Yawn – Dog Body Language

by Martha Knowles | Jul 30, 2016 | Dog Body Language

Yawn – Dog Body Language

There are times where a yawn is just a yawn, for instance at times when a dog may be tired or just waking up, but there are also occasions where yawns are offered outside such situations and are actually part of dog communication. The yawn can be a calming signal used as negotiation, showing that the dog is feeling uncomfortable with a situation. In other situations it may be a sign of stress.*

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

A dog sitting on the ground is approached by a person front-on; the person leans over and starts scratching the dog with both hands quite roughly. The dog offers a few lip licks whilst doing a slight head turn. As those body language signals were ignored by the human, the dog may offer a yawn as well. She is deliberately offering calming signals with the hopes of defusing the situation, trying to communicate that she is not comfortable with being touched and having her space invaded.
It is a busy noisy dog class. The dog that you are working with in the dog class is panting, his movements seem faster and he seems restless. There are moments when other dogs in the class may start barking, and his ears go back while he scans the environment with eyes looking slightly enlarged and wide. You start noticing that he seems to be yawning a lot; the yawns seem short and exaggerated as if he is just stretching the jaw. In this instance the dog may be finding the whole atmosphere in class a bit overwhelming and stressful. This is shown with the combination of multiple yawns and other body language that is exhibited.

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

*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.

Head Turn – Dog Body Language

by Martha Knowles | Jul 4, 2016 | Dog Body Language

Head Turn – Dog Body Language

A head turn can be overt, where the dog turns her head to the side fully, or at other times it can be subtle, with a slight turning of the head or averting of gaze. The head turn can be used as a polite gesture to communicate goodwill in a greeting between two dogs. In other circumstances, a head turn and averting of gaze can be seen as a gesture by the dog to calm a situation down and indicate that there is no threat. Direct gaze can be seen as threatening, or when used with a freeze (at times the freeze can be ever so slight and quick), is seen as a warning to the other party in dog body communication terms. Depending on the context, the head turn could also be used as a calming signal to show discomfort or to communicate that the individual does not wish to continue the interaction.

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

Dogs very commonly give head turns when you are trying to take a photo of them. I am sure many dog guardians have experienced this and been frustrated by the difficulty of trying to get a photo of their dog looking directly into the camera. The head turn may be offered as a calming signal, as the dog may be feeling uncomfortable about you looming over him in a front-on stance, giving focused attention while you have a weird device in your hand.

A young pup approaches an adult dog. Being a pup, she approaches a bit excitedly and in a wiggly manner, jumping up and mouthing at the adult dog’s face. The adult dog freezes with his ears pushed a bit to the side, his mouth closed and his body slightly stiffened, and he does a head turn. In this instance, the adult dog is using the head turn as a calming signal and is communicating that he would prefer a calmer polite approach. It is vital for young dogs to learn and listen to these signals to hone polite communication skills as they mature.

Depending on his tolerance and patience and the situation he is placed in, the adult dog may use louder language if the head turn is ignored. He might turn his whole body or his back towards the pup or walk away to calmly communicate with the pup. If his patience is pushed, there could be a quick moment of direct eye contact as a warning, a lip curl and then maybe a reprimand like a growl or snap. Sometimes this eye contact is given together with a slight head turn; you will see a freeze, and even though the head is turned away ever so slightly, the eyes will turn towards the pup, creating what is termed whale eye – showing the whites of the eye.

Two unknown dogs meet for the first time and show slight curves in their bodies (shoulders ever so slightly curved away from each other), ears slightly up a little to the side, soft, almond-shaped eyes, and tails wagging a little bit fast (at just above back line). Both of the dogs do head turns in quick succession, avoiding eye contact, and then slowly curve round each other to sniff behind. Then they slowly move away from each other and sniff the ground nearby. The head turns in this instance are not necessarily intended to end the interaction but rather indicate that the dogs are negotiating a peaceful greeting. Although both may be a bit unsure of each other, as revealed by the ears being up, the fast movements of the tails and the head turns, the dogs are trying to be very courteous with one another while showing a hint of trepidation. (Please note for dog to dog greetings – look at the context and complete body language. Interpretation may vary depending on context).

One dog is lying on the ground chewing something tasty, and another dog wishes to pass him. The dog that is passing has a bit of distance and slowly comes nearer to the dog lying on the ground. This dog stops chewing, freezes over the item and gives a moment of direct eye contact to the approaching dog. The dog that is trying to pass now stops a slight distance away, sits down and starts offering head turns, averting the gaze of the other dog. In this instance, the approaching dog is offering the head turn as a calming signal to say that he is no threat and does not wish for any conflict.

