Is your dog acting weird suddenly? They might actually be trying to communicate with you
Who says dogs don't communicate like humans? Although their ways of communicating are different, sometimes they're even more expressive than we are; they feel the same emotions and sentiments, too. If you, too, are struggling to understand your pet dog, then you have landed on the right page to take you through some tips, tricks, and solutions. Notably, a report in Newsweek has revealed some lesser-known and overlooked signs that most owners tend to neglect. Dogs hve different and sometimes weird ways of communicating and there are some things owners to keep an eye out for.
The founder of Pet Harmony Animal Behavior and Training, Allie Bender, talked about how dogs usually behave while trying to communicate with their owners. She highlighted that some signs are more obvious and easier to recognize if the focus is on the dog's body language, vocalization, etc. Further, Bender revealed that only people who have good observation skills and a proper understanding of the dogs' body language can recognize these subtle signs. "For example, a lip lick or stress yawn are stress signs that are easy to see, but if you don't know that they're stress signs, you may not know that your dog is trying to communicate with you," she said.
Moreover, she explained that certain signs are harder to distinguish because often it seems like their behavior has nothing to do with the humans around them. Bender confessed to having clients who had mistaken their dogs chewing on their property as "boredom," and while this specific reason can't be completely ruled out, it might be a way for dogs to get their owner's attention. "Yes, they may be born of boredom, but they may also be used as a form of communication that says, 'Hey, human, do stuff with me.' The way that I can figure that out is by asking questions about how the human responds to those behaviors and if those behaviors typically result in getting the human's attention or more," she added.
Interestingly, dogs try to communicate with their owners all the time — it's just that people around them don't always understand that. Zoe Willingham, a United Kingdom-based dog behaviorist, shared with the outlet. "When a dog is petted and stroked, dogs are screaming communication with this, and we often see them dipping their head, giving sideways glances, and yawning or lip-licking because they are tolerating it versus loving it. On the flip side to that, has anyone ever had their dog sit on their feet with their back to you? This is a classic body language sign that your dog feels comfortable and wants a good chest rub, which most dogs love and invites a fuss," Willingham said.
While these are clear signs, Willingham shared some that weren't as distinct. "Other less obvious ways dogs communicate, which owners don't recognize, are when a well-socialized dog meets another dog. They will often approach in an arc pattern, rather than head-on, to show they are a friend and no threat. A good arc and bum sniff is the perfect 'handshake' for dogs!" Willingham added.
While our furry friends may seem indecipherable, we now know what their little gestures mean and how they want us to show up for them. The next time your dog sits with their back to you, we hope you can launch full-blown 'spa mode' with a satisfying belly rub.