Body language of dogs
This form of visual communication is generally used for identifying emotions and intentions of domestic dogs, though it can also be applied to wild canines such as wolves.
[1][2][7] It is important to note that the body language under investigation can be divided into three different forms of cues: behavioural, holistic, and other.
[1] Euthanasia can be avoided in cases where such behavioural issues occur due to humans ignoring the warning signs expressed by a dog.
[1][2] The position and movement, or lack thereof, of a dog's head can indicate a variety of emotional states.
[13] The head can be held in a high position convey being approachable, alert, aggressive, or displaying dominance.
While the reason for this head positioning has not been determined, it has been suggested that this behaviour shows that a dog is trying to listen more effectively or is anticipating a reward.
Prolonged eye contact or staring are indicators of aggression, especially when combined with body stiffness.
In an aggressive dog, the lips curl back to expose clenched teeth, which warns others of their ferocity.
Conversely, an open mouth showing unclenched teeth indicates that a dog is in a playful or relaxed mood.
Though indeed tail wagging can express these positive emotions, it can also be an indication of fear, insecurity, the challenging of dominance, or a warning sign that the dog may bite.
Research has demonstrated that dogs display asymmetric tail wagging as a result of distinctive emotional stimuli.
[5][6] Right-biased tail wags are ones biased to the right side of a dog's body, as viewed from the rear.
[5] Left-biased tail wags are ones biased to the left side of a dog's body, as viewed from the rear.
A withdrawn body position with weight distributed to the hind end of a dog suggests fear.
Knowing these indicators can make it easier for pet owners to interact with their animals and identify when a dog is pleased, anxious, or threatened.
[1] In comparison, an anxious or fearful dog will display a tense body posture, backward position of the ears, head turning, and/or lip smacking.
[1][2] Finally, an aggressive dog will display a stiff tail (which may be wagging slowly), a forward ear position, as well as a wrinkled nose.
[2] For example, children often misinterpret the body language of dogs, especially when such motions precede an aggressive behaviour.
The Calming signals are often not noticed or not interpreted correctly to recognize early signs of stress in a dog.
[2] Understanding and properly interpreting the characteristics displayed by dogs during learning can significantly aid in successive obedience training.
[9] As human-dog interactions occur quite frequently, a lack of obedience training can lead to unwanted behavioural problems.
Studies have shown that the obedience training of domestic dogs can be explained using operant conditioning methods.
Attention to others can be assessed in dogs by measuring the amount of eye contact made with the trainer, as well as the position of the ears.
[9] It has been found that dogs that make eye contact with the trainer, as well as display a forward ear position, are most successful in learning achievement during operant conditioning.
