Pets, like all living beings, communicate: with the environment in which they live, with others of their species, and with other animals. The fact that they do not have an articulated language like ours does not prevent them from also being able to communicate with us.
In the case of dogs, their communication system is very complex and is based on auditory, visual, olfactory and tactile signals, which make up a body language system. They use it to organize themselves as groups, to identify and mark their territory, to know the physiological and emotional state of other dogs, and to express their emotions, desires and needs. For this last reason, humans can also interpret this system, since they will try to use it when they want to tell us something.
Learning about the body language of dogs helps to forge a deeper bond with them, since that way you can know what they want or need: eat, play, stay calm, go for a walk, warn us of some danger, and other things. infinite number of possible messages.
They can express fear, anger, happiness, communicate their loneliness or desire to play, and even warn us of dangers that lie in wait for us, imperceptible to humans.
What feelings may a dog be expressing?
Fear: When a dog is scared, insecure, or trying to run away, they usually keep their mouths closed with the corners pointing back and their eyes wide open. The ears are also usually in a backwards direction, and the head is lowered.
Another particular manifestation of fear are the so-called “emotional odors”, produced in circumstances of acute stress and fear, such as that which can manifest itself in a kennel. A pungent and characteristic odor accompanied by one of the other gestures means that the dog feels really threatened.
Also, your body will be hunched over and crouched; It can even emit moans. If he growls and shows his teeth, it means that he is going from fear to anger.
Anger: When a dog starts to get angry, they will usually point their ears forward, unless their anger is coming from fear (then their ears will be back). He will raise his tail and show his teeth, as a warning.
When he growls and barks, the best thing to do is try to follow his gaze to see what stimulus is bothering him.
If he gets to the point of standing firm, still, with his body forward and his fur standing on end, do not provoke him, and let him calm down.
Submission: When a dog is submissive, it drops its ears back and drops its tail between its hind legs, wagging it. It avoids the visual as a sign of submission and usually leaves the belly exposed and emits high-pitched sounds.
Soledad: a dog that suddenly finds itself alone, howls. This behavior comes from packs of wild dogs, because howling is a way for them to signal their location when they are separated. For the same reason, sometimes the sirens of the city, which can be confused with the howls of other dogs, worry them, since they think there is a dog looking for them.
Excitement: one of the signals of dogs that is most often interpreted is wagging the tail, as a sign of joy. It is true that a happy dog wags its tail because the situation that makes it happy is also exciting, but sometimes, especially in large dogs, it is also a sign of sexual arousal.
other signs
In addition to these general characterizations of their feelings, which are demonstrated with the whole body, dogs emit some clear and concise signals:
Howl: it is a call; wild dogs search for a member of their pack; and pets, to their families.
Barking: it can be a warning, an invitation to play, a claim for food, or different calls for attention.
Give the paw, or lower only the front legs: it is an invitation to play, and the same should be interpreted if it places its paws on the arms of a person, for example.
Sneeze: You detect something strange, but you are not sure what it is. In the home, it can be your reaction to strong and strange odors such as alcohol, cleaning products or perfumes.
Staring into the eyes: this is a sign of defiance, although when they look at their owner they may just be trying to get a better grasp of what they want to tell them.
Yawn: as in humans, it expresses that they are sleepy.
Growling: it is a warning of aggressiveness.
Hitting the arms with the snout: is asking for something, for example food.
Tail movement: raised means that it feels safe; low means submission; very low, between the legs, fear. If the tail is chased, it has excess energy, it needs exercise and new activities.
Beyond this information, you must remember that each dog is different. Therefore, the best way to know what your dog wants to tell you is to observe him and think about what he could be trying to communicate at that moment. Little by little, you will be elaborating your own dictionary of signs of your friend in particular.