In general, it is an accepted fact that dogs, unless trained or directed by an owner, do not communicate through words. Instead, in an effort to establish their needs, they employ quite a few subtle gestures and some that are quite obvious. Humans, however, can often overlook subtlety and instead insert their own subtext based on their wishes, ignoring the instinctual urges of a canine companion. It is not done maliciously, but often out of ignorance of what to look for. How is Pablo’s slight adjustment to ear position interpreted? While a dog speaks with his entire body and body language should be taken in context, there are some facial expressions that a dog owner may want to pay special attention to.
The smile
Many of us never get to see a genuine dog ‘smile’ and when it does it can be disconcerting the first few times. A happy, relaxed dog body, wagging its tail, kicking its paws for attention, and yet when you look down for a little affection, a mouth of bared teeth and gums is what greets you. Normally, this type of tooth display is reserved for a warning, “back off,” the expression goes, but the dog’s body language screams otherwise. This can send mixed signals to a human, but it’s not that confusing if other signs are also taken into account. Is there another animal, especially another dog, that is also competing for affection? Do they force you to pet two dogs at the same time? A smile in this situation can very well mean: “Look, I’m giving you more, put all your attention on me.” You can find Pablo almost aggressively pushing his sister Annie out of the way to get both of his hands on him alone. This type of smile will likely be much rarer when attention is not divided.
A smile, which is usually marked by the lifting of the corners of the mouth, and when not accompanied by body language that clearly indicates otherwise, generally means that a threat is not perceived and that the dog is not trying to move the boat. This action is rarely used by a dominant or alpha dog who sees himself as equal to a human. The smile can also be reinforced with praise and caresses.
Speak in tongues
While the tongue is one of the main ways dogs get cold, it can be more than just a heat regulator. Panting allows the canine to inhale air that runs through the tongue and evaporates moisture, which in turn acts as a cooler for the rest of the body, lowering core temperatures. A tongue can also indicate stress in dogs, although the signs are subtle and harder to read. With a little observation skill, you can spot the differences. A completely relaxed dog tongue is the sign of a calm dog. It folds out loosely without weird curvature and just falls over the teeth and comes out of the mouth, large and flexible.
A spatulate tongue is one that the dog does not allow to hang loose and instead, it appears that Pablo is actually holding it and pulling it away from the teeth, causing a strange curve and giving the tongue a stiff appearance. It may appear wider at the tip and it certainly doesn’t have that flabby, hanging look. This is an indication that Pablo is stressed, but just like yawning, it is nothing to worry too much about. He may be “upset” because he is expected to sit down before leaving the house to go jogging in the backyard.
There may also be what some call tongue movements, which are even more subtle indicators of some distress. While this is a behavior that is not fully understood, it is generally considered a self-calming action or, as in humans, a nervous action. Sometimes the movement of the tongue is very small, just over the lips, and other times it can cover the dog’s nose. The bigger the lick, the more Annie may be struggling to calm down in a situation that is straining her nerves but doesn’t demand a total fight or flight response. A dog may be out of his comfort zone or settling in after a day of dodging the child. Humans can often help spread this condition by moving their own tongues for the dog to see, or a combination of lip licking and yawning.
While the eyes and ears are certainly easier for us to read, overlooking the finer points of dog communication can actually stress them out even more. They read to us a lot better than we do, but we can even play around a bit if we just slow down and take the time not only to look at what our dear furry friends are trying to tell us, but also to observe and interpret. . Actions speak louder than words and in the canine world, that’s a no-brainer that can’t be overstated. Watch and learn. It can only strengthen the bond between you and your loved ones.