The growl is the dog’s key warning sound. But it is also an important part of the way puppies play. Play-fighting is how puppies test the waters, see how far they can go and how strong they are, and growling often goes along with it. When older dogs play with each other, they revert to this puppyish behavior and may growl at each other without intending to communicate aggression. When your dog plays with you – for example, when you’re playing tugging games – he may also emit a wavering growl. It doesn’t mean he’s going to snap at you, it’s just part of the mock battle you’re playing.
When a growl is deep and sustained, and is accompanied by a tense body, it’s a clear warning to back off. This is the sign of impending aggression. The dog may feel threatened or under attack, and is giving you or another dog the chance to avoid further trouble before it’s too late.
Snarling
“You didn’t listen, did you?” When the warning given by the growl goes unheeded, the vocalization escalates. The growl goes up a level in intensity and vibrates a little, becoming less sustained. The lips are up and the teeth are bared. Snarling indicates that aggressive action is imminent.
Howling
Many people interpret the long mournful tone of the howl as a sound of distress. While it’s true that dogs will often howl if left alone too long – “Where are you, my human pack?” – howling doesn’t necessarily indicate unhappiness. The howl is the biggest sound a dog can make, and it carries over long distances. In the wild, it is used to signal a dog’s presence to others or to ward off predators. Some dogs – notably basset hounds – are more prone to howling than others. Dogs will also howl in response to the bark or howl of another dog. And, of course, we all know that some dogs like to howl along to the piano, no matter how well you are playing!
Champing
You may never have heard the term before, but if you’re a dog owner, you’ll probably recognize champing when you hear it. It’s a type of sucking, chewing noise that a dog makes - as if he were a horse champing at a bit, or as if he were licking his chops, except that he will make this noise when he is not actually eating. This is a pacifying sound. Some dogs “champ” when they are greeting humans or other canines; others do it to show that they are not a threat.
Groaning
Many dogs make a low, throaty, murmuring groan, moan, or growl when they are being stroked. This indicates bliss and pleasure.
Barking
Barking is a really important part of dog communication. Depending on the context, it has a variety of meanings. Barking can be used to sound an alarm or warning, it can be a call for attention, or it may simply indicate that the dog is excited. Dogs bark to signal their presence to other dogs that may not be able to see them – that bad dog on the other side of the fence, for example. They also bark in response to barking or to mark their territory. And, of course, they bark when they are bored and isolated. While excessive barking may indicate a problem, it is very important that dogs should be able to bark from time to time. It’s wrong to expect a dog to spend his life in silence.
When they are very young, puppies do not bark. Timing varies, but in most cases a puppy will have started to bark by the age of two months. Some breeds also bark more than others. Maltese dogs are pretty vocal, and so are Shelties. Dachshunds are also predisposed to bark, for good reason. They were originally bred to go down holes after badgers and to bark when they found them so that hunters could identify exactly where the badgers were (the breed name means “badger dog” in German).
Body language
Body language is vital in dog communication. Take the time to observe your dog closely in different situations, and try to work out what he is trying to say by watching his body language.
Signals pass between dogs faster than we can see – literally in the blink of an eye. Owners often call me to say that they were just walking their dog along the road when another dog coming toward them lunged out aggressively with no warning, and without their dog doing anything at all. Or vice versa – sometimes it was the owner’s dog that instigated the aggression. It may seem that nothing has provoked the behavior, but in that split second, those two dogs have been signaling to each other and have sized each other up. We humans are often very unobservant. Dogs, on the other hand, don’t miss a trick. Even a small lift of the eyebrow speaks volumes.
Humans rely heavily on verbal communication. But we send out many physical signals of our own. In drama workshops, students are often asked to stand in front of another person in the group and try to communicate with them using only facial expressions. A great actor can show you what he or she is feeling without uttering a word. You can try it yourself at home with a friend.
What follows is a description of what your dog is saying with his body language. Each part of the body acts in conjunction with other parts, so you can’t simply read the signs in isolation. Reading the body signals as a whole will tell you what your dog is feeling.
In the dog, facial expressions in particular can be very subtle, which is why we humans often miss and misread them. It does not help matters that breeding for appearance has greatly affected the ability of dogs to communicate effectively with each other and with us. Flattened noses, overly wrinkled skin, and docked tails are just some of the ways in which our strange notions of canine “beauty” have compromised the dog’s means of expressing himself.
Ears
Let’s start at the top. It’s easiest to distinguish ear signals on dogs with pointed ears. Dogs with drooping ears, such as Beagles and Spaniels, use their ears to signal in the same way, but the signs are slightly harder to see.
Ears that stick straight up represent alertness, confidence, and awareness. If the ears are drawn back on the head, your dog is showing friendliness, that is provided vigorous tail-wagging, a wriggling body, and a calm, relaxed facial expression accompany it.
However, the ears can also be drawn back when the dog is nervous. In this case, the gesture is designed to be pacifying. It says: “I’m nervous, so please back off!” If so, there will be a number of other nervous signals. The tail may be between the legs, the body may be crouching, the front paw may be lifted, the eyes could be slightly closed with dilated pupils, or the mouth may be slightly open while the lips are licked.
Forehead
A wrinkled forehead suggests aggression. A smooth forehead, on the other hand, if it is accompanied by other relaxed body signals, indicates that the dog is relaxed. Or it may be a sign of submission if you notice other signals that indicate insecurity, such as a tail that is lowered or tucked between the dog’s legs, a crouching stance, or a curved back.
Eyebrows
Roger Moore, the actor, makes wonderful use of the eyebrow lift. So does my husband. Just a slight lift of the eyebrow communicates that he’s unhappy with something that I’ve said or done. It gets me every time. When a dog is trying to dominate a situation or assert control, the eyebrows seem almost to jump out at you as they are pushed forward, and the dog will stare at you in a challenging way. When a dog is calm, his eyebrows will not be pronounced.
Eyes
Stand
