Glucosamine For Dogs

Dogs have a unique way of communicating, based largely on body language. Learn to interpret this language and you’ll suddenly start to understand your dog in ways you never thought possible before. Plus, you’ll find your training efforts instantly become more successful, as you communicate with your dog on his level.

Unfortunately the “English to Dog Language” dictionary has yet to be invented. However, following the pointers below will give you a solid framework for understanding dog language.

Here are the most important things you’ll need to watch for in your dog’s body language.

Standing Still – When a dog suddenly stops moving and stands very still, he’s indicating to you that he wants to be left alone. He may also do this if he’s standing guard over some or other possession. You may also see this behavior if a dog is given a treat while there are other dogs around.

Flashing the Teeth – This is normally the first warning a dog will give to tell you to back off. If you have a dog that tends to be aggressive, or if it’s a dog you don’t know, it is safer to comply.

Growling – Growling is a dog’s way of telling you to back off. If you refuse to do so, you’ll hear the growl rise in intensity as the dog works himself up for an attack.Many people scold or punish the dog for growling or showing its teeth. This is dangerous because if the dog is not allowed to give a warning he may escalate straight to an attack.

Raising the Hackles – When a dog is frightened, you’ll often see him raise the hackles on the ridge of his back. This has the effect of making the dog look bigger, in the hope of chasing any intruder away. A fearful dog is often the most likely to attack, so be very wary of a dog with his hackles raised.

Tail between the legs – Typically, this indicates, timidity, fear or anxiety. There may be a number of causes for the behavior, such as separation anxiety, or being introduced to an unfamiliar person or dog. Often the behavior will be accompanied by submissive urination.

Putting the head down – Depending on the context this could be a attempt by a submissive dog to avoid eye contact. Or it could be a playful gesture.

Raising the Paw – A popular trick that you often in the movies. This generally means, “I want to be your friend”.

Wagging Tail – The tail is a very powerful canine communication tool. A wagging tail is usually interpreted as a friendly gesture but this only applies if the tail is wagging loosely.A tail that is flicked side to side in short rigid movements suggests agitation. And if the tail is tucked between the legs and wagging slightly, the dog is insecure and fearful.

Dogs rely greatly on body language and gestures for communication. A dog may learn to obey voice commands, but in their world body language will always mean more.

Even a basic knowledge of dog language will be of huge benefit in understanding your dog.

Visit http://www.dogsanddogtraining.com to find outmore about dog training, dog care, dog walking and other useful dog information.

Tags: dog training, dog training tips, dogs

This entry was posted on Saturday, December 24th, 2011 at 5:14 am and is filed under Dog Stuff. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.