In encountering many people both dog owners and non, I find one thing most disconcerting. People are not given the appropriate information for living with and understanding their dogs.
What amazes me, is that we, as human beings, bring animals into our homes and expect them not to do what comes naturally to them.
In nature, animals communicate by vocalizing, using certain body movements like jumping, rolling, using their paws. They hunt, they dig, they bite, they grab and they fight when it's necessary. And though, true it is, that domesticated animals are a toned down version of wild animals, bred over and again through the years to create desirable traits, there are certain instincts you can never remove from them. Pushed to the limits, a dog will do what comes naturally, what is instinctual. People are surprised when dogs jump, bark, dig, growl or bite, but this is how they communicate with their own species, how would they know how to communicate in our language unless we teach them?
I read Jean Donaldson's book entitled "The Culture Clash" where she so perfectly paints a picture of what it must be like to be a dog in a human's world. Using a scenario of humans living as pets in an aliens world, she explains how dogs must be living in such a confusing world trying to understand foreign creatures. To see things in this way makes me so truly sad that more people don't take great care in understanding their dogs as DOGS and not anthropomorphizing them.
I find often that people interpret their dogs behavior through human eyes. But this is not only incorrect but a disservice to their dogs. People describe their dogs as spiteful, resentful or guilty when these are only human emotions. A dog's body language is trying to tell you something, but not in human language.
One example I can think of is when a dog has pottied for the 3rd time in their owners home. When the owner comes home, the dog cowers and the owner thinks "he knows he did something wrong because he looks away and cowers when I come home". The truth of the matter is, the last two times the owner yelled at the dog when he came in the door and so, the dog is reacting in this way in expectation of being yelled at. He cowers, because he expects the same experience preceeded by the same event as the day before. 1) Owner returns home followed by 2) Owner yells at dog. So commonly dog behavior is misunderstood and so we are sending the wrong messages to our dogs.
What amazes me, is that we, as human beings, bring animals into our homes and expect them not to do what comes naturally to them.
In nature, animals communicate by vocalizing, using certain body movements like jumping, rolling, using their paws. They hunt, they dig, they bite, they grab and they fight when it's necessary. And though, true it is, that domesticated animals are a toned down version of wild animals, bred over and again through the years to create desirable traits, there are certain instincts you can never remove from them. Pushed to the limits, a dog will do what comes naturally, what is instinctual. People are surprised when dogs jump, bark, dig, growl or bite, but this is how they communicate with their own species, how would they know how to communicate in our language unless we teach them?
I read Jean Donaldson's book entitled "The Culture Clash" where she so perfectly paints a picture of what it must be like to be a dog in a human's world. Using a scenario of humans living as pets in an aliens world, she explains how dogs must be living in such a confusing world trying to understand foreign creatures. To see things in this way makes me so truly sad that more people don't take great care in understanding their dogs as DOGS and not anthropomorphizing them.
I find often that people interpret their dogs behavior through human eyes. But this is not only incorrect but a disservice to their dogs. People describe their dogs as spiteful, resentful or guilty when these are only human emotions. A dog's body language is trying to tell you something, but not in human language.
One example I can think of is when a dog has pottied for the 3rd time in their owners home. When the owner comes home, the dog cowers and the owner thinks "he knows he did something wrong because he looks away and cowers when I come home". The truth of the matter is, the last two times the owner yelled at the dog when he came in the door and so, the dog is reacting in this way in expectation of being yelled at. He cowers, because he expects the same experience preceeded by the same event as the day before. 1) Owner returns home followed by 2) Owner yells at dog. So commonly dog behavior is misunderstood and so we are sending the wrong messages to our dogs.
In an article by Suzanne Clothier entitled "He Just Wants To Say Hi!" the author explains how often owners mistake their dogs behavior to the dogs detriment. This happens all too often at the dog park. An owner thinks his dog is trying to be friendly by sniffing, jumping, pawing and nudging another dog. The dog being sniffed growls to indicate warning that he does not wish to be sniffed any further but the first dog persists. Next warning is a snap and if the persistent dog does not respond to his warnings, the next one might not be a warning but an action. Depending on how the persistent dog reacts, there could be a fight or he may back down. If a fight breaks out, the dog who gave the warning is often blamed. But who was the real instigator?
One of the most common misconceptions is that a dog wagging it's tail is happy. While this is true, it is not ALWAYS true. A wagging tail indicates an excited state, but the position that the tail is in dictates what kind of excitement. Is it aggression? Happiness? Uncertainty? Fear? Dogs communicate through vocalizations but primarily through body language. It's so important to understand our dogs body language.
In the book "Calming Signals" by Turrid Rugaas, the author explains a variety of body postures and movements that dogs use to communicate with each other. The subtlest things like a yawn, head turn, an open mouth vs. a closed one, all mean something in dog language. And if you learn about these signals, you'll see, your dog has been using these with you all along.
In the book "Calming Signals" by Turrid Rugaas, the author explains a variety of body postures and movements that dogs use to communicate with each other. The subtlest things like a yawn, head turn, an open mouth vs. a closed one, all mean something in dog language. And if you learn about these signals, you'll see, your dog has been using these with you all along.
According to Karen Delise of the national Canine Research Council
"We purchase or adopt a dog and expect them to automatically adjust to our chaotic life, while failing to recognize that dogs need guidance, attention and affection. Without our assistance our canine companions may have a difficult time meeting our expectations and can become stressed and confused"
"My research and investigation into 45 years of incidents of dog bite injuries has convinced me that a situation we understand as non-threatening, may be perceived quite differently by our dog," says Delise. "When we say a bite is 'unprovoked,' we mean 'I do not understand why the dog reacted as he did.'."
Dogs are incredibly tolerant of humans and usually communicate their stress, fear or discomfort without biting. Their level of stress can reach the point where there is a nip or single bite. Serious attacks by dogs are rare and are usually the end result of a series of problematic human and canine behaviors.
Before adopting any dog, do your research. Not only about the breed, their needs and temperament but also about dog behavior and training. Be prepared for your new companion and ready not only to adopt the right dog but to be the right owner.
To understand more about your dog, check out the following resources:
Click Here for information about specific breeds, cross breeds & mixes
Click Here and scroll down to see various dog body postures and what they mean.
For articles on dog behavior Click Here
And see my website for an incredibly informative video on dog body language called
"Speak Dog".
As always...love your dog for doing what it does best...being a dog. :)
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