The following tips on dogs body language are finally revealed by Sitters4Critters… Its no secret, but these are the steps we take to ensure that your pet is happy, healthy and safe with us!  The following body language tips are not forced, they are scientifically proven!

Finally Revealed- Tips Dogs Body Language  Via Google Images

Finally Revealed- Tips Dogs Body Language Via Google Images

Finally Revealed- Tips Dogs Body Language

To understand canine body language you must understand dog communication.  This publication WILL answer your questions about:

How to recognize fear in dogs. How to recognize when your dog is becoming stressed. What do dogs do when they are anxious, nervous, over excited, and dog-dog communication?  What’s appropriate? When to step in? When you do not have to step in.

Stress Behavior In Dogs

Stress Behavior Image courtesy of moderndogmagazine.com

Stress Behavior Image courtesy of www.moderndogmagazine.com

The stress behavior in dogs (as pictured above) is a good indication he or she is stressed.  The stress signals of nervousness, apprehensiveness / uncertainty just to name the top few.

These are WARNINGS in dog-dog language. It is pretty clear, but humans, unless taught, do not know this.  If you ignore these signs a bite can occur.

Common stress signals:

1. Have you ever shoved your face in your dogs face and they looked the other way?  Your pooch is trying to tell you that he/ she does not like it. We call it.. Avoidance

2. Giving direct eye contact, lip licking, yawn, avoidance.  Dogs will slightly look away and notice you still looking at them.  They will get uncomfortable, lip lick, and yawn.  You may also notice your dog giving these stress signs while at the vet clinic, nail clipping, and dog walk just to name a few.  Notice when you approach dogs and they back away from you… They are stressed or uncomfortable. 

Anxious Behavior in Dogs

Anxious behavior in dogs include but not limited to hyper-vigilant, sniffing the ground, tail low, and cautious to name a few.

Anxious Behavior in Dogs Picture courtesy of www.caretoadopt.org

Anxious Behavior in Dogs Picture courtesy of www.caretoadopt.org

You may also notice anxious dogs make fast movements, tail low to the ground, and head movements of uncertainty.

Fearful avoidance:

You will notice dogs with fearful avoidance with their tail low, body sinking to the ground, almost trying to make oneself smaller or less of a threat.

Fearful Nervousness:

The fearful nervousness show low warning barks, ears flattened, low wagging tail, whites of eyes showing, lip lick, skin around mouth tensing, and some avoidance.

Fearful aggression:

Fearful aggression can make it appear that your dog is trying to make you go away.  You dog might have a stiff posture, ears standing, ears spread, vocalized warnings, hard stare threat. A tense body, tongue flicks, and barring teeth are also signs of fearful aggression.

High Arousal Behavior (too excited)

You will notice high arousal behavior in certain dogs especially adolescence.  High arousal includes but not limited to lip licking, barking, and anxious behaviors such as running around.

Stress guarding behavior:

You can notice the stress guarding behavior in dogs by observing dogs playing with toys.  Dogs will treat their toys with snarling, tongue flicks, tense facial muscles, and hard stare.  A dog-dog body language understands this and gives stress and warning signs back.

When to step in during conflict AND what to do…

If you notice your dogs playing when all of a sudden your dog just lays there while the puppy continues to bite or play with him or her. The puppy keeps playing with your dog so much when your dog reacts and bites the puppy.  However, the puppy continues to play and doesn’t recognize the problem.  You intervene by calling the puppies name and distract the puppy with something else.  You do not use physical force.

Dog Meet-N-Greets:

If you notice an approaching dog and your dogs tail rises, you can interrupt that behavior by gently pulling back on the leash and correcting your dog.

When to let behaviors be..

You should let behaviors be if two dogs are having “in control rough house play”.  Your dog might gently be playing or the dog might feel invited to play back. 

If you have any questions or comments on this please use the dialog below!  Let me know if you find this helpful.

For more information, please visit https://sittersforcritters.com/ sitters4critters13@gmail.com 1-800-655-6071 “Like Us” on Facebook