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Learning to Understand your Dog

How can you tell old long established dog owners and new ones? Veteran dog owners have built a deaper understanding because they have learnt how their dogs speak to them.
By this I mean older owners can read their dogs reactions. By doing this they have built up a trusting bond and friendship.

Dogs react and bark and tell you things using body movements and it’s upto you to learn what they mean.

• Tail Swishing from side to side – He is happy and wants you to play with him. He will roll over on the floor, sometimes crouching down challenging you to get his ball. He will be full of excitement and looking for attention.

• Standing with his ears pricked up – He has heard something new and needs to tell you. His tail will remain stationary and he will move his head from side to side to get a better take on the noise. It might not be serious or a danger, but he is just letting you know.

• Growling and showing his teeth – This means he is concerned or angry. He is telling you there is a danger approaching, might be another dog or a person he doesn’t recognise and it might harm you, his leader.

• Appears to grovel to you when you come in a room – He is actually saying a respectful hello. This crouching down is showing you he understands you are his leader and he will alway follow you.The dog training term for this is “active submission.”

None angry Growling – Although dogs growl when they sense you feel threatened by another person, quite often if you are playing ball with him it means get it off me if you can

• Whining – This sometimes is meant to tell you I don’t want to do this or I DO want to go outside for a pee. You will learn to recognise when it is necessary to completely ignore the whine. Another wine tone is when they greet you and goes along with his tail wagging madly.

Once you come to recognise these actions and sounds you will be able to “talk” with your dog and understand him.