Two dogs are asked to sit in close proximity to each other in a dog obedience class. Both the dogs sit and seem to be avoiding any direct eye contact with each other by turning their heads in opposite directions from each other. This may look like the dogs are not communicating, but they are actually saying a lot. Both dogs feel uncomfortable being placed in this awkward social situation with another unknown party and are trying to use the head turn as a calming signal communicating they wish no harm and do not wish to interact.

A person leans over a dog to pet him. The dog does a head turn then a lip lick. The dog is using the head turn as a calming signal communicating that he is not comfortable and would prefer a hands-off greeting.

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

Lip Lick – Dog Body Language

by Martha Knowles | May 18, 2016 | Dog Body Language

Lip Lick – Dog Body Language

A lip lick can often be seen as a quick tongue flick. From a dog body language perspective, the lip lick could be a calming signal or a sign of stress^*, depending on the situation. There is a possibility that the lip lick may be offered unconsciously in the case of stress. The dog may also offer a lip lick deliberately and consciously as a body language signal to calm another party down or to show that it is not feeling comfortable.

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

A person leans over a dog to adjust its harness. The dog turns its head to the side and does a quick lip lick. This is to say that the dog is not feeling comfortable with the person leaning over it and invading its space.

A toddler is sitting near a dog on the floor, waving and making big hand gestures, gurgling and almost grabbing the dog’s face. The dog starts doing lip licks, showing it is feeling uncomfortable and experiencing some stress in the situation. It would be best to manage the situation and give the dog a safe, quiet place away from the toddler.

A person in a dog training class asks their dog to ‘sit’ in a stern voice. The dog does sit but turns its head away and offers a lip lick to calm the person down, as the speaker’s voice seemed a bit agitated. I have observed many dogs offering lip licks in training class; you would have to observe the dog’s whole body posture, the amount and frequency of signals, and the environment – lip licks in this situation could be due to the environment being busy and stressful, the person’s body language and tone of voice he or she is interacting with, or the dog’s anxiety in figuring out what is expected of it.

A person comes home to be greeted by an excited dog whose whole body is wagging; the dog’s eyes are squinty, its ears are back, it is sneezing and there are also some lip licks. In this case, the combination of body language and the lip lick might be due to the dog’s excitement.

A dog is walking in a new environment; the dog’s body movements get faster and more jittery; he scans the environment and starts doing more lip licks. This could mean the dog is a bit unsure and does not feel comfortable in this new environment.

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

What is meant by stress*?

When I mention stress, this does not necessarily imply negative emotion. I mean stress in the physiological sense. So a tongue flick 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.

Considering the effects of walking or running straight towards a dog

by Martha Knowles | Feb 26, 2016 | Dog Communication Stories

Considering the effects of walking or running straight towards a dog

A reflection on head-on approaches from a dog body language perspective – a reason to curve off the path occasionally.

A simple body language experiment – Are there any differences between how a dog and human may approach one another?

I remember the period of my life when I used to commute from the suburbs into the city every day for work. It was a short walk to the station from my house; many times, I had to walk briskly down the road, or even jog (with wet hair) in order to catch the train on time. A dog lived at the corner house, opposite the station. Every morning and evening, the dog would stand behind his house gate and bark at the hasty commuters passing by.

From a human perspective, walking straight down the pavement seems mundane, as though there is nothing to consider about the topic. We live in cities and towns where every day we walk straight down a pavement directly towards a flood of people. People jog past us, bicycles and skateboarders pass us; sometimes we are late and walk with haste, not noticing the world pass us by – these are humdrum, everyday occurrences in the human world and nothing unusual. If you see a dog ahead, have you ever considered the effect on the dog as you walk towards it and pass it on the pavement? How do things appear from the dog’s perspective? Are there any differences between how a dog and human may approach one another?

On one occasion, I had time to spare and was able to be carefree about getting to the station on time. I decided to try a body language experiment with the dog at the corner house. Seeing the dog ahead, ready and waiting to bark at me, I carried on walking calmly in a natural manner but slowed my pace. A little before I reached the garden wall of the house, I started to curve off the path a bit and turned my shoulder ever so slightly away from the dog. When passing the dog, I averted my gaze and turned my head away (I could still see the dog with my peripheral vision). No bark! I was overjoyed that the experiment worked and the small amount of courteous body language seemed to pay off in this instance. Some dogs may need even more space; every situation and dog is different, so what may be enough for one, may not be for another.

When dogs approach each other, they do not rush up, straight towards each other. This kind of behaviour may be typical of a puppy, adolescent or individual who has not honed the finer nuances of polite appropriate social greetings. Careful negotiation and communication start a distance away in dog communication. The dog may slow down, start curving, sniff the ground, assess how the other dog is responding to its body language, offer appropriate body language signals, and make a decision whether to approach (usually in a polite curve or subtle curving of the body), or it may choose to slowly meander away, choosing not to interact with this particular individual. It is also worth considering that dogs have a phenomenal sense of smell. I know my dog has picked up or followed a scent of a dog that is quite a distance away, so there is a possibility that information has been gathered from scent already at a distance.

