Senior Dogs
Senior dogs are members of the shelter population, and identifying normal, successful aging versus cognitive dysfunction merits consideration. Factors like breed, size, and weight can affect how long dogs live, and as they age, they can display a number of normal age‐related declines in physical and mental functioning (Chapagain et al. 2018). Changes in levels of play and responsiveness to commands, enthusiasm for food, and increases in fears and phobias can be part of normal, successful aging (Salvin et al. 2011). Older dogs also display less social interest, diminished learning and memory, and less interest in novelty compared to young dogs (Kubinyi and Iotchev 2020). Normal aging can also affect a dog’s ability to cope with a social challenge such as a mild separation from an owner (Mongillo et al. 2013).
Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome differs from normal aging and is summarized by the acronym DISHA: “Disorientation, altered Interactions with people or other pets, Sleep–wake cycle alterations, House‐soiling and altered Activity level” (Landsberg et al. 2003). It parallels human dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Locomotion may be erratic or aimless, dogs may be less responsive to social isolation or interactions with people, and an increase in destructive behavior or house soiling may be observed (Chapagain et al. 2018). A therapeutic diet aimed at enhancing cognitive function as well as behavioral enrichment like participating in dog training activities are both promising interventions for delaying cognitive decline (Chapagain et al. 2018; Szabó et al. 2018). Awareness of the differences between normal aging and cognitive dysfunction can enhance care for older dogs entering the shelter.
1.4 Dog Communication
Dogs engage in visual, acoustic, and olfactory communication, and each contributes to intra‐ and interspecific communication. Studies complement—and at times clarify—existing interpretations of dog behavior and communication.
1.4.1 Visual Communication
Identifying expressive and meaningful body parts is integral to dog communication and emotional expression (see Figure 1.1; see General Appendix A for a canine body language ethogram). Meaning should not be obtained from any single body part or behavior in isolation. Instead, meaning takes shape when considering the totality of dog communicative behavior as well as environment and social contexts. To this point, observing and describing behavior precedes ascribing function, and individual differences in behavioral expression are commonly documented—even in response to the same stimulus or context. Research‐based resources provide background for visual communication descriptions (Beerda et al. 1998; Bradshaw and Rooney 2017; Miklósi 2015; Schenkel 1967), and visual representations of dog behavior and communication, such as Aloff (2005) and more recently Chin (2020), aid the study and recognition of visual signals.
Figure 1.1 Body parts that contribute to canine visual communication.
Source: Illustration created by and used with permission of Natalya Zahn.
Dog size and postural movements are observed by dogs and people alike. Unlike body size, posture can be modified to expand or contract, the former suggesting confidence or alertness and the latter conveying fear, prevention or reduction of conflict, or affiliation (Schenkel 1967). Dogs reduce size in multiple contexts and with different communicative meanings. A dog lying on the back in “passive submission,” often with ears back, tail tucked, and the inguinal region exposed, deescalates conflict and inhibits attack. Dogs can also display a more inviting “belly‐up” posture to solicit a belly rub. Alternatively, “active submission” may not be motivated by deference or a response to threat (Bradshaw and Rooney 2017). Instead, approach with low posture, low wag, and muzzle (or mouth) licking is an affiliative display to gain food, greet, or maintain or restore social bonds.
In interspecific contexts—such as if a dog has done something an owner deems wrong— submissive displays can be misinterpreted as a dog’s knowledge of wrongdoing. Instead, behaviors such as freezing, approaching or retreating with a depressed posture, low and quick wagging, ears back, or rolling onto the back or lifting a paw are best viewed along ethological lines as cohesive displays and non‐threatening appeasement postures to keep the group together. Research finds these behaviors are not indicative of a dog’s “knowledge” of misdeed or an admission of guilt (Horowitz 2009a).
Dog body posture can encourage “coming closer” (distance between individuals decreasing) or “backing up” (distance between individuals increasing), and a dog's body‐weight distribution offers subtle yet valuable information. A dog with weight shifted forward and upper body pressed over the front legs shows forward momentum, interest, confidence, or alertness. If a dog leans forward toward another dog—and the receiver leans back, looks away, or moves away—the second is engaging in conflict avoidance or communicating the dog’s desire to avoid closer interaction. If signals go unheeded, dogs may resort to defensive aggression over time and even fade out the use of distance‐increasing signals.
Limbs are central to body‐weight distribution and dog movement. While people may take note of limbs in the context of parlor tricks like “high five” or “give paw,” these gestures bear no social meaning for dogs apart from possible food reward or human praise. Instead, “offering a paw” is a submissive or appeasing display and, for example, may be performed in response to an upset owner. Sweating paws could indicate acute stress, but these are difficult to interpret as they could be related to other factors, like temperature (Polgár et al. 2019).
Piloerection is a physical response outside a dog’s control akin to getting goosebumps. This reflexive response can be seen in a dog’s hackles, or erect hair. Hackles run from the base of the tail to the shoulders, and because raised hackles indicate arousal in general, piloerection should be evaluated in conjunction with ear, tail, mouth, and overall body posture to assess specifics of the aroused state.
Tails are integral to communicative signaling. They can assume a range of heights, movements, and speeds, and even the side‐of‐wag offers meaningful information. Observing the tail‐base provides details as to whether the tail is being carried along the midline or is raised or tucked. Generally speaking, a high tail indicates excitement or arousal, and a high tail can be seen in a variety of approach‐oriented contexts ranging from greeting and playing to fighting and threatening; lowered tails suggest fear, submission, or appeasement/affiliation (Kiley‐Worthington 1976). To explore the value of tails within intraspecific communication, Leaver and Reimchen (2008) designed a study where dogs encountered a mechanical dog outfitted with tails of different lengths (long or short) that could move or remain still. Dogs were more likely to approach the mechanical dog when the tail was long and wagging as opposed to when it was long and still, suggesting that absent other communicative signals, dogs interpreted a wagging tail as “friendly.” On the other hand, a short tail, whether still or wagging, was approached similarly, suggesting that short (or docked) tails might be more difficult to view or interpret. Tail absence or surgical shortening affects communication (Bennett and Perini 2003).
Probably the most noticeable component of the tail relates to movement. A tail wagging fluidly and loosely from side to side (usually at the level of the midline) is most readily associated with greeting or excitement. This “happy” tail might be accompanied by jumping, licking, running in circles, or other behaviors of arousal. A tail wagging low and quickly indicates nervousness or timidity. High, fast wags indicate arousal, and they should be viewed with some caution. Arousal
