Communication in Dogs

Dogs can communicate vividly not only with their own species but also with Humans and many studies have proven that over time. Let's take a look at how they communicate with us.

Dogs go in for more than one way of communication and that makes them very apt at conveying what they need to.

With an eye for detail it is very easy to crack what your doggo is telling you.

Dogs engage in visual communication by modifying different parts of their body; in tactile communication; and also in auditory and olfactory communication, with vocalizations and body odors, respectively.

Living in close contact with humans for at least 30,000 years, dogs have developed specific skills enabling them to communicate flexibly with humans.

A wide range of postures and body part positions that convey different information about them.

For example, Dogs can communicate confidence, alertness, or threat by increasing their body size, pulling themselves up to their full height, and increasing the tension of the body muscles.

The tail contributes to help define postural displays and its positions and movements are used to convey different information about the individual's emotional state and intentions.

They regulate their behavior towards an unknown or ambiguous object by using human emotional referential expressions, especially when provided by their owner; dogs prefer to approach it or to stay away if the human expresses happiness or fear/disgust, respectively. Interestingly, when the informants are inattentive, dogs actively attempt to involve them to obtain information, alternating their gaze between the object and them. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the existence of social referencing in dogs.

In simple words, your doggo depends on your body language and expressions to judge any new person or object that may be in vision. Positive reinforcement can always build better attachment of objects/surroundings with the doggo.

Dog's perception of human emotions allows them to adjust their behavior during everyday interactions with humans and to respond appropriately.

For some of you who might have had a negative experience with a Stray baby or a pet doggo, here is a possible reason - A dog may begin by displaying excitement signals in response to a stimulus or any unknown object/person, decide that stimulus is a threat, and switch to aggressive signals, fear signals, or even both.

So a wagging tail does not always mean that the dog is sure about you. Just be careful, stay calm and have an eye out for these signals.

Best of luck for your next interaction with a Pupper!

References

1.Communication in Dogs

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6116041/#:~:text=A%20recent%20study%20shows%20that,%2Fprohibiting%20voice%20%5B75%5D.

2.https://www.doghealth.com/behavior/how-and-why/2401-what-your-dogs-tail-can-tell-you

3.https://centerforshelterdogs.tufts.edu/dog-behavior/dog-communication-and-body-language/