Are head on approaches considered polite in dog body language terms?

My dog is not comfortable with other dogs and occasionally certain people. Because of this, I try to avoid or offer a bit more distance from dogs and some people on walks, to help him cope with the situation. Sometimes things don’t go to plan, but I try my best. In the case of a dog approaching, I will change direction or cross the road, depending on the situation and the space necessary to allow my dog to deal with the situation. I would avoid approaching another dog head-on with my dog. My choice of avoiding may seem odd or unfriendly to some people, but it actually is very polite and the friendly thing to do from a dog communication point of view. I have had a few occasions when people continue to walk directly at me with their dogs or even decide to follow me and cross the road to approach directly (though I have deliberately turned my back on them). I find this behaviour odd. In human culture, too, turning one’s back would be an obvious signal that you do not wish to interact. Based on the experiences they have had with their own dogs, people may feel they have friendly dogs and there is no need for avoiding, but they cannot be certain that the other dog has had the same experiences.

Even for “friendly” dogs, walking directly towards another dog is impolite and awkward from a dog communication perspective, and such behaviour may not actually be considered that friendly, especially from a strange dog that they have never met before. Sure, there are some dogs that seem to tolerate this, but there are many that struggle. Slight curving either of the body or approach, along with other body language signals would be more appropriate. There are also dogs who may need space (DINOS) and prefer no approach at all. Funnily enough, I have looked back at a person who was hot on my tail with a supposedly “friendly” dog. I could see their dog expressing the opposite emotion with its body language, showing that they would rather not approach, but the person was unaware of the subtle body language his dog was showing. It is also a strange expectation that a dog should meet with every strange dog that he bumps into on the street. We don’t walk up to strangers on the street and look to interact with every stranger, so why would we have that expectation for our dogs?

Dog walkers’ courtesy – consideration for on-lead dogs

It is also worth considering how it feels to be on a lead. Being on lead can make a dog feel trapped, as there is no escape or control over a situation. Imagine being tied to someone and relying on them to make all the choices! It really depends on the guardian’s skills and observations as to what situations the dog is placed in, so the dog is vulnerable to the guardian’s choices. It is advisable and courteous to avoid approaching another dog which is on-lead with your dog, unless you ask the guardian if you are allowed to approach and they give you permission to do so. I would especially not approach if the dog is on a short lead and unable to express its true feelings through body language, due to being restricted. Dogs use their entire body to communicate; if their movement is restricted with certain walking equipment, they may not be able to communicate fully. I would rather avoid an encounter if I cannot see the full capacity of communication occurring between dogs. It would also be unfair for an off-lead dog to approach an on-lead dog, as the on-lead dog has the disadvantage of no escape due to the lead and can feel threatened.

I am hoping it becomes common knowledge and courtesy between dog walkers not to allow the off-lead dog to approach an on-lead dog – it should be common dog walking etiquette. If you see a dog ahead, call your dog and put him on lead. Always communicate at distance with the other dog guardian. It is courteous to ask if you can approach with your dog, even if your dog is on-lead.

Going back to head-on approaches … How would you feel if a stranger ran towards you at full speed?

Would it make you feel uncomfortable? You would wonder what they wanted, what they were up to; it could seem quite threatening. What if they were wearing sneakers and lycra? I guess seeing it from that perspective, you would understand there is no threat – it is just a jogger out on a run. Dogs do not understand the association of lycra with exercise, and the fast movement directly towards them can seem scary and threatening.

From a dog’s perspective, a direct, speedy, front-on approach can be seen as threatening behaviour. Another dog might do this to threaten and intimidate, or they may be impolite with such an approach. If the other dog were trying to be polite, they would take their time and negotiate a slow approach and offer appropriate body language signals. Direct eye contact, staring and front-on body posture is also used to threaten and can be used as a warning to the other party.

So, seeing joggers, cyclists or skateboarders from a canine perspective might explain why there is such a reaction to them from dogs. If you are jogging or cycling and approaching a dog ahead, I would avoid racing directly past or towards it; this could frighten or threaten the dog, and there is a chance it might bite you out of fear. I thought this would be an appropriate opportunity to share Jessica Dolce‘s (creator of DINOS – Dogs In Need Of Space) humorous blog post, ‘How to Score a Dog Bite: The Joggers and Bikers Edition‘ as further reading.

The Dog Pulse project – measuring pulse rate of dogs with head on and curved approaches

Youtube video from the Dog pulse Project

There is an interesting project called the Dog Pulse Project where they measured the pulse rate of dogs with a person approaching the dog head-on in a straight line or approaching in a curve. The pulse rates of the dogs seemed to go up with the head-on approach as opposed to the curved one. Interesting project and gives some food for thought.

Observing body language – How comfortable is your dog feeling with an approach?

