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Dog Training – Dog Body Language
What is my dog saying?
My Dog Buddy
Most dog bites are avoidable. In fact most dog altercations are avoidable. Dogs communicate their state of mind, but we as humans often don't know how to read them. We speak different languages. Humans have words to communicate what we think or feel. I've yet to have such a conversation with a dog (one that I will admit to anyway). But a dog has it's own way of communicating. Learning how to read & understand them will make whatever exposure you have to dogs, that much better. If you have a fear of them, it can be tremendously helpful. Above is my dog Buddy. He is an American Staffordshire Terrier, which is considered one of the "Pit Bull" breeds. I will try to use him in the photos & videos that I can so that you see the same behavior, in the same dog.
Doggie posture - what is the dog saying?
Playful Dog
Dogs are inherently very space conscious. So are human beings. If you were in a crowded elevator with someone standing very close to you it would be ok in your mind, because it is not unusual considering the situation. However, if you were in the same elevator, with only two people, the same person, in the same space, would set off alarm bells in your head. Something is not right & you would act accordingly. In fact, if you thought you were in serious danger you would attempt to do the same thing all animals do, "fight or flight." Being an animal, a dog will have the same response. However, it will also almost always warn you before it gets to that point, you just missed the signs. Dog's communicate a lot to each other with body language. They will do the same for you! Hopefully this article will shed some light on what a dog is telling you with it's body language and you can avoid any altercations. This is not an "all encompassing" dictionary of dbl (dog body language). If you have any questions, we'll see if we can help.
We'll start off with a very simple one and hopefully the one you run into most often. It's called the "play bow" (pictured above). It's the dog's way of saying he wants to play, an invitation to partake in a game of chase, fetch or whatever that particular dog likes to do. You will often see it displayed by two friendly dogs at play. The downward action is usually quick, & the dog may immediately take off, or stay in that position & really pile on the suspense. But if a dog is displaying these signs toward you, the most likely danger you are in is that of being jumped on by an excited dog.
Dominant Dog
Dog Dominant Posture
This is the dominant forward position. See how the dog is standing tall, leaning forward, weight over his front feet and tail up and tense. The dog is essentially "puffing" himself up, look as large as possible. He is in "establishing mode", unafraid of whatever he is looking at. Feeling very confident. If you could see his face the corners of his mouth would be pulled forward (the corners of a dog's mouth are called "commissures" and they indicate a lot) and his gaze would be assertive and unafraid. If a dog is afraid it will shrink lower, put it's weight over it's back legs and stretch it's head forward to see what it wants to see. Basically they are showing you which way they are inclined to move (forward or back) should anything go down. This dog is ready to go forward. This dog is not necessarily going to hurt you, but whatever it sees, it wants it to know that he is there.
NOTE: When dogs play it is often a back and forth with displays of dominance. All of these signs we are discussing need to be put into context. Two dogs playing might growl and wrestle. Within the context of “play,” this means nothing. It’s just the dogs having fun…pretending.
When introducing dogs who are hopefully to become friends, you will often see the white dog pictured above on both dogs. Tails like flagstaffs, forward posture, blocking, trying to put one’s head above the other. This is not to be ignored, the dogs are not “acquainted” yet, & both, at least at a distance, are saying, "I'm not afraid of you." I have dogs take as much as an hour to get this first part over with. But it’s ok, it’s all part of establishing the relationship. Growls, hard wrestling, pinning, it’s all fine so long as the dogs are not full on biting one another. 99% of the time it’s just noise, them establishing who is going to be who in this relationship. Not a death match. So try to pay attention to the actual signs, and not your fears. If you are just too afraid, let the dogs meet through a fence, while you & the owners talk casually, with relaxed body language. Buddy made friends with an intense Jack Russel named Todd (Todd the dog) this way. Todd was too intense for Buddy up close. Me & the owner chatted while they chased each other back & forth through the fence. Once I saw both dogs doing the play bow, we let them in together & they had a grand old time.
