Het is niet zo moeilijk om te bepalen wat je hond je probeert te vertellen als hij verlangend naast de tafel zit, een touw van speeksel over de vloer, starend naar de sappige burger die je naar je lippen brengt. Maar hoe zit het als hij gaapt terwijl jij aan het stofzuigen bent? Verveelt het huishouden hem? Wat dacht je van als hij op zijn voorpoten neerbuigt, met zijn achterste in de lucht, als je thuiskomt van de yogales? Pronkt hij met zijn eigen naar beneden gerichte hondenhouding?
Als dierenarts kan ik je niet vertellen hoe nuttig het zou zijn als honden (en vooral katten) konden praten; Ik weet dat mijn kinderarts hetzelfde voelt over zijn jongste aanklachten. Het goede nieuws voor dierenartsen, huisdieren en hun eigenaren is dat jarenlang onderzoek naar hondengedrag en lichaamstaal ons veel inzicht heeft gegeven in wat die wenkbrauwen, staartbewegingen en gekrulde lippen kunnen betekenen. Door gedrag te ontcijferen met behulp van lichaamstaal kan ik bepalen of een huisdier pijn heeft, angstig is, blij is me te zien of gestrest is, en het kan je helpen een band met je hond te krijgen en mogelijk een woordenwisseling tussen dieren te voorkomen of te weten wanneer je hond het heeft ontdekt een nieuwe beste vriend.
Wat betekent het als honden blaffen, huilen of janken?
Ten eerste helpt het om te onthouden dat het DNA van honden nauw verwant is aan dat van zijn voorouders, wilde honden en wolven. As pack animals, there is a hierarchy in the group that is determined by social cues such as verbal sounds, body stance, tail position and facial expression.
Canine vocal sounds are usually the simplest of the clues humans can utilize to decide what a dog is trying to tell you. Whining:a high pitched soft sound can be heard from a dog that is in pain, anxious, frustrated or seeking attention when a bark has been discouraged. A whine and a whimper can sound similar. A bark, depending on the frequency, volume, and duration, can be used as an alert (read:the evil UPS man is coming to the door), to express excitement (accompanied by a tail wag and a grin), and as a sign of aggression when it is low pitched. Howling dogs may be anxious (think separation anxiety), attention-seeking, or trying to locate their “pack”. How about the dog that howls at the tv or a police siren? Those dogs may be telling the tv canine “hey, I’m here!” and possibly to back off their territory.
We can use body language along with vocalizations to best determine a dog’s emotional state. When in doubt, approach an unfamiliar dog slowly and from the side, avoiding eye contact which is threatening. Likewise, don’t reach over a dog’s head when first physically interacting. Some fearful or reactive dogs may see this as a scary gesture and reactive aggressively or back away, even if your pat was well intentioned.
Dog Body Language Is Relaxed and Approachable
So, what does a relaxed, happy, and approachable dog look like? In its most comfortable, unthreatened state, a dog may be lying on its belly, back legs splayed like a frog, on its back with the belly exposed and tail loose, or on the side with the eyes closed and legs extended. The dog’s ears are also relaxed and limp. In this position, the dog would be vulnerable to another animal or human and its reaction time would be delayed if attacked. Clearly, this is a dog that has no fear of an enemy! When standing, a content dog has its ears up but not forward, may have its tongue hanging out of a partially open mouth, a loose body with weight placed evenly on all four feet, head held high, and the tail down and relaxed. If approached, this dog may give a wag and a wiggle and come closer to be stroked.
Now picture this same dog who has detected the movement of a chipmunk. Alert and interested, the dog may close his mouth and tip his ears forward. His body weight may also shift to the front feet, ready to move if necessary. The tail will be held horizontally to the ground, possibly with a slight twitch, and the eyes will be wide open.
Understanding Dog Behavior With Other Canines
Let’s bring our pet to the dog park, where a particularly dominant dog is chasing our pup relentlessly and aggressively, possibly biting at his ears, and rolling him to the ground. Afraid? Zeker weten! The fearful, submissive dog may roll on his back, tail pulled between his legs and may urinate. He will roll his head to the side but keep his eyelids open to watch for trouble, though any eye contact will be brief and indirect. His lips will be back, and mouth closed, or he may lick at the air or the dominant dog. The ears are generally flat and pulled back as well. Fido is scared and wants to head off further confrontation and attention! Yawning is also a sign of stress and anxiety in dogs. If we had been observant, we may have noticed this cue as well as a tucked tail as soon as Bruiser showed up.
And what about Bruiser? How can you tell a dog who is playing from a dog who is an aggressive bully? A dog bowing forward on its front legs, wagging its tail like a flag, with the ears erect and lips curved into a grin with the tongue out is giving the signal, “game on!” Usually, the dog remains in this position for just a few seconds before breaking into a “catch me if you can” type run. A play bow is distinctly different from the dog that approaches another dog with his hackles raised, a penetrating, unbreaking stare, body position forward, nose wrinkled, a stiff tail, and teeth partially visible. Back off without making eye contact and alert Bruiser’s owner that things are about to get ugly.
I hope these tips give you a little better idea what your dog may be trying to say. Be watchful of your body language as well as to those canines around you. Maybe even try a play bow next time you are home and watch your dog bounce with joy!
