One of the great challenges of first time dog owners is getting to know their puppy’s ways of communication. This lack of understanding can lead to frustrated owners finding new homes for their dogs or, in the worst cases, abandoning them altogether. Brigitte Smith of healthierdogs.com likens ignoring your dog’s attempts at communication to living with someone that speaks another language and never bothering to learn a word of it. Communication should be a two-way street with your dog, so learning dogs body language will help make sure both you and your dog are understood.
While dogs love to play with their families, their number one concern is rising in importance in the pack. Even if your dog is the only furry member of the family, the pack mentality is strong in dogs and will automatically see your family as its new pack. This is why training is so important, even in the youngest of puppies – you must teach the dog that in all circumstances, you are the leader of the pack. Dogs that are not settled into their role in the pack may try to test their limits to see what they can get away with. Those owners that do not form proper training techniques may find themselves at the beck and call of their dog instead of the other way around. In this case, the dog has established himself as the leader of your pack.
Smith gives us an example of dogs that like to jump in greeting and even larger dogs that like to stand up on their hind legs with their front paws on the shoulders of those they’re greeting. While this may seem like a friendly gesture, it is actually a way of expressing dominance. Smith suggests training a dog to sit when approached and you can initiate the greeting. This trains the dog to greet someone in a submissive way and you retain your position of leader of the pack.
On the other hand, some gestures that might seem aggressive are actually very friendly, such as when a dog pulls back its lips in what is sometimes called a “canine grin.” While some might find this gesture to be threatening, it is actually very submissive, and indicates that the dog is happy or excited.
If you’re having trouble determining what your dog is trying to tell you, be sure to consult a local dog trainer.