This dog above is being extremely dominant. Standing tall, putting his head over the other dog, commissures pulled forward. Remember dogs are very space conscious. Another dog putting it's head in YOUR space, is a seriously dominant move. Were the other dog in this photo, not so "go with the flow" there would be a definite scuffle. If I had to guess I would say that is the boxer's yard, the other guy is just there for a visit, & Mr. Bulldog is blocking the entrance to the house. However, if you have two dogs behaving like that bulldog mix, there is going to be a scuffle. I will get back to that in a second. As a side note, it is nearly impossible to accurately guess what is in a mixed breed. So I will refer to most of these dogs as what they look like to me. I have no idea what they ACTUALLY are unless it's a dog I know. I can post some fun tests later & you can see just how difficult it is. I've given the test to a lot of people. I notice that people with animal experience get more correct, but it's still nowhere near accurate. This is the problem with the CDC study that says 15 people die from "Pit Bull type dog" attacks each year. Incidentally, 3x that die by getting struck by lightning but I've yet to hear about the lightning epidemic. Thousands (3,315 I think) of kids die in their own pools each year by a parent who is not watching them. But a pit bull killing is national news. Many of these dogs submitted in the CDC study were exhumed & DNA tested. They were found to have no "pit" blood in them, whatsoever. But it looked like one, so the news called it one. That was the criteria for the CDC study, the news had to report it was a "pit bull." Well, most weren't. Mix a boxer with many dogs that are the same size & the result is often mistaken for a "pit." The CDC has yet to print any retractions. (steps down off soap box).
The few things about this photo that are good: First, the wrinkles on the dog's forehead. When a dog is ready to bite/attack. Those forehead wrinkles go away. This is true with humans too. (no, our wrinkles don't go away if we bite) The thing is, if you don't know the dog, those wrinkles can disappear quickly.
See how the wrinkles move from the forehead to the mouth. Those commissures pulled forward. That's a dog that is ready to take it to the next level.
Two, the dog's tail appears to be lowering to a more neutral position. Depending on the dog, anywhere from a flat tail to completely relaxed (no tension) is neutral. Three, the other dog is giving the bigger guy his rear while he exits the space the Bulldog wants to own. To a dog, that is how you say hello & meet a person, You sniff each other's bums. It will form kind of a Ying-Yang circle as each dog follows the others butt around.
It's amazing that this practice has died out with humans. Bar stools would be much higher so that all the men who walked in could smell all the delicious bums of all the females in the bar. But this is why dogs often smell your crotch or occasionally your backside. It's where we humans put out the most scent.
Back to the pic with the red Bulldog, if you look at the body language on the little guy, he is fairly relaxed given the situation. See those commissures pulled back? He is not terribly tense. This is sending out signals to the other dog, & probably the reason his tail is lowering. If you are still unsure of what commissures are, have you ever seen a dog that appears to be smiling at you? Tongue hanging out, & you would swear it is smiling? Those are the commissures pulled completely back. That's why you think he is smiling. When we smile, we pull our "commissures" back. When a dog displays the same behavior, we interpret it as smiling. When they are pulled forward it can mean a few different things. When they are pulled back, it usually means a sense of ease.
Anyway, the little guy is content for now to be a visitor, & let the bigger dog have his way. That's submission.
Nose to Nose Greeting
I'm adding this one last minute. This is not the proper way for dogs to meet. It CAN be a predictor for a scuffle. It might look cute in the photo, but notice those commissures are forward. I don't see the makings of any wrinkles. This is usually a milder display of dominance than a full on "blocking." But if they don't move passed this stage, & onto the bum sniffing pretty quickly, this will usually turn out to be a doggie argument. Don't be in dread of running into this situation, but proceed with caution.
Play Dominance/Submission
A good indicator that the dogs are “ok” with each other is when BOTH dogs take turns being in the submissive position. Initially, if you have two dominant dogs, neither is willing to put themselves in the submissive position. They are vulnerable there. They don’t trust the other dog yet. Break the dogs up periodically, talk to the other owners like everything is ok, separate the dogs when they get too rowdy and say that is enough. Almost always, as the dogs tire, one dog will put itself in the submissive position. That is a good sign. However it is not until BOTH dogs allow themselves to be in that vulnerable position that they are probably ok. Now both dogs are demonstrating trust in each other. It's a large trust for a dog. He is saying "We can play, & I trust you not to kill me." That's pretty big in doggy land. Continue to watch them, but they are probably ok now. And once they know each other, they usually don't forget. Though there is often a brief period of "verification." The more “friends” a dog has, and sees on a regular basis the better. The mini Dob/Manchester Terrier in the first pic might not seem to be playing, & perhaps not. But the other dog would not be letter him do that if he didn't trust him. Remember, dogs are extremely spatially aware. That bottom dog knows he the Dob is there, he just doesn't care.
