The Dog Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [22]
EARS. Challenging or dominant dogs keep their ears erect, tense, and pointed forward. Calm, contented dogs tend to relax their ears. Fearful or worried dogs often pull their ears flat against their heads.
EYES. Direct staring by a dog means confidence and, possibly, dominance. Dogs who look at you and then look away are indicating that they are yielding power to you. Dogs who greet you with “soft eyes” are content. Large, dilated pupils can be a sign of fear or aggression, especially in conditions when the lighting should make the pupils contract.
MOUTH. A soft, relaxed mouth indicates a relaxed dog. A tight mouth or tensed-up lips show tension. A curled lip and exposed teeth may be signs of aggression or, in the case of certain breeds like Chesapeake Bay retrievers, could be signs of smiling. Tongue flicking often means a feeling of uncertainty or uneasiness. Yawning usually indicates stress, not fatigue. Yawning helps lower a dog’s blood pressure to help him stay calm. Dogs who mouth your hand without using their teeth are delivering a friendly greeting. However, adult dogs who use their teeth are challenging your authority.
TORSO TENSION. Muscle tension is your barometer to the emotions being conveyed by a dog. Tightened muscles, especially around the head and shoulders, often indicate a dog who is scared or aggressive.
GESTURES. Play bowing (chest down, front legs extended, back end up, tail wagging) is the universal canine sign for happiness and an invitation to play. Nudging you with a nose is a plea for affection or a cue that you’re in his chair and could you please move. Lifting a paw often means “let’s play” or “pay attention to me.”
FUR. A calm dog displays a smooth coat from his shoulders to his hips. A scared or challenged dog often elevates the hairs (called hackles) along his spine to appear larger in size.
TAIL. An alert dog holds his tail tall and erect. A fearful dog tucks his tail between his legs. An excited dog hoists his tail high and wags it quickly from side to side. A cautious or nervous dog holds his tail straight out and wags it slowly and steadily. A contented dog keeps his tail relaxed and at ease.
When in doubt, accept the most fearful or aggressive signal. If the back end is acting friendly and the tail is wagging, but the dog is grimacing and looks tense, assume the most dangerous end is telling the truth. If there is fear in any body language sign, then fear is the answer. Better to be safe and greet that dog from a distance.
Terrier Tum-Tum
Q My husband and I did a lot of research on various breeds before choosing a dog. We decided on a rare breed called Glen of Imaal terrier because of the breed’s sturdiness, compact size, and non-shedding coat. We adopted a spirited puppy we named Byline, who is now eight months old. As a first-time dog owner, I don’t “speak” dog very well. Sometimes, when Byline flops down and goes belly up, he seems to love me giving him belly scratches. Other times, however, he responds to my belly scratches by growling slightly. How can I better understand what Byline is trying to convey to me?
A Congratulations on the new addition to your family. I applaud you for taking the time to research the breeds before making a decision about the one that best suits your lifestyle. As for learning “dog speak,” you cannot focus on just one part of a dog’s body and expect to accurately interpret what Byline is trying to tell you. You have to look at the whole package and size up the situation. You also need to take into account the personality traits of terrier breeds. Although there are always exceptions, terriers tend to be bossy and need to know that you are in charge. Terriers heed owners who are clear and consistent in their body and word cues.
Let me illustrate with the belly flop, a common canine posture. When a dog rolls on his back and exposes his belly, most owners perceive this as a sign of submission. But pay close attention to the dog’s posture and muscle tension. A dog who goes into a shoulder roll and stays tucked, with belly up, muscles