LANGUAGE OF DOGS – How Dogs Communicate
Stress Signals – Stress is an arousal level
STRESS SIGNALS
- YAWNING – example in the car, take out, usually seen with lip licking or other signals
- PENIS CROWNING – can occur near food or other resources – puppies do this a lot
- Proximity to another dog or person – this may also happen in sequence
- SWEATY PAWS – you can feel wet footprint on the pavement
- LIP LICKING – usually happens with something invasive – this is different from anticipation of food – will see this as part of a sequence usually with dilated pupils (big eyes)
- STRESS VOCALIZATIONS high pitched whining with heavy, dry shallow panting
In order to accurately assess these canine signals, we must always look at the context
For example, a dog will stress when at the groomers, at the vet, or with new people in the house.
COMMON STRESS SIGNALS:
- CHUFFING, Cheek puffing
- TEETH CLICKING – arousal
- DILATED (big) PUPILS – in well lit areas the pupils are HUGE – see less color of the eye
- WHALE EYE – form of hard eyes – see white of the eye, usually followed by a bite – whale eye has dilated pupils
- DOG WON’T EAT
- URINATION – submissive – squirt, squirt, squirt
- EARS PINNED BACK – Bunny Ears
- FREEZES – increased respiratory, mouth closes – comes with a growl – whole body stops – you feel the freeze – is the final thing, the final warning before the bite – almost like they hold their breath
- PACING
- SLOW to little movement, see dilated pupils and licking lips
Sometimes we need to look at the lack of behavior
- TUCKED or low tail – need to take into consideration the breed of the dog when evaluating tail carriage
- STIFF POSTURE –
- EXCESSIVE SHEDDING
- STRETCHING – as part of a sequence can be stress
- TREMBLING –
Will see sequence – many of these together -vocalizations, dry pant, lip flicking, ears back, submissive licking, trembling, pupil dilation
- MUSCLE RIDGES – around eyes and sides of mouth
- UROGENITAL CHECKOUT – stress – example – when restrained
- EXCESSIVE SALIVATION
- SHALLOW or fast breathing – holding breath -may also see ears back, dilated pupils, dog is not waggy
CALMING SIGNALS – signals of non-aggressive intent
Dogs offer and return these to other dogs – some dogs are not good communicators due to social deficits and genetics –
- LOOK AWAYS – is a cut off signal
- PAW RAISES
- SNIFFING – usually comes in context with other behaviors
- SNEEZING – also part of a sequence, ex: sneeze, shake off, sneeze, shake off
Dogs will sneeze when really excited and they are loving what you are doing – you are playing your dogs favorite game – sneeze, play bow, sneeze – when it is sneeze, sneeze, sneeze, dog is having a ball – loving what you are doing
- SCRATCHING
- BLINKING
- SHAKING OFF – most common – dogs will do this with each other
- MOVING IN AN ARC ON APPROACHES
- SITTING OR LYING DOWN
Most common sequence: yawning, blinking, lip licking
DISTANCE INCREASING SIGNALS – used to gain social distance – you must intervene as soon as you see these
- MARKING TERRITORY – that’s mine, she’s mine
- HARD EYES
- SHOWING TEETH – if dog shows molars is less of a threat (wider) – C Shape – I’m going to nail you – frontal agonistic pucker – from top of the dogs head the eyes slant down
- EARS ALERT AND FORWARD
- TENSE BODY OR FACE – different than little movement – usually intent on something
- HEIGHTENED POSTURE – HEIGHT SEEKING – STATUS SEEKING dogs are seeking distance increase – we tend to blow this behavior off but it is serious
- MUZZLE PUNCH – dog jumps up and goes right for the face and then down the arm – this is height seeking and status seeking
- LOWERD HEAD AND NECK – this position is most seen in Resource Guarders – dogs will lower the head and neck – head and neck will be lower than the rest of the body
- EXCESSIVE BARKING – fast, low, sharp go away, go away, go away – attempt to gain social distance
Katherine Smith
Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, (International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants), Professional Member APDT, (Association of Pet Dog Trainers), AKC Canine Good Citizenship Evaluator, Animal Behavioral College Mentor
