Experts say dog communication is the transfer of information between dogs and humans through certain gestures.
They believe there are many ways dogs try to communicate with us, using what I like to call their “secret language.”
LIKE THEIR –
Face – that Scooby-Doo head tilt to make you think you’re stupid because they’re confused.
Eyes – which reminds me of a two way lightbulb. A regular glow when all is well, then the high bright light (showing the whites of their eyes) because they are afraid.
Lips, teeth and tongue – which is reserved for when a dog is communicating with a human. He pulls his lips back and shows his teeth in what appears to be a smile, but I think they’re laughing at us. #secretlanguage
Ears – “raised” means he’s relaxed and listening. #chillin
Tails – are used as a “feelings” indicator. If it wags to the right it’s a sign of positive feelings. To the left – negative feelings. 🙁
My man Jaxson only knows one gesture – eye contact. Or as I like to call it –
#inyourface!…
How does your pup communicate with you?
The biggest COMMUNICATION problem is we do not listen to understand, we listen to reply ❤️
Good Reads:
This is our contribution in the BlogPