting on a path in the park. The woman who is chatting to her friend has her dog standing next to her on lead. A jogger runs down the path directly towards them. The dog does a lip lick followed by a head turn. He then turns his whole body away from the approaching jogger. The woman is distracted by her conversation with her friend and does not realize her dog is communicating discomfort through body language. After the jogger passes, the dog suddenly drops to the ground and starts rolling on his back. The woman is not aware that the fast, direct approach of the jogger has caused her dog to displace some anxiety by rolling. She thinks her dog is just being silly.
A dog in a shelter picks up his blanket and starts ragging, spinning the blanket around furiously whenever the volunteers pass his kennel with dogs they are taking out for a walk. There is a lot of activity, with dogs passing quickly down the corridors and past the kennels, causing all the dogs to bark. All this noise and frenetic atmosphere affects the stress levels of this shelter dog, causing the dog to show displacement behaviour.
An adolescent dog goes on a walk with her guardian. They do a long walk through the woods, as the guardian has read that burning off energy helps to keep a dog calm. His young dog seems to struggle to settle in the evenings. Halfway through the walk, the young dog starts biting and tugging the lead. It really becomes difficult for the guardian to hold the lead, and if his hand is in the way, the dog mouths it. This is frustrating for the guardian, who expected a calm walk in the woods. Instead, these longer walks seem to have the opposite effect, with his dog appearing hyper and exhibiting this new mouthing behaviour. Perhaps this walk is not suitable for this dog, or there may be other factors contributing to this behaviour. It depends on the individual, and a further holistic investigation would be necessary to assess the influences for the displacement behaviour.
A dog that has suffered abuse in the past is taking time to acclimatize and build trust with new people. He is normally introduced to new people by known people. If he is left alone too soon or introduced too fast to strangers, he starts humping their legs and then mouthing people’s arms, showing his anxiety.
A person has let her dog off lead in the park. She looks at her watch, realizing she is running late and tries to call her dog quickly in order to leave the park. He takes his time coming over, and she becomes frustrated and calls again, raising her voice in her frustration. Calling the dog’s name more loudly does not seem to help, as he has now stopped and is sniffing the ground. This might be a calming signal offered by the dog because he is not comfortable with the person’s tone of voice and he wishes to calm his guardian. Or it could be displacement behaviour in response to the pressure the dog might be feeling from his guardian.
A few people are visiting for a social occasion. The people have just arrived and are gathered in the doorway, exchanging greetings joyfully. The family dog walks off to his toy bucket and picks up a teddy bear. He starts walking around with it in his mouth and shakes it about. The dog may be feeling some unease due to the activity of people arriving and the noise this has caused. He is displacing some of the anxiety/excitement on his toys.
A puppy is attending puppy class with her guardian. As the class progresses, the puppy’s movements get faster. She is panting, does a few lip licks, and keeps sitting frequently to scratch her neck with her back leg. The guardian is feeling a little frustrated as it is difficult to keep the puppy’s attention for long. The puppy may be experiencing some stress and may find this class a bit overwhelming. She is showing some displacement behaviour by scratching her neck frequently. The dog trainer asks the guardian to step out of the class for a few minutes and let the puppy have a sniffing break outside. The scratching behaviour seems to subside as the puppy potters around outdoors, away from the activity of the hall.
While walking in the suburbs with his guardian, a dog that is uncomfortable meeting unknown dogs is approached by an off lead dog. This dog slows her pace and curves round the dog with the guardian. Both dogs freeze for a couple of seconds with their bodies facing three quarters away from one another and their heads turned away. The dog that is not comfortable seems quite tall; his ears are up, and he does quick head turns. The off lead dog tries to slowly curve round the rear end of the uncomfortable dog, but he jumps away quickly, still facing the off lead dog, and then freezes whilst wagging his tail very quickly. She tries again and he jumps away a little further. She realizes that he is uncomfortable and decides to walk away. This gives the guardian an opportunity to walk away with her dog too. After the guardian has walked away with her dog, he stops and turns toward the off lead dog, which is now in the distance. He scratches the dirt with his back legs and lets off a few barks. The dog may be displacing some of the tension from this unexpected meeting by scratching. Normally the action of scratching with back legs would be used when scent marking and when going to potty but in this context the action seems displaced.

These are just a few examples; there may be many more. As discussed below, interpretations such as the above examples should not be attempted without careful observation and consideration of all aspects of the situation.

Want to learn more about the potential effects of stress on dogs?

To understand the possible effects of stress, I would recommend reading ‘Stress in Dogs’ by Martina Scholz & Clarissa von Reinhardt. Links to the book can be found on the resources page.

Stress in Dogs, Martina Scholz, Clarissa von Reinhardt The book gives an overview of the physiology of stress and explains some of its symptoms and how they can manifest as behaviour or health issues. The main section includes a comprehensive survey assessing the living conditions of 224 dogs. Interestingly, most of the participants in the survey had more than average involvement with dogs and were practicing dog trainers or veterinary advisors. The survey really highlights the patterns that start emerging and provides an insight into areas that may be out of balance. You are able to take the survey yourself and compare your results to the survey results and averages. Dispersed through the book are case studies, which help to expand your understanding of how dogs show stress. It is a fantastic book that explains the scientific aspects, gives a comprehensive overview of the symptoms and effects of stress on your dog, and helps you make all the relevant connections on the topic.

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

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.