Catch the Good
Dogs are “speaking” to us all the time with their bodies. Unfortunately, humans aren’t always so good at “hearing” what’s said. Let’s take a wagging tail for instance. A wagging tail always means a happy dog, right? Nope, not at all. A loosely wagging suggests a happy dog if the whole body is also loose and relaxed. On the contrary, if the tail is wagging slowly and the body is stiff it’s an indication the dog is undecided about something and you should probably leave him alone. A dog holding his tail high over his back, either still or stiffly wagging, is not a friendly gesture and you should slowly move away. A dog holding her tail low and rapidly wagging is feeling stressed and unsure of a situation. Ears also play a big role in canine communication. How the ears are held can communicate a wide range of emotions and intentions. Ears held high on the head communicate an intensified interest in something in the environment. Ears held pinned back against the head can indicate a dog that is about to bite, especially if the rest of the body is stiff. Ears held out sideways are typically seen in very scared and worried dogs. Ears in a relaxed position are a sign of a happy dog. For a great resource on body language, check out the book Doggie Language by Lili Chin.