Sometimes dogs may choose to sniff the ground as there is a good scent, but in other instances it might be a calming signal showing they are no threat or displacement behaviour showing that they are not feeling comfortable – all depending on the circumstances. Observe the situations in which they start sniffing the ground. I have seen dogs slow down, stop and start sniffing, due to seeing something ahead that they might not feel comfortable with. It is worth observing, taking note and listening to your dog, trying to understand what they may be communicating.

My dog copes with passing certain people on walks on the street, but he may not cope with others. The people that he struggles with are generally men – particularly those wearing hats and sunglasses. He is also wary of people who move very stiffly (front on, stiff, staring approach), and unusual looking or loud, animated people. I watch my dog’s body language carefully; he is able to move freely and express his body language on a harness and loose lead. I observe his interest level; he may start looking a bit taller, his movements become slightly more jittery, his ears go up and forward, and his tail might start pushing forward. Generally his tail is up and curled over his back, so there is a very subtle difference, with the tail moving slightly more forward or up at the base. In the case of other dogs who normally carry their tails at the same level as their backs, the tail base change in height is more noticeable than it is in the case of a tail that is curled over the back.

The other body language that my dog may display to communicate that he is not feeling comfortable with the person ahead is that he slows down and starts sniffing the ground. If he is not feeling at ease at a substantial distance, it is likely that he will not feel more comfortable as we move closer, so I prefer to find another route and avoid the person ahead. I have seen many dogs that are not able to express their discomfort, as they are on a short lead, unable to even touch the ground with their noses and express natural body language signals like sniffing or curving. I have also seen dog handlers not realizing that their dog is communicating discomfort via body language signals. The dog handler gets frustrated, thinking their dog is acting stubbornly or disobediently by slowing down, stopping and sniffing the ground, when he is actually trying to communicate rather than being stubborn. It is important that the dog is able to express himself and his body language is listened to. Even if I pass people that my dog is able to cope with, I try to curve a bit and provide a barrier with my body to make my dog feel more comfortable when passing.

There is some fantastic footage demonstrating a dog’s discomfort with regards to a person running straight up to the dog on Turid Rugaas’ DVD ‘The Wee Signs of Dogs‘. If you forward to 33:19 in the video, a woman runs straight towards a dog. The dog shows some wonderful body language by first turning his head then his whole body away in response to this approach. Shortly afterwards, the dog shows some displacement behaviour by rolling on the ground, revealing how uncomfortable he felt with this direct fast approach. Displacement behaviour like biting the lead, biting clothing, humping, scratching or rolling can occur if the dog is put in situations that are too much for him. The behaviour indicates that he may not be coping, so it is worth observing your dog’s body language carefully to understand when he many need more support from you. The dog in the video was on a loose lead and able to show his discomfort through his body language. There are many dogs placed in situations they cannot cope with, that require them to ‘sit’ or ‘stay’ without allowing them to express their true feelings about the situation with body language or the choice to remove themselves. Giving dogs some choices by allowing them to avoid situations that they don’t have the skills to cope with is a much less stressful option for them.

Final round up – the dog’s perspective and human expectations

I hope this provides some understanding to the joggers, cyclists and skateboarders as to why dogs may react to them. Pavements may be straight, and our human perspective is to follow straight paths, but it is worth curving (even if it is very subtle) and going off the path occasionally, especially if you see a dog ahead. For dog guardians, observing the body language of the dog and providing support where needed may mean avoiding a particular environment or situation in some instances. Consider, too, how much pressure is placed on the dog to conform to human expectations. There are some great dogs that seem to tolerate these demands, but even with great dogs, it would be a friendly gesture to curve off the path. In the case of dogs that struggle to cope, I hope this provides some understanding on seeing matters from their perspective. For these dogs, streets can be a difficult environment to navigate. Your dog is not misbehaving; he is just being a dog and may need more support to cope with a human world and human perspective. Perhaps a quieter environment may be more appropriate. If you see a dog reacting, barking or lunging, please give them lots of space; do not continue to approach: cross the road, and curve away – a friendly gesture that will be appreciated by the dog and guardian.

Video footage of subtle dog body language

I will leave you with a short subtle video showing a dog curving on approach. At first you may watch it and think there is nothing going on, but if you watch it again, you will see the dog subtly curving to the right on approaching the person. You will also see some polite body language on approach; at 0:05 there is a head dip and head turn. At 0:10 you can see the dog’s body starting to curve very slightly as she starts to curve to the right on approach – another quick head turn. At 0:11 another head dip; the eyes are soft, slightly shortened and almond shaped. There is a soft gentle tail wag on approach. With the slight curve, this means the side of the dog’s shoulder is facing the person on approach rather than the front of her body. It is worth also noting the speed and pace in which she approaches.

Video Credit: Lisa Kanne from One on One Dog Training

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.