Dog Blocking
Dog Dominant Behavior
Dominance again, standing over the other dog, weight over the front quarters. If this dog was serious, the tail would be up. But this is the best pic I could find of the behavior. The other dog is also showing all signs of submission so probably won't be a problem here, but this is typical behavior we call "blocking." The dog displaying dominance with stand in a "T" formation blocking the other dog from moving forward. Usually with his head hanging over the other dog. Remember how we said dogs are very space conscious creatures. By one dog controlling the other dogs movement or space he is trying to show he is the boss. This is very dominant behavior. If two dogs are displaying it, there will often be a scuffle. Many people are under the misconception that these "shouting matches" are to be avoided at all costs. You are doing your dog a disservice by not socializing it for fear of an outburst. The outbursts are usually not actually violent. It looks & sounds to us like it is, but fact is, it usually is not. It's like if you met someone & they said "hey fart-face, yeah, I'm gonna call you fart-face from now on." Unless you want to be "fart-face" for the rest of your life with this person, you have to correct it now. That's all the dog is doing.
If a dog is doing this to you, one might think "Oh, the dog wants to be patted" Maybe not, he might be trying to show you who is boss. Interestingly, this is the same behavior we use to control dogs. You stand up & physically block them out of the space you want to control. This is how dogs "get it."
Dog Anxiety
Anxious Dog
This is a nervous, anxious and scared dog. He is very unsure of whatever is going on around him and doesn't know what direction to go...and while for the moment he is shrinking back he could snap at any moment. This is one of the most dangerous states a dog can be in, & should be left alone. Dogs have two survival modes, fight or flight. Every dog will have a tendency towards one or the other, whichever one past experience has taught them to be the most effective. But as soon as they feel their learned coping method is not working, they will switch to the other one. Since they have already tried to diffuse the situation and it didn't work (because you didn't see it), when they attack they do it with more intensity. A couple other things about this dog, his commissures are pulled forward (which can mean alertness/concentration or ready to attack) and the wrinkles in his fore head are almost gone. Wrinkles in a dogs fore head mean many things, almost all good, but lack of them usually means either ready to strike or total submission. The key with this dog is the low posture (he is afraid), the lifted paw (he is unsure), the weight towards the back (again, unsure/afraid), the commissures & lack of wrinkles (he is tense & could bite). What happens is people see a dog like this, & they feel bad for it. "Oh, look, he's scared," & they go to pat him. Remember a dog's space! If you invade this dog's space right now, a bite is probable.
This dog is worried and unsure, but trying to make it clear he is not a threat by lowering himself. Trying to make himself look as small as possible. I've seen dogs that have been severely abused that will actually crawl from place to place. They don't want to give off ANY signs that they are dominant.
Humans interacting the way we do might try to put the dog at ease by approaching it and saying "it's alright." Wrong. The best thing to do would be just to avoid this dog altogether or if you must, let him approach you, at his own pace. Do not touch him. His face without wrinkles and those commisures are pulled forward which means he is ready to bite if necessary. We don't know if he will, as the rest of his posture gives conflicting signs. But it is the facial position of a dog before it snaps. Or his unwrinkled face could just demonstrate his general state of worry. I would just keep an eye on him. In general, a dog's progress, whether forward, backward, or stopped altogether is all indicative of something. Let him choose it in a setting like this.
Calm Dog
This is a neutral dog. Weight evenly distributed, ears and tail relaxed. Commissures pulled back. He is looking at something but is totally at ease. Wrinkles on the head mean he is not worried or nervous....quite the opposite of humans.
Relaxed Dog
It doesn't get any more relaxed than this. A dog showing you it's belly is usually a sign of submission & trust (or an invitation to scratch my belly). Proceed with caution, but a dog will usually not give it's belly to someone it doesn't trust.
What is the Significance of the Lifted Paw
Unsure Dog
Here is another dog that is unsure, & the main reason we can tell is that lifted paw. Pointers lift there front paw when they have found what they are looking for. Almost any other dog though, that lifted front paw, or paused paw is a sign of uncertainty. He is unsure of something, whether it be where the scent went, the direction he is headed, another dog in the distance. It's pretty clear really, the dog doesn't know what to do next, & therefore, hasn't decided where to put that paw down.
You might see this lifted paw though in many different states. The dog could be chasing something and it lost it. The lifted paw is just a sign of paused movement while I figure this out. If you couple the lifted paw with a dog that is in a dominant state, staring you down, you know this dog is not afraid to engage you, is in fact challenging you, and the lifted paw means he is unsure of what he is going to do next. He is waiting on you. Not a good situation to be in. The best thing to do in such a situation is to look away, and walk, don't run away. Dogs inherently chase things. Unless the situation has escalated to an altercation, running is usually the wrong idea. Often, if you are correcting a behavior, the lifted paw is a perfect time to give that verbal correction. Snap him out of that state of uncertainty quickly.
