A considerable number of people know the joys of having a dog in their life. Whether it was childhood, newlyweds getting a pet together, or adopting a canine after kids come into the picture, interactions between dogs and their humans are quite remarkable.
If you live with dogs, you know something about how they communicate, both verbally and nonverbally. Think about when you put your running shoes on: You are sending a nonverbal signal to your dog that you're going for a jog, and your pooch will likely take that as you asking if he wants to go, too. What does your dog do? Jump for joy or follow you around the house. If you put on your work shoes your dog may sulk, go to her bed, or look sad. When you're having a bad day, you may find your dog appears and puts his head in your lap, seemingly so empathetic to your feelings. You and your dog are engaging in nonverbal communication.
Dogs can also display body language cues that suggest fear, anxiety, worry, and aggression. It's important for dog owners to be able to recognize these cues to mitigate problems down the road.
Here are some examples of how dogs express themselves and express these emotional states of anxiety and fear.
Dogs will also get what looks like a worried face. He's beginning to look away, and exhibiting what we sometimes call whale eye. The sclera (the white of the eye) is exposed and the dog's ears are back, this is posturing that suggests anxiety.
This dog's behavior is also in that domain of fear and anxiety, but he has made a different decision in a fight-or-flight zone; his decision is not to flee, but to fight. This dog is willing to overtly come forward and use aggression, first as a threat like a growl or a snarl. If that does not work, then perhaps he will come forward again in a threatening or dangerous manner.
We see the above listed behaviors on a fairly regular basis during veterinary appointments. To try to ease your pet’s anxiety, we’ve implemented many fear-free techniques to help keep your pet calm during his visit.
While you can use some of the above methods in your home to help ease your pet’s anxiety, sometimes the solution for your dog may be a bit more involved. Let's take this scenario: A family has a small dog like a Pomeranian or a Jack Russell terrier, and a three-year-old. Of course, the child is going to want to play with the dog, but the dog isn’t really into it, and sometimes will nip at the child to get the child to stop.
One way to alleviate this issue is to create a safe space just for the dog with his crate, bed, food, and water. The parents put up a gate with an opening just big enough that the dog can get in and out, but the child couldn't pass through. This dog can now go into this area to rest and escape from the three-year-old child.
The effect of this was quite remarkable. Now that the dog knows he can be in his safe space whenever he wants he seems happier. They can now start the process of creating a positive relationship between the dog and the child.
Dogs do tell us what we need to know, so it behooves you to watch your dogs and get to know their body language. Watch for those subtle signs of fear and anxiety, and help them turn negative experiences into positive ones. Dog