Shake Off – Dog Body Language

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

Shake Off – Dog Body Language

A shake off is when the dog shakes as if he is wet and shaking water off his body, but as he is completely dry, the shake off may seem out of context. In this instance it is part of dog body language. You may notice the shake off after an event that may have been taxing or stressful^* for the dog. It is almost as if it signifies a break from whatever had just occurred, allowing the dog to reframe the event, pause and move on from it.

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

Two dogs are playing with each other; the play gets a bit more animated. There is a slight pause; the dogs manage to break off from play; both shake off and then move away from each other, ceasing play. The play may have escalated and gotten a bit too rough, resulting in a rise in adrenaline levels. The shake off would show in this instance that the play might have become too heated. Thankfully, the dogs were able to pause and resettle themselves.

Two dogs approach each other; the greeting passed without incident, but both the dogs may have been a bit tentative of each other during the interaction. Their movements may have been rather fast and jittery, showing their slight apprehension. As the dogs walk away from each other, each does a shake off.

A scent on a bush seems very interesting to your dog while out on a walk. He stops and sniffs for a long while, investigating each leaf carefully, and seems enthralled with this particular scent. He even tastes the leaf and starts a tonguing response, which may look as though your dog is swilling wine around in his mouth at a wine tasting, but he is actually using his Vomeronasal organ to analyse the scent. After this particularly intense sniffing session, he does a shake off and then continues with his walk.

A dog may be hugged by a person. The dog communicates with some body language, such as whale eye, lip lick, head turn and yawn to communicate she would prefer not to be hugged and did not enjoy her space being invaded. After the person lets go of her, she walks away and does a shake off.

You are about to take your dog out for a walk. While you attempt to leash your dog, he is excited by the leash coming out and is jumping about; he may bark a bit. After having his leash clipped on, he does a shake off; this may be due to his getting hyped up by seeing the leash.

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

Paw Lift – Dog Body Language

by Martha Knowles | Oct 1, 2016 | Dog Body Language

Paw Lift – Dog Body Language

A paw lift is when one paw is lifted ever so slightly off the ground. It is different to a paw lift when stalking or hunting, which can be quite rigid; this paw lift can seem a bit more tentative. Depending on the rest of the dog’s body language and context, it is generally used when the dog may be feeling conflicted, anxious or anticipating something.

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

This was an observation of a dog that had not been socialized much with people. She was not comfortable approaching and was quite fearful. She would create space; her body was low and hunched over, her tail curled under, and her mouth was closed. Tension was seen in her face muscles and her eyes were quite wide. Her head was turned away and her ears were scanning and listening for sound, alternating between being back and then to the side. Along with the body language, she lifted her paw a few times while standing in this tense pose. The paw lift, along with all the other body language, paints a picture of a dog that is fearful and feeling very uncertain in this situation.

One dog is approached by another dog. The approaching dog walks into the other dog’s space, standing quite close, with a stiff square body, head held high and ears slightly forward; his whole body seems stiff when moving, and he gives a bit of direct eye contact. This approach is a bit too direct and it seems to unsettle the other dog; it is difficult to walk away as she tries to keep her eye on the dog that has approached and taken space so quickly. She does a slight head turn and a paw lift. She is showing she is uncomfortable with this interaction.

A person is asking a dog to sit. This is taking a while and the dog does not seem to be responding. The person tries to lure the dog into a sitting position, moving his hand closer to the dog’s head. The dog takes a step back and does a paw lift. The dog may feel a bit of pressure and be uncomfortable with the person’s hand moving into her space along with this unknown request to sit.

A dog is sitting and observing his guardian, who might be preparing something. As the dog watches with wide eyes and ears forward, he does a paw lift. This dog may be anticipating something and showing a bit of discourse in trying to figure something out.

There is a loud, sudden noise. The dog freezes, his eyes widen, his ears go up and are alert, and he does a paw lift. The sudden noise was unsettling; he shows his discomfort by doing a paw lift whilst he tries to figure out what the sound was.

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

Splitting behaviour in dog communication

by Marilyn Aspinall | Sep 2, 2016 | Dog Communication Stories

Splitting behaviour in dog communication

Some years ago “Gentleman” Gus joined my family. He was a lovely, large mixed breed – probably German shepherd, collie plus other “unknowns”- who had spent far too many of his eight or nine years in rescue kennels and was labelled as dog aggressive. Happily for him and other residents of the shelter, the manager took part in a Sheila Harper course, where she learned (among other things) how dogs communicate and use body language. Applying this to the way animals were assessed and rehabilitated in the shelter changed so much for the dogs in her care, and, by the time Gus and I met, he was well on his way to becoming a first rate canine ambassador.