Dog Whale Eye
What Does the Dog Whale Eye Mean
Here is a very bad sign. It's called "whale eye" The whites of the dog's eyes are very visible. Here we have a smaller dog so it's a little less threatening but it's a perfect example of this signal. The dog is not looking at you head on. He has already given you the signal he does not want to engage you, he is looking away. But he is keeping his eye on you because he does not trust you AT ALL! The only wrinkles in the forehead are caused by the lifted eye lids. Commissures are forward. This is not the time to invade this dog's space.
This dog is a very good demonstration of how before a bite the face loses tension. The wrinkles flatten out both on the forehead and the cheeks and the ears go back. Those commissures are again pulled forward, the tail is usually tense. If you send a dog in this state the wrong signal it will almost always mean a bite. If he were inclined to flee or in a position to flee, he probably would not be in the position that he is in, so an attack is very likely. His next step would be violence. To make any advancement of space on any dog like this is asking for it. This is where humans make the mistake. The dog has told us, in several different ways, "I do not trust you right now." If you go forward, invading his space, you are really the one who started it.
Another Example of Dog Whale Eye
This here, this is very, very bad. In fact, this is the most dangerous dog to a human we have discussed. See if you can guess why? (You should have learned a few of them by now)
Again, the dog is not looking at you head on. He is avoiding you, & expects you will do the same for him. The only wrinkles are again from the eyes which are fixated on you, & will be until he feels like you are not going to invade his space. The mouth is pulled forward, ears are pulled back. This dog is EXTREMELY volatile right now. Were you to approach him, he may run. But if he is not a "flight" dog, he is ready to throw down.
What makes this so dangerous is that to the untrained eye, he looks cute. "Aw, look at those sweet little eyes, you look sad? Are you sad boy....SNAP!" This dog wants NOTHING to do with you. Leave it alone. And for God's sake don't let your kids near it. This dog is extremely tense & suspicious. The best thing you could do (if you have to be in the room with it) is to be calm, & ignore it completely. Talk to the owner in a happy, relaxed voice. Stay out of the dog's space.
Dog Bites Child, Probably....
Just to give you a more concrete example of whale eye. It's pretty perceivable that this dog is very uncomfortable with his space right now. You can see he has even pulled his head back towards his body to try to stop the advancement. Those commissures pulled forward again, the lack of any wrinkles on the brow or face. I can guarantee you this didn't end well. The dog is just starting the motion to show teeth.
This is a perfect example of what I mean when the dogs are speaking to us but we aren't listening. Not out of disregard for the dogs we just don't "hear" them. Now a dog like this who bites the kid might be put down when it's clear he made real efforts to diffuse the situation. The real problem here was the parent and dog owner for leaving them alone, or not paying attention. It should not have escalated to this level. Never leave a dog and children alone, and with your new found knowledge of dog body language always be watching your dog to see how he is feeling about his space, the people around him etc. If you perceive he is uncomfortable fix the situation and slowly work on it with your dog. You want the dog to be socialized but you have to know it's limits. And he will show them to you, all you have to do is watch.
What to Look for in a Dog
Some of the main things to look for is the dogs tail position. Straight up means he is tense, or trying to establish dominance. Tucked downward as most people know means he is scared, but either one of those depending on what they are coupled with could mean a bad outcome for whoever is not responding correctly to the dog's signals. But some dogs have a tail that is naturally up all the time.
The dog's body position. Is he happily closing the spacial gap between you and him with a happy go lucky jaunt with mouth open head all wrinkled, he is probably fine. Has he paused at the sight of you ears up, eyes on you, one foot lifted. He has noticed you, but unsure of what to think or do yet but closing the gap yourself is a decision you will want to consider carefully. Remember to take into account his face.
The face and mouth are very telling, especially in closer quarters. A relaxed dog will have the corners of his mouth pulled back and wrinkles in his forehead and face. Ears will usually be pulled back when totally relaxed and comfortable. Unlike humans when a dog tenses up, the wrinkles go away, and the commissures will be pulled forward. But a dog's ears will also be back when they are ready to bite. All the signs have to be put together to get a clear picture
Put all the signs together and make an assessment of what this dog is trying to tell you. Does he want you to keep your distance? Does he just want to check you out further before closing the gap, let him decide. Is he more than happy for you to come play? It will all be displayed by the dog and hopefully now you are better equipped to assess it. Most importantly base your assessment on the whole picture and err on the side of caution. Most dogs will do all they can to avoid an altercation, we can do the same.
