Every time that your dog barks, whines, growls, yelps, and makes other attempts to converse with you, don’t you feel like you are missing out on so much of dog-talk? Dogs make noises to express their emotions, and every pet owner wants to understand them. A study has even gone on to say that dogs bark only for us humans and not to communicate with other canines. Not just with sounds, your dog tries to tell you many things through gestures and its body language too.
Thankfully, you are at the right place, and now you are about to learn how to interpret those signals your dog sends you. Brace yourself for a course in dog lingo which would bring you closer to your pet.
1. The Wide-Eye Look
You cannot deny that this is when your dog looks the cutest. When they stare at you with their big eyes, and you stare back into theirs, you can surely feel a strong connection. Your dog wants your attention, and you must give it some. A treat or a loving scratch or both should do the trick for you.
2. Wagging The Tail While Its Lowered
This is a happy gesture too. When you are doing things with your dog, playing catch or simply talking, you will notice its tail is lowered, and it wags it slowly. Your dog is intently watching you for a sign to do something. It all comes down to what you want to do.
3. Showing the Belly
A happy dog shows that it trusts you by lying on its back and showing you its belly. That is the cue for you that it wants to enjoy your cuddles and your love. Give it a good belly rub, and your dog would relax down there peacefully. Try thinking of yourself as a masseuse while you’re at it and have a great dog-parent bonding.
4. Squints and Blinks
This is also a good gesture as dogs often squint and blink faster when they are enjoying themselves with you. It just loves your pats and touches. But too much of squinting can turn out as something serious. Take it to the vet. If your much older dog squints in the sun, get it checked for cataracts.
5. Showing its Teeth
When any dog shows you its teeth, often in a mildly aggressive way, it wants you to back off. Dogs can get protective of their favorite toy or their food. Showing their teeth without snarling is a warning to you. But if your dog does that too often, visit a trainer for help.
6. Paw Signal
A dog does not know what a handshake is. So when it raises its paw and looks like it wants something, think about what it could need. Is it hungry or thirsty? Does it want something it can’t reach? Your dog wants to tell you, and you should listen.
7. Tail Up High
Dogs stick their tails up when they want to assert authority. Whenever dogs feel like they should protect or attack something, they raise their tails up straight. If your dog does that with you, it is probably confused about who should take charge. Calm your dog down and keep it under control.
8. Yawning
This is also a gesture in stressful situations for your dog. It does not necessarily mean that it is sleepy. Dogs also yawn when they are anticipating something good. Many dog owners have found that their dogs yawn when they are happy. So yawning could be a good thing too, depending on the situation.
