sometimes helpful to use your dog’s name right before a cue, such as “Fido, Sit” or “Fido, Down.” It can be especially good if you have more than one dog and need to get an individual dog’s attention. Keep in mind, however, that if you don’t assign a behavior to the dog’s name, then the name itself doesn’t mean anything other than to get the dog’s attention and indicate that you are talking to him.
For example, in the pet-supply store, you see a frazzled-looking woman with a bouncy Boxer puppy lunging at the end of his leash. She yells, “Buster! Buster! Buster! BUSTER! BUSTER!!” This is just a name, not an action. What does she want the dog to do? If she hasn’t trained the dog specifically to do something at the sound of his name, then repeating it over and over again isn’t helpful or communicative.
Now, say, for example, that the owner had taught Buster that when he hears his name, he should look at her. That would be a good way to get the puppy’s attention, and saying his name would mean something to him.
When you say a cue, try to say it one time only. Repeating it won’t help your dog perform the cue any faster, and you’ll just be teaching him that you’re going to say something a dozen times before you expect him to respond. This can be a very hard habit for people to break. If you want your dog to respond the first time that you cue him to do something, you have to cue the behavior just one time.
Be consistent with your cues.
Dog vocalizations can mean different things
Whine—Whining could mean excitement, stress, or fear.
Bark—Dogs bark because they’re bored, excited, afraid, or alert to something. Dogs bark when they want something. They bark to get attention, and they bark when they want something scary to go away. Some breeds, such as the Miniature Schnauzer and Shetland Sheepdog, tend to bark more than others. Other breeds, such as the Basenji, don’t bark at all.
Growl—Dogs growl when they are playing, stressed, or angry. If your dog is playing, and he growls, it’s normally nothing to be concerned about. If your dog growls over food or toys, or at other dogs and people, it’s best to get professional help. What you don’t want to do is punish him for growling! A growl is communication—the dog is telling you something important. Punishing him for growling will just make him stop warning you—it won’t get rid of the problem. You want a dog to warn you before he feels the need to bite!
The Body Tells the Tale
If you really want to better understand what your dog is saying to you, his body language will tell you just about everything. Dogs have an intricate, expansive vocabulary of body language; it’s how they communicate best with each other. Dogs know a friendly dog by what he does, what he looks like, and how he acts. They also recognize a hostile dog in the same way. Dogs show that they are afraid by their body language. By communicating with body language, a dog can diffuse a potentially tense situation and avoid fights. By better understanding a dog’s body language, you will better understand your dog.
Ears
When a dog’s ears lay flat, it can indicate fear. Ears forward indicate interest or excitement. Note that some dogs have ears that don’t allow them to show a lot of expression. For example, Cocker Spaniels have beautiful, long ears that naturally lay flat and won’t stand erect.
Eyes
A soft, sweet expression indicates friendliness or contentment. Your dog’s eyes might even squint. If your dog looks at you with a friendly or alert expression, it’s perfectly fine. Some people worry that if a dog looks them in the eyes, it’s a challenge or the dog is trying to assert himself. Hardly! Your dog is likely just making a friendly connection or trying to read your own expression. Eye contact is a sign of confidence, which is not the same thing as defiance. This is why shy or nervous dogs will often look away from you.
A soft, sweet expression in your dog’s eyes indicates friendliness or contentment.
Mouth
Some dogs smile, and it’s exactly what you think it is—a sign of happiness. A tense, closed mouth is a sign of stress. The lips may be pulled back at the corners. Depending on the context, panting can indicate stress. A dog that has been running will pant, and it doesn’t mean that he’s upset, but a dog that’s afraid of thunderstorms will often pant as the storm begins. Dogs may pant if they are in pain. Also, if a dog is panting and closes his mouth, it can indicate increased stress. For example, if a dog is panting at the veterinarian’s office and he suddenly stops when the veterinary technician approaches with a thermometer, the dog’s stress has just increased.
When a dog is warning you or another animal to stay away, his lips may move forward over his teeth so that they look puffy. His lips can also curl up in a snarl and retract to expose his teeth; this may be accompanied by a growl. This is different from a submissive grin, which is often mistaken for a snarl. In a submissive grin, the dog’s lips pull up vertically to expose the front teeth. It’s almost always accompanied by a submissive body posture—curved body; low, wagging tail; frequent looking away; and squinty eyes.
Tail
A tail tucked under is an indication of fear. A wagging tail is often mistaken for a sign of friendliness, but this could be a serious mistake. Just because a dog is wagging his tail doesn’t mean that he is social or that he wants you to pet him. A tail that is very low and wagging rapidly can indicate stress or fear, and it can also indicate excitement. A tail that is held very high and wagging indicates high arousal. The dog could be excited to greet you, or he could be getting agitated and contemplating lunging or even biting. In general, a mid-level or low, swishy tail wag is a sign of happiness or friendliness. Some dogs get so happy and excited that their tails go around in big circles.
Overall Body Posture
A dog’s overall body posture can tell you a lot about his intentions and what he is feeling. A dog that puts most of his weight on his hindquarters is trying to increase distance between himself and something. He could be unsure or afraid. When his weight is balanced forward, he’s trying to decrease distance. He is interested or eager. For example, a puppy who is unsure of a tall man may lean backward, away from the man. When he decides that the man is OK, he will lean or move toward him. If a dog is conflicted, he’ll shift his weight back and forth. He could be afraid yet interested at the same time.
A curved body posture indicates friendliness or appeasement. Some dogs seem to wiggle and wag with their entire bodies! When a dog lifts his paw, it also indicates appeasement and could be an invitation to play. When a dog lowers his head and bends his elbows, but his rear remains up, this is called a play bow. It’s an invitation to play and a way for a dog to indicate that he is not a threat.
When a dog lowers his head, stiffens his body, and affixes a hard-staring “lock and load” expression, his intent is to threaten. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the dog will bite, but he is definitely telling you to go away. If pressed, he could escalate to a bite. You may see the fur on the back of his neck or all down his back rise up. This is called “piloerection.”
This is a play bow.
Did You Know? Curly Tails
Not every