What is my dog saying?
My Dog Buddy
Most dog bites are avoidable. In fact most dog altercations are avoidable. Dogs communicate their state of mind, but we as humans often don't know how to read them. We speak different languages. Humans have words to communicate what we think or feel. I've yet to have such a conversation with a dog (one that I will admit to anyway). But a dog has it's own way of communicating. Learning how to read & understand them will make whatever exposure you have to dogs, that much better. If you have a fear of them, it can be tremendously helpful. Above is my dog Buddy. He is an American Staffordshire Terrier, which is considered one of the "Pit Bull" breeds. I will try to use him in the photos & videos that I can so that you see the same behavior, in the same dog.
Doggie posture - what is the dog saying?
Playful Dog
Dogs are inherently very space conscious. So are human beings. If you were in a crowded elevator with someone standing very close to you it would be ok in your mind, because it is not unusual considering the situation. However, if you were in the same elevator, with only two people, the same person, in the same space, would set off alarm bells in your head. Something is not right & you would act accordingly. In fact, if you thought you were in serious danger you would attempt to do the same thing all animals do, "fight or flight." Being an animal, a dog will have the same response. However, it will also almost always warn you before it gets to that point, you just missed the signs. Dog's communicate a lot to each other with body language. They will do the same for you! Hopefully this article will shed some light on what a dog is telling you with it's body language and you can avoid any altercations. This is not an "all encompassing" dictionary of dbl (dog body language). If you have any questions, we'll see if we can help.
We'll start off with a very simple one and hopefully the one you run into most often. It's called the "play bow" (pictured above). It's the dog's way of saying he wants to play, an invitation to partake in a game of chase, fetch or whatever that particular dog likes to do. You will often see it displayed by two friendly dogs at play. The downward action is usually quick, & the dog may immediately take off, or stay in that position & really pile on the suspense. But if a dog is displaying these signs toward you, the most likely danger you are in is that of being jumped on by an excited dog.
Dominant Dog
Dog Dominant Posture
This is the dominant forward position. See how the dog is standing tall, leaning forward, weight over his front feet and tail up and tense. The dog is essentially "puffing" himself up, look as large as possible. He is in "establishing mode", unafraid of whatever he is looking at. Feeling very confident. If you could see his face the corners of his mouth would be pulled forward (the corners of a dog's mouth are called "commissures" and they indicate a lot) and his gaze would be assertive and unafraid. If a dog is afraid it will shrink lower, put it's weight over it's back legs and stretch it's head forward to see what it wants to see. Basically they are showing you which way they are inclined to move (forward or back) should anything go down. This dog is ready to go forward. This dog is not necessarily going to hurt you, but whatever it sees, it wants it to know that he is there.
NOTE: When dogs play it is often a back and forth with displays of dominance. All of these signs we are discussing need to be put into context. Two dogs playing might growl and wrestle. Within the context of “play,” this means nothing. It’s just the dogs having fun…pretending.
When introducing dogs who are hopefully to become friends, you will often see the white dog pictured above on both dogs. Tails like flagstaffs, forward posture, blocking, trying to put one’s head above the other. This is not to be ignored, the dogs are not “acquainted” yet, & both, at least at a distance, are saying, "I'm not afraid of you." I have dogs take as much as an hour to get this first part over with. But it’s ok, it’s all part of establishing the relationship. Growls, hard wrestling, pinning, it’s all fine so long as the dogs are not full on biting one another. 99% of the time it’s just noise, them establishing who is going to be who in this relationship. Not a death match. So try to pay attention to the actual signs, and not your fears. If you are just too afraid, let the dogs meet through a fence, while you & the owners talk casually, with relaxed body language. Buddy made friends with an intense Jack Russel named Todd (Todd the dog) this way. Todd was too intense for Buddy up close. Me & the owner chatted while they chased each other back & forth through the fence. Once I saw both dogs doing the play bow, we let them in together & they had a grand old time.
