How dogs interpret our body language
People say we can “listen” to our dogs more effectively by paying attention to their body language. But do they “listen” to us the same way?
The short answer is yes!
But, while dogs often take cues from our body language, sometimes those cues aren’t exactly what we mean to communicate. Here are some things you can do to prevent that kind of misunderstanding when you’re interacting with unfamiliar dogs.
First, always let the dog come to you. Remember that to them, you’re this huge, looming creature they don’t know — which means that they might react negatively simply out of fear. Allow the dog to decide whether or not to approach you.
Next, never stare directly at an unfamiliar dog. In the animal kingdom, direct eye contact is considered a threat, and the animal may well respond in kind. If you don’t know the dog, approach it with either soft eye contact (in other words, no staring) or no eye contact at all. And never put your face — or allow a child to put their face — directly in front of a dog’s face: that’s an excellent way to become a dog-bite victim.
Avoid facing your body directly toward any dog you don’t know. A nervous or frightened dog can interpret a direct, face-forward stance as aggressive or confrontational, which can lead to major misunderstandings. Sometimes, just turning your head to the side can help sooth an anxious dog.
Dogs can also misinterpret someone bending over to pet them as threatening — again, especially if they’re fearful or uneasy. This is especially true for small dogs, who can become extremely frightened when this giant human swoops down on them from above to pick them up or pet them. Instead, try kneeling sideways and keep your hands either close to your the body, or offer an open hand low to the ground.
Speaking of petting, sometimes our first instinct when we meet a dog is to pet or pat it on the top of his head. Unfortunately, dogs can see this as a threat if they don’t know you — and many dogs simply hate to be patted or even touched on the head. A much better option is to offer an open hand, palm up, just below the dog’s chin, and let it reach forward to sniff. Then you can try scratching gently under the dog’s chin or behind the ear and watch for a response. If the dog pulls away, stop. Once the dog relaxes, try resuming your petting.
As humans, we crave contact, and most of us love to be hugged. But think how you’d feel if a complete stranger suddenly reached out and embraced you. Whether it’s your own dog or another, keep this mind: if the dog leans into your hug with a relaxed body and soft expression, you’re fine.
If on the other hand the dog cowers, looks away or tenses up when you’re hugging, it’s a strong signal that you’re making the animal anxious or uncomfortable.
So, as important as it is to learn how to understand the behavioral and body cues of dogs, we also need to remember that at the same time we’re “reading” them, they’re “reading” us — so be sure to use appropriate body language with the dogs you meet and greet.
And you can help your own pooches survive in our human world by teaching them that stupid hominid behaviors like eye contact, head-patting, and hugging are good things, and may even get them a cookie!
Joan Merriam lives in Nevada County with her golden retriever Joey, her Maine coon cat Indy and the abiding spirit of her beloved golden retriever Casey in whose memory this column is named. You can reach Joan at joan@ joanmerriam.com. And if you’re looking for a golden, be sure to check out Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue.