A Dog’s Body Language

The study of body language certainly isn’t new and most of us are paying attention to it in our every-day lives with little effort. We can tell when someone is angry, happy, sad, upset, delighted, or disappointed all by the language of their body.

I don’t know if a dog’s body language is more subtle or we aren’t as attuned to what it might be saying. In training, it is important to observe the dog. It becomes obvious as to what they are feeling – or not feeling as the case may be.

A twitch of the ear means something. A slight stiffening of the neck and ever-so-subtle shift in their posture is an indicator of something – either in anticipation or in response.

You can see when a dog “takes” a command. There is a different look than when they have no clue what you are asking. (My Great Dane has this look a lot so it may not always be wise to judge the book by it’s cover!)

Why does any of this matter? Learning what the posturing (body language) of your dog means, helps you in training and in understanding them. You will start to recognize when the dog is “having a good time” versus when the tail wag is purely nervous energy. By observing and learning from them, you can also begin to experience the importance of your body language.

We all know what it’s like to be in the presence of someone who is saying something completely opposite from their body! Your dog is at least that smart. They are always tuned into our body language. We should do the same for them. It is amazing what you’ll learn!