This dog above is being extremely dominant. Standing tall, putting his head over the other dog, commissures pulled forward. Remember dogs are very space conscious. Another dog putting it's head in YOUR space, is a seriously dominant move. Were the other dog in this photo, not so "go with the flow" there would be a definite scuffle. If I had to guess I would say that is the boxer's yard, the other guy is just there for a visit, & Mr. Bulldog is blocking the entrance to the house. However, if you have two dogs behaving like that bulldog mix, there is going to be a scuffle. I will get back to that in a second. As a side note, it is nearly impossible to accurately guess what is in a mixed breed. So I will refer to most of these dogs as what they look like to me. I have no idea what they ACTUALLY are unless it's a dog I know. I can post some fun tests later & you can see just how difficult it is. I've given the test to a lot of people. I notice that people with animal experience get more correct, but it's still nowhere near accurate. This is the problem with the CDC study that says 15 people die from "Pit Bull type dog" attacks each year. Incidentally, 3x that die by getting struck by lightning but I've yet to hear about the lightning epidemic. Thousands (3,315 I think) of kids die in their own pools each year by a parent who is not watching them. But a pit bull killing is national news. Many of these dogs submitted in the CDC study were exhumed & DNA tested. They were found to have no "pit" blood in them, whatsoever. But it looked like one, so the news called it one. That was the criteria for the CDC study, the news had to report it was a "pit bull." Well, most weren't. Mix a boxer with many dogs that are the same size & the result is often mistaken for a "pit." The CDC has yet to print any retractions. (steps down off soap box).
The few things about this photo that are good: First, the wrinkles on the dog's forehead. When a dog is ready to bite/attack. Those forehead wrinkles go away. This is true with humans too. (no, our wrinkles don't go away if we bite) The thing is, if you don't know the dog, those wrinkles can disappear quickly.
See how the wrinkles move from the forehead to the mouth. Those commissures pulled forward. That's a dog that is ready to take it to the next level.
Two, the dog's tail appears to be lowering to a more neutral position. Depending on the dog, anywhere from a flat tail to completely relaxed (no tension) is neutral. Three, the other dog is giving the bigger guy his rear while he exits the space the Bulldog wants to own. To a dog, that is how you say hello & meet a person, You sniff each other's bums. It will form kind of a Ying-Yang circle as each dog follows the others butt around.
It's amazing that this practice has died out with humans. Bar stools would be much higher so that all the men who walked in could smell all the delicious bums of all the females in the bar. But this is why dogs often smell your crotch or occasionally your backside. It's where we humans put out the most scent.
Back to the pic with the red Bulldog, if you look at the body language on the little guy, he is fairly relaxed given the situation. See those commissures pulled back? He is not terribly tense. This is sending out signals to the other dog, & probably the reason his tail is lowering. If you are still unsure of what commissures are, have you ever seen a dog that appears to be smiling at you? Tongue hanging out, & you would swear it is smiling? Those are the commissures pulled completely back. That's why you think he is smiling. When we smile, we pull our "commissures" back. When a dog displays the same behavior, we interpret it as smiling. When they are pulled forward it can mean a few different things. When they are pulled back, it usually means a sense of ease.
Anyway, the little guy is content for now to be a visitor, & let the bigger dog have his way. That's submission.
Nose to Nose Greeting
I'm adding this one last minute. This is not the proper way for dogs to meet. It CAN be a predictor for a scuffle. It might look cute in the photo, but notice those commissures are forward. I don't see the makings of any wrinkles. This is usually a milder display of dominance than a full on "blocking." But if they don't move passed this stage, & onto the bum sniffing pretty quickly, this will usually turn out to be a doggie argument. Don't be in dread of running into this situation, but proceed with caution.
Play Dominance/Submission
A good indicator that the dogs are “ok” with each other is when BOTH dogs take turns being in the submissive position. Initially, if you have two dominant dogs, neither is willing to put themselves in the submissive position. They are vulnerable there. They don’t trust the other dog yet. Break the dogs up periodically, talk to the other owners like everything is ok, separate the dogs when they get too rowdy and say that is enough. Almost always, as the dogs tire, one dog will put itself in the submissive position. That is a good sign. However it is not until BOTH dogs allow themselves to be in that vulnerable position that they are probably ok. Now both dogs are demonstrating trust in each other. It's a large trust for a dog. He is saying "We can play, & I trust you not to kill me." That's pretty big in doggy land. Continue to watch them, but they are probably ok now. And once they know each other, they usually don't forget. Though there is often a brief period of "verification." The more “friends” a dog has, and sees on a regular basis the better. The mini Dob/Manchester Terrier in the first pic might not seem to be playing, & perhaps not. But the other dog would not be letter him do that if he didn't trust him. Remember, dogs are extremely spatially aware. That bottom dog knows he the Dob is there, he just doesn't care.
