In our house, we think we know our dogs well. We spend untold hours simply observing them because we’re fascinated with their behaviour and we love their quirky little personalities. It’s clear that our dogs communicate with us all of the time. We certainly know when they want to play, when they want to go out and when they want to eat their CANIDAE dog food.
Even though we think we understand them fairly well, the truth is that they understand human communication far better than most of us understand dogs. However, communications that convey “I am uncomfortable” are important for us to be able to comprehend. The good news is, these signs are easy to spot once you know what you’re looking for. If you are not sure what to look for, it’s an important thing to learn.
As a responsible pet owner, you should be aware of what your pup is trying to communicate to you so you can treat the issue accordingly. When you don’t know what your dog is trying to say, you don’t know the appropriate response. For instance, some of the behaviors that dogs demonstrate when they are uncomfortable can look to humans like cute or loving behavior. In all reality, that behavior should be a warning sign that the dog is working hard not to come unraveled.
Canine Body Language 101
Since dogs can’t speak our language, they communicate in body language. Yes, your dog can bark, but just like in the human world, more is communicated through body language than through oral language. Dogs also have a completely different mindset and social structure than humans, so it’s important not to compare most of their behaviour to the things we would do.
One of the biggest signs that a dog is uncomfortable is when they turn away from the stimulation. They are not being cute or pouting; they turn their eyes or body in a different direction in an effort to avoid the stimulation. This should never be taken as a sign that the dog wants more stimulation. Your dog is not playing around. He or she does not want anything other than to avoid whatever is going on at the moment.
Facial Expressions
Dogs don’t have the same kind of facial expressions as humans. They even use their eyes differently. When humans are emotional or surprised, they may get a wide-eyed look about them. For us, this may be a good sign, but for dogs, it is the opposite. When you can see the whites around the iris of the eye, your dog is getting upset. They are not trying to be wide-eyed and adorable. They are trying to tell you that this needs to stop before he or she has to stop it for you. Other signs that communicate this same emotion may include licking the lips or puffing the cheeks.
Body Expressions
What do you do when you want something to stop? You might put your hand up. While your dog does not know this universal sign for stop, they might put their paw up when they are uncomfortable. They might also tuck their tail or keep their tail up and rigid without wagging it. Their hair might rise, especially along the ridge of their back. They might lunge, sniff without cause, try to get away from the situation, or scratch themselves when they normally wouldn’t. Even if these slight body expressions seem perfectly normal to you, pay attention. Notice what is going on around your dog and see if there is something or someone causing him concern.
Anxiety Leading In
Many times, a dog becomes anxious before he displays other, more undesirable behaviours. When humans get anxious, they tend to be unable to stand still or keep their hands still. They might fidget mindlessly, scratch themselves, or move around a lot. A dog will also do these things through scratching and sniffing. These are the signs of anxiety in your pup. They can also be warning signs that the dog is about to experience even worse feelings. You certainly don’t want your dog to experience stress and anxiety, but you also don’t want him to act out and potentially hurt himself, another dog or another person.
Remember that your dog loves you and wants to please you. He or she does not want to misbehave, so when their natural response conflicts with their training, it causes them serious amounts of anxiety. Take their behaviours as warning signs that you need to do something about the situation immediately. Just notice these small things and take action, change your dog’s circumstances or environment to remove the stress triggers. This will make both of your lives peaceful and more fulfilled.
By Langley Cornwell