If you keep a dog at your house or just like to play with them whenever you see them in the street, you should know some signals that will help you to communicate with them better. They have feelings like humans and here some important strategies are listed out to make the bond between you and your dog closer.
1. Observe Your Dog
You should first of all understand its habits and movements which are very unique. Through this observation you will understand many things as by canine communication you will understand what he wants and respond to his problems. If you don’t notice what makes him unhappy he will show stressed and aggressive behavior. You should also teach him so he can understand the meanings of “no”, “sit”. In this way he can learn that you are his boss but you shouldn’t just say “sit” many times a day as it will be nonsense. You should say “sit” and then award him with his favorite food and your dog will do it eagerly over and over and become happier. While observing your dog do not forget to take account its species, as well, because there are some types that won’t accept your “classes” so eagerly and easily.
2. Understand the dog’s ear position
Dogs’ ears can express different feeling. If your dog’s ears are pricked straight up or just forward then he is very playful. He can also be very attentive to catching sounds and will always show curiosity. If his ears are flattened and are positioned against his head, it means that the dog is frightened from something. They can be also very close to his head which means that they are stressed and can show aggression. You can also come across a situation where your dog’s ears are a little bit back but not flattened. This is a sign of anxiety and means that your dog feels unhappy. You should take into account each position of his ear and behave accordingly in order to make them happier.
3. Never ignore his signs of aggression
If your dog is aggressive it will attack you or just fight with everything. In order to stop him you should recognize its warning signs and never let the situation get worse. Whenever your dog’s tail is lowered or just tucked between his legs, then he is anxious. Tail wagging will also mean that your dog needs your protection. Your dog will become aggressive when you try to disturb him while he is holding a bone. You should leave alone him that time otherwise it will attack you. Whenever your dog leans forward, then he will show a frantic manner, as well. The whites of his eyes will show that the dog is threatened. The signs of aggression of a dog are various and you should differentiate the levels of his tension to avoid his attacks and communicate in a friendly way.
4. Be attentive to your dog’s eye signals
As humans eyes show many things about his nature, the dog’s eyes also express much and you can understand many things. When your dog’s eyes are wide open, then he is feeling very happy and playful. When he stares at you, then it means he has a challenging manner that particular moment. His blinking eyes express his happiness and playful manner. Whenever you see your dog eyes are narrowed this will indicate that he feels aggressive and wants to attack. He will stare at you, as well, in the process of his aggressive manner. There will come time when your dog tries to avoid eye contact. This is a sign which shows politeness, respect or submission. Try to be very watchful to his eyes and you will understand that they tell you everything about your dog’s feelings.
5. Be attentive to your dog’s response to eye contact
When you stare at your dog he will be confused and feel uncomfortable. He feels threat from your look and tries to avoid it. But you should try to train him so that he can communicate with you when you stare at him. While training your dog you should always award him and train him in a positive way. When you are satisfied with his behavior then always show him that he has done the right thing. Dogs are highly reward based and you should reward your dog as much as you can, so he will do whatever you say. When your dog shows discomfort, then you should immediately stop what you are doing. In order to make him comfortable give him tons of treats.
6. Understand your dog’s posture
Your dog’s mood can be expressed through his body posture, as well. When he feels confident he will stand tall having its tail up and wagging it slowly. Its ears and eyes will also look relaxed. When he watches you and wags his tail slowly, it means that he is playful. Its rear can also be presented to you as an indication of trust, excitement and friendliness. If your dog raises his paw and touches to your knee, the he wants to get attention and asks for something. He expresses his wish to play with you or get his desired food from you. In this way your dog also makes a friendship with you and the communication between you and him becomes more lovely and easily.
7. Try to interpret his discomfort
You are the one to provide your dog with comfort and help. You should understand when he feels uncomfortable. If he is frightened he may cower or crouch down. This shows nervousness. When he raises one paw and keeps his body away from everything and everybody, then he is confused. If his head is tilted to one side, then this means he is listening to you very attentively. A slow and lowered tail wag will tell you that your dog is confused and waits for any explanation. But if his tail is lowered and still, then this sign indicates insecurity. If your dog feels threatened, then he may raise his hackles and he will appear larger than normal. Remember, a scared dog can even bite, so be careful when he raises its hackles.
8. Whines and whimpers are not the same
You should try to differentiate whines and whimpers. They have different meanings depending on the situation. When your dog is happy and excited he whines shortly which is accompanied by short barks, as well. Short whimpers are signs of anxiety. May be your dog is afraid of something, so try to calm him down. If he is anxious but not so much, then a low-pitched whine will be produced by him. But a high-pitched whine is something you should never ignore. It is a persistent whine which means that your dog really needs your attention. He is either very anxious or feels pain and severe discomfort. Never ignore his whines and whimpers so that you can help him whenever he needs it.
9. Understand why he howls
You should know the various reasons why your dog howls in order to respond him in the best way possible. A long howl is a sign of loneliness. If your dog is a new pet at your house, then he will howl at first. Whenever you become closer he will feel less lonely. But a short howl usually means that he is excited and wants to play with you. If your dog is bred to hunt, then he will also bay as baying is typical of hunting dogs. But a siren howl is his response to a noise. You would probably have noticed that your dog is very attentive to sirens going by your house. He may even howl at night in response to another dog howling that a human doesn’t listen at all.
10. Try to avoid unintentional signals
Dogs understand you to some extend but you should know that some of your gestures will cause him fear or distress while you can be unaware of it. Always remember that your dog learns from you and follows each of your steps. Your arm and gaze withdrawal may inform him that you don’t want to touch him anymore and your dog will be distressed from that fact. You may also yawn unintentionally, but whenever you do, he will go away from you very sad. This yawning can indicate that you don’t want to see him. Try to cover your yawn when you are with your dog, so that he won’t respond you so negatively. You should really take into account the fact that your habits will have great impact on them.
11. Be clear to your commands
You should always repeat your commands and use the same words so that the dog will get used to them and listen to you. Dogs always understand whether we are happy with them or not, whether we like them or ignore them. If you smile at him and tell him something in a happy tone, then he will know that he has acted very right. And if you correct him and get angry at him, he will also understand that he has done something wrong. While training him try to never forget about both correcting and smiling. Just remember that dogs often forget what they learn, so you should always train your dog. Just remember that you should be gentle to him and your communication with your dog will succeed.
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