Dog Blocking
Dog Dominant Behavior
Dominance again, standing over the other dog, weight over the front quarters. If this dog was serious, the tail would be up. But this is the best pic I could find of the behavior. The other dog is also showing all signs of submission so probably won't be a problem here, but this is typical behavior we call "blocking." The dog displaying dominance with stand in a "T" formation blocking the other dog from moving forward. Usually with his head hanging over the other dog. Remember how we said dogs are very space conscious creatures. By one dog controlling the other dogs movement or space he is trying to show he is the boss. This is very dominant behavior. If two dogs are displaying it, there will often be a scuffle. Many people are under the misconception that these "shouting matches" are to be avoided at all costs. You are doing your dog a disservice by not socializing it for fear of an outburst. The outbursts are usually not actually violent. It looks & sounds to us like it is, but fact is, it usually is not. It's like if you met someone & they said "hey fart-face, yeah, I'm gonna call you fart-face from now on." Unless you want to be "fart-face" for the rest of your life with this person, you have to correct it now. That's all the dog is doing.
If a dog is doing this to you, one might think "Oh, the dog wants to be patted" Maybe not, he might be trying to show you who is boss. Interestingly, this is the same behavior we use to control dogs. You stand up & physically block them out of the space you want to control. This is how dogs "get it."
Dog Anxiety
Anxious Dog
This is a nervous, anxious and scared dog. He is very unsure of whatever is going on around him and doesn't know what direction to go...and while for the moment he is shrinking back he could snap at any moment. This is one of the most dangerous states a dog can be in, & should be left alone. Dogs have two survival modes, fight or flight. Every dog will have a tendency towards one or the other, whichever one past experience has taught them to be the most effective. But as soon as they feel their learned coping method is not working, they will switch to the other one. Since they have already tried to diffuse the situation and it didn't work (because you didn't see it), when they attack they do it with more intensity. A couple other things about this dog, his commissures are pulled forward (which can mean alertness/concentration or ready to attack) and the wrinkles in his fore head are almost gone. Wrinkles in a dogs fore head mean many things, almost all good, but lack of them usually means either ready to strike or total submission. The key with this dog is the low posture (he is afraid), the lifted paw (he is unsure), the weight towards the back (again, unsure/afraid), the commissures & lack of wrinkles (he is tense & could bite). What happens is people see a dog like this, & they feel bad for it. "Oh, look, he's scared," & they go to pat him. Remember a dog's space! If you invade this dog's space right now, a bite is probable.
This dog is worried and unsure, but trying to make it clear he is not a threat by lowering himself. Trying to make himself look as small as possible. I've seen dogs that have been severely abused that will actually crawl from place to place. They don't want to give off ANY signs that they are dominant.
Humans interacting the way we do might try to put the dog at ease by approaching it and saying "it's alright." Wrong. The best thing to do would be just to avoid this dog altogether or if you must, let him approach you, at his own pace. Do not touch him. His face without wrinkles and those commisures are pulled forward which means he is ready to bite if necessary. We don't know if he will, as the rest of his posture gives conflicting signs. But it is the facial position of a dog before it snaps. Or his unwrinkled face could just demonstrate his general state of worry. I would just keep an eye on him. In general, a dog's progress, whether forward, backward, or stopped altogether is all indicative of something. Let him choose it in a setting like this.
Calm Dog
This is a neutral dog. Weight evenly distributed, ears and tail relaxed. Commissures pulled back. He is looking at something but is totally at ease. Wrinkles on the head mean he is not worried or nervous....quite the opposite of humans.
Relaxed Dog
It doesn't get any more relaxed than this. A dog showing you it's belly is usually a sign of submission & trust (or an invitation to scratch my belly). Proceed with caution, but a dog will usually not give it's belly to someone it doesn't trust.
What is the Significance of the Lifted Paw
Unsure Dog
Here is another dog that is unsure, & the main reason we can tell is that lifted paw. Pointers lift there front paw when they have found what they are looking for. Almost any other dog though, that lifted front paw, or paused paw is a sign of uncertainty. He is unsure of something, whether it be where the scent went, the direction he is headed, another dog in the distance. It's pretty clear really, the dog doesn't know what to do next, & therefore, hasn't decided where to put that paw down.
You might see this lifted paw though in many different states. The dog could be chasing something and it lost it. The lifted paw is just a sign of paused movement while I figure this out. If you couple the lifted paw with a dog that is in a dominant state, staring you down, you know this dog is not afraid to engage you, is in fact challenging you, and the lifted paw means he is unsure of what he is going to do next. He is waiting on you. Not a good situation to be in. The best thing to do in such a situation is to look away, and walk, don't run away. Dogs inherently chase things. Unless the situation has escalated to an altercation, running is usually the wrong idea. Often, if you are correcting a behavior, the lifted paw is a perfect time to give that verbal correction. Snap him out of that state of uncertainty quickly.
