How To Decipher Your Dog's Communication Methods

You've probably realized that your human - dog communication skills can have a drastic impact on your relationship. One of the problems with this relationship is that learning to communicate is usually a one-way street. Many of us do everything in our power to get our dogs to understand and obey us yet we ignore our own training.

In other words, we expect our dogs to learn our language but we neglect to learn theirs. It is time to take a look at dog communications from his perspective.

Our first inclination is to apply our own thinking when interpreting a dog's actions. If the dog is ignoring you, you might think that he is just rebellious or mad at you. When he disobeys a command, you consider that he is probably being stubborn. When he is destructive, you think he is angry at you for something we might or might not have done.

First, realize that dogs do not have that capability. They are not vengeful and they do not hold grudges. They live in the moment, which means that the only thing they are focused on at a given time is whatever is happening then.

This is the first lesson in how to understand your dog and how he communicates.

Dogs communicate vocally and with certain body postures. Being dogs, they assume that we understand what they are saying when they bark or stand a specific way. Most of the time, we have absolutely no idea what the dog is trying to say. In fact, we might think that they are barking just because they can.

When a dog barks, you can believe that he has something to say. If you listen closely, you will notice that your dog has different ways of barking. It is your job to determine what triggers each type of bark.

One very common misunderstanding by owners involves the bark a dog makes when he is protecting his territory. When a stranger passes, he will bark offensively to warn the intruder and to let you know that someone is approaching. An uninformed owner will instruct the dog to stop without recognizing the message. If you yell at your dog at that time, he will continue barking because he thinks you're getting in on the action.

A more appropriate response from you is to praised the dog for a job well down. Often, this is all the dog needs for him to quiet down.

Growling is another way your dog warns the intruder not to come any closer. You might think that this is bad behavior, but consider what message he might be trying to convey. A frustrated dog will growl and show his teeth and it is up to you to find out what is wrong so you can address it.

Other signs that your dog is communicating can be seen in his eyes, how he holds his ears, how he stands, if this hair is raised on his back and how he holds his mouth and head, and many more clues that cannot be handled in one article.

As you can see, human and dog communication goes both ways. The more you come to understand one another, the better your relationship will become.

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