Dogs use a range of behaviours when relating to us as well as to other animals. I wonder whether you ever spend time watching a group of dogs at play? It can be very informative, entertaining and, for those who have some knowledge of canine communication, occasionally it can be rather worrying.

Often it may look like our pets are having great fun, but, depending on various factors, including personalities, skills and experience of the participants, over exuberant play which goes on for too long can present the perfect opportunity for a dog to learn how to bully or perhaps further develop that tendency. If the activity is a regular occurrence, not only does the bully get more proficient but the dog who is being “picked on” may well become fearful and perhaps start to display aggression to ward off the attention of any other dog.

It is not uncommon to see a couple of dogs engaged heavily in play and perhaps a third one that is hovering in the vicinity, occasionally diving in to the melee. For those not familiar with canine communication, it is easy to assume that they are having a good time; just being dogs. Even the most loving owners may miss distress signals and adrenalin driven pushiness that is on display right in front of them. Fortunately, dogs are much better at assessing situations, and that third dog may well be doing his or her best to bring the interaction to a safe conclusion.

Gus, splitting behaviour dogs, canine communication, dog social skills

Gus often came with me on group walks, where his good social skills helped maintain a generally peaceful atmosphere. On one memorable occasion, the established group of dogs was joined by a ten month Labrador. He was allowed off lead almost from the outset and, with typical puppy ways, rushed around introducing himself to everyone. The mature dogs largely ignored him and got on with their walk but a fourteen month Cocker spaniel responded to his overtures and they began to play. This went on for several minutes with noise and energy levels rising. Both owners put their dogs on lead, but the lab constantly pulled to get to the spaniel so his owner unleashed him. The spaniel owner did likewise and the wrestling and barking kicked off again. Once more the adolescents went back on lead for a short time before they were set free to play a third time.

It was evident that the spaniel was not enjoying this degree of rough and tumble, but his owner did not seem to realise his dog was asking for help to get him out of the situation. I was aware that Gus had been observing the youngsters for a little while, and he clearly decided that enough was enough. He calmly and slowly walked across to the wriggling, squealing pair and, picking his moment as they briefly drew apart, he bent forward so that he was between them, tucked his head between his forelegs and placed the top of his skull parallel to and almost touching the ground, forming a most effective barrier. He remained in this ungainly position for several seconds as the pair of youngsters looked on for a moment then turned away. Gus stood up and the lab bounced towards the spaniel again but Gus just shifted his position slightly, pup thought better of it and ambled back to his owner.

For the remainder of the walk, the lab and spaniel were kept on lead and well away from each other. If Gus thought play time was over, who were we to argue?

Previously, I had seen videos of dogs using splitting up to diffuse potentially explosive situations and had assumed that the action was always done at speed. In fact, I remember my lurcher, Jep, dashing between a visiting Jack Russell terrier and our tiny, blind cat, which literally stopped the J.R. in his tracks and prevented a chase up the garden developing (as well as maintaining feline dignity!). Seeing Gus adapt the technique to suit the relative size and situation of these two adolescents was quite remarkable and achieved the desired result with no fuss.

Aren’t dogs amazing? They have a huge range of abilities and can teach us so much if we are prepared to learn.

Marilyn Aspinall

Author

Dogs have been much loved members of my family for around fifty years but it was only in the mid 1990s, when street stray Tanna arrived (full of fears and phobias) that I came to realise you could not simply apply obedience training to combat anxiety and stress based behaviour. Looking for other ways to help this neurotic, hyperactive young lady, I attended a seminar hosted by Sheila Harper which introduced me to the concept of canine communication and Calming Signals. Subsequently, I became a member of Sheila’s “team” and, since around 2004, have supported her endeavours, and those of colleague Winny Boerman, to educate dog owners and people working with dogs to attain a greater understanding of the canine species.

Over the years, helping on courses and seminars has given me the chance to enjoy observing and getting to know a great many fantastic dogs (plus their owners!) while extending and developing my own knowledge. It has been a privilege to see people deepen and, in some instances, repair relationships with their dogs as a result of seeing things from the canine point of view so that they work with their dog rather than depend upon commands and control.

Employing this ethos has enabled me to reach a good understanding of Jorge, the eight year old flat coated retriever who is my current canine companion. He was quite a troubled boy when he first came to live with me four years ago and, given the natural sensitivity and excitability of the breed, initially had me wondering what I had let myself in for. However, his endearing personality always came through and, with mutual understanding and respect, a rewarding partnership has evolved.

It is my hope that many more people come to enjoy similar outcomes through owners and carers learning to appreciate their dogs’ silent conversation.

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.