Dog Whale Eye
What Does the Dog Whale Eye Mean
Here is a very bad sign. It's called "whale eye" The whites of the dog's eyes are very visible. Here we have a smaller dog so it's a little less threatening but it's a perfect example of this signal. The dog is not looking at you head on. He has already given you the signal he does not want to engage you, he is looking away. But he is keeping his eye on you because he does not trust you AT ALL! The only wrinkles in the forehead are caused by the lifted eye lids. Commissures are forward. This is not the time to invade this dog's space.
This dog is a very good demonstration of how before a bite the face loses tension. The wrinkles flatten out both on the forehead and the cheeks and the ears go back. Those commissures are again pulled forward, the tail is usually tense. If you send a dog in this state the wrong signal it will almost always mean a bite. If he were inclined to flee or in a position to flee, he probably would not be in the position that he is in, so an attack is very likely. His next step would be violence. To make any advancement of space on any dog like this is asking for it. This is where humans make the mistake. The dog has told us, in several different ways, "I do not trust you right now." If you go forward, invading his space, you are really the one who started it.
Another Example of Dog Whale Eye
This here, this is very, very bad. In fact, this is the most dangerous dog to a human we have discussed. See if you can guess why? (You should have learned a few of them by now)
Again, the dog is not looking at you head on. He is avoiding you, & expects you will do the same for him. The only wrinkles are again from the eyes which are fixated on you, & will be until he feels like you are not going to invade his space. The mouth is pulled forward, ears are pulled back. This dog is EXTREMELY volatile right now. Were you to approach him, he may run. But if he is not a "flight" dog, he is ready to throw down.
What makes this so dangerous is that to the untrained eye, he looks cute. "Aw, look at those sweet little eyes, you look sad? Are you sad boy....SNAP!" This dog wants NOTHING to do with you. Leave it alone. And for God's sake don't let your kids near it. This dog is extremely tense & suspicious. The best thing you could do (if you have to be in the room with it) is to be calm, & ignore it completely. Talk to the owner in a happy, relaxed voice. Stay out of the dog's space.
Dog Bites Child, Probably....
Just to give you a more concrete example of whale eye. It's pretty perceivable that this dog is very uncomfortable with his space right now. You can see he has even pulled his head back towards his body to try to stop the advancement. Those commissures pulled forward again, the lack of any wrinkles on the brow or face. I can guarantee you this didn't end well. The dog is just starting the motion to show teeth.
This is a perfect example of what I mean when the dogs are speaking to us but we aren't listening. Not out of disregard for the dogs we just don't "hear" them. Now a dog like this who bites the kid might be put down when it's clear he made real efforts to diffuse the situation. The real problem here was the parent and dog owner for leaving them alone, or not paying attention. It should not have escalated to this level. Never leave a dog and children alone, and with your new found knowledge of dog body language always be watching your dog to see how he is feeling about his space, the people around him etc. If you perceive he is uncomfortable fix the situation and slowly work on it with your dog. You want the dog to be socialized but you have to know it's limits. And he will show them to you, all you have to do is watch.
What to Look for in a Dog
Some of the main things to look for is the dogs tail position. Straight up means he is tense, or trying to establish dominance. Tucked downward as most people know means he is scared, but either one of those depending on what they are coupled with could mean a bad outcome for whoever is not responding correctly to the dog's signals. But some dogs have a tail that is naturally up all the time.
The dog's body position. Is he happily closing the spacial gap between you and him with a happy go lucky jaunt with mouth open head all wrinkled, he is probably fine. Has he paused at the sight of you ears up, eyes on you, one foot lifted. He has noticed you, but unsure of what to think or do yet but closing the gap yourself is a decision you will want to consider carefully. Remember to take into account his face.
The face and mouth are very telling, especially in closer quarters. A relaxed dog will have the corners of his mouth pulled back and wrinkles in his forehead and face. Ears will usually be pulled back when totally relaxed and comfortable. Unlike humans when a dog tenses up, the wrinkles go away, and the commissures will be pulled forward. But a dog's ears will also be back when they are ready to bite. All the signs have to be put together to get a clear picture
Put all the signs together and make an assessment of what this dog is trying to tell you. Does he want you to keep your distance? Does he just want to check you out further before closing the gap, let him decide. Is he more than happy for you to come play? It will all be displayed by the dog and hopefully now you are better equipped to assess it. Most importantly base your assessment on the whole picture and err on the side of caution. Most dogs will do all they can to avoid an altercation, we can do the same.
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