Understanding Humans, from a Beagles Point-of-view

Conscientious dog owners of Beagles and other breeds will want to know what's eating the dog when it sends out the odd woof, or growl, or bay. After all, who knows if if feels something bad, or if it saw something that needs immediate attention, or if there's somebody important about to ring the doorbell?

Things are a bit more complicated because the reverse seem not to hold water; dogs do take pains to tell us that we're doing something that either makes them happy or peeve them. Problem is, how do we know we're doing the right thing? The solution: observe pack behavior and see what human actions stick out like a glaring eye sore. And now, how do dogs see human actions we use day to day, to the point of taking for granted how animals see them?

Hugs
For some dog owners, their dogs see a hug differently, and not as a sign of affection at all. To a dog, the higher one's status rank in a group is, the more that that member is entitled to space. So a human hug is for them an invasion of space. Moreover, only lower members of the pack give space (sometimes, their own space) to the higher members to recognize authority. How the bodies are positioned also mean much to the dog. The one on top during the hug is the alpha (which is where the dog would rather be, given the choice). So this all leads to the fact that every time a person bends down to hug, the dog sees that the human is the alpha because he or she is on top, and is invadinbg their space.

But far from spoiling what is a bond between friends, all this is meant to help you to be one step ahead of your dog's emotions. It is alright to hug a dog, so long as it is familiar to you, the dog is calm and in a submissive state of mind, and you are giving it affection at a time when you are composed and in a positive mood. If this is the case, the dog also is happy since it enjoys the warmth you are transmitting.

Do you still want to know how your dog will want you to hug it? Try this the next time around: turn your body sideways, do not look the dog in the eye, and give the dog the chance to be familiar with ouy by smelling you. All those are non-confrontational ways of greeting a dog in dog language.

Space
Let's say you just corrected your Beagle for some bad behavior. It's likely that in response, the dog slinks out of the room, or avoids looking at you directly because it is feeling down. Some people think twice about a dog's "hurt" feelings, and even try to go through the motions of befriending the dog.

But what exactly happened anyway? If you tell firmly your dog something and he turns his head and walks out of sight, the dog is actually saying that you are right and is accepting you as its alpha, or boss. From the point of view of dogs, giving space or the avoidance of direct eye contact are indicators of submissive attitudes. Furthermore, it could even be a compliment that your Beagle training (totally essential for this itchy-footed breed) is paying off. A human making amends with a dog which has indicated submission only confuses the dog.