7 Ways Your Dog Communicates With You

Your Dog Communicates: While dogs cannot talk like humans, humans too cannot smell and hear like dogs. This makes us miss out on some of the subtle signals given by dogs.

By focusing on a dog’s body language, you will find it easier to communicate with your furry friend. Here are some ways that can help you understand how your dog communicates with you:

1. Eye Contact

Usually when your dog makes eye contact, he probably just wants your attention. However, unblinking eyes can also sometimes indicate aggression.

Dogs tend to close their eyes when receiving love and affection. You have probably noticed your pooch closing his eyes in pleasure when you give him a belly rub or scratch him behind the ears.

On the other hand, if your pup is avoiding eye contact, it may imply that something is making him scared or uncomfortable.

2. Tail Language

A dog with a wagging tail is normally understood to be happy. While this may be true most of the time, there may be other clues you need to look for.

If a dog you are unfamiliar with is wagging his tail, it is probably not an invitation for you to pet him. If his ears are down while the tail is wagging, it may signal his discomfort. A dog wagging his tail rather slowly indicates that he is feeling cautious.

When your dog’s tail is curled, know that he is feeling safe and relaxed. It can also signify confidence and dominance. A tail stiffly pointing upwards shows that your dog is focused on tracking something, while a lower held tail or a tail tucked in between the legs is an indication of fear or submission.

3. Body Language

You can observe a combination of body language indicators used by your furry companion to express his emotions. Try not to concentrate on one feature, such as a wagging tail, but observe the overall body language.

Open mouth, relaxed tail, high ears

If your dog has acquired this manner, it means he is feeling relaxed in a safe environment. If you ever think of approaching an unfamiliar dog, it is best to do so when he displays this kind of body language.

Straight pointed tail, forward ears

This indicates that your dog is actively trying to track something. Perhaps he heard a different noise or smelled a unique scent that sparked his curiosity.

Baring teeth, ears back, snarling

This is an obvious sign of aggression. If your dog is doing this, he feels threatened and is trying to warn an enemy. Avoid approaching a dog in this state, as you run the risk of being bitten even if your dog is angry at something else.

4. Tongue Flicking

If you see your dog flicking his tongue, he is probably trying to calm down and avoid conflict. Alternatively, lip licks and tongue flicks also indicate that your dog feels his personal space is being violated.

Flicking his tongue may mean that your dog is stressed. Many dogs lick their noses when a camera is pointed towards them. This is because they perceive direct eye contact as threatening.

On the other hand, if your canine’s tongue is floppy and loose, it means he is relaxed and perfectly alright. A dog communicates comfort with forward turned ears and relaxed eyes.

5. Licking

A dog licking his owner is often considered a sign of affection. While this is sometimes true, licking may also mean that your dog thinks you taste nice.

The human skin is slightly salty, especially after some sweating. Dogs tend to seek salt, making them lick it off your face.

You may also be in for some slobbery licks after you finish a meal. Research reveals that puppies have a natural instinct to lick the muzzles of their mother when she returns after a hunt. It is a signal for her to regurgitate for them.

Licking as a sign affection is not an unfounded belief. It is indeed a common way for dogs to greet their owners. Even in the wild, some species of the dog family lick their pack members to welcome them home.

6. Barking

A dog barks for different reasons, which is why there are different interpretations regarding barking. Maybe your dog has been trying to get your attention using non-verbal cues, but was unsuccessful. In this case, he may simply bark to get you to notice him.

Your furry friend may be trying to ask you to take him outside to do his business, or get you to retrieve a toy that got stuck underneath the couch. Don’t interpret this type of bark the wrong way, as your dog is simply calling you for assistance.

Dog breeds that are developed to guard naturally bark when they sense someone new in the house. If you don’t want your dog to do that, you can train him to stop, but that requires sufficient time and patience.

When your dog is excited, he may bark in a rising pitch. If your dog’s bark starts lower and keeps getting higher, it implies his uncontrollable excitement to play with you.

You may notice that your dog lets out a howl when he hears a high-pitched sound such as an ambulance siren or a train whistle. It is not clear whether this is because dogs feel annoyed with the sound or because the sound causes discomfort to their ears.

When your dog emits a low growl, understand that he is either feeling anxious or threatened. This is when dogs are most unpredictable, so steer clear and do not surprise him in any way.

7. Bringing you things

Your dog may bring you a stick, a ball or a toy of his. This may be considered an invitation for you to play with him, but it is more likely that this is your dog’s way of giving you a present.

Bringing things for you is your pup expressing his love by sharing his favorite things with you. To positively respond to this behavior, you can smile, praise and pet him.

While your dog cannot understand your language, he can judge the tone of your voice and is responsive to gestures. Baby talking to your pup can actually help him understand you better as it exaggerates speech by making it clear and high-pitched.

A dog communicates with humans through a variety of gestures and sounds. You just need to be receptive to your pet and respond in accordance to ensure an interaction that would be surprisingly smooth.


by Maria A Davidson || You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it™

Facts About Animal Homelessness:

  1. Only 1 out of every 10 dogs born will find a permanent home.
  2. The main reasons animals are in shelters: owners give them up, or animal control finds them on the street.
  3. Each year, approximately 2.7 million dogs and cats are killed every year because shelters are too full and there aren’t enough adoptive homes. Act as a publicist for your local shelter so pets can find homes. Sign up for Shelter Pet PR.
  4. Approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.9 million are dogs and 3.4 million are cats.
  5. According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), less than 2% of cats and only 15 to 20% of dogs are returned to their owners.
  6. 25% of dogs that enter local shelters are purebred.
  7. About twice as many animals enter shelters as strays compared to the number that are relinquished by their owners.
  8. It’s impossible to determine how many stray dogs and cats live in the United States. Estimates for cats alone range up to 70 million.
  9. Only 10% of the animals received by shelters have been spayed or neutered. Overpopulation, due to owners letting their pets accidentally or intentionally reproduce, sees millions of these “excess” animals killed annually.
  10. Many strays are lost pets that were not kept properly indoors or provided with identification.
  11. According to The Humane Society, there are about 3,500 brick-and-mortar animal shelters in the US and 10,000 rescue groups and animal sanctuaries in North America.

Here are a some adoptions for consideration:  puccicafe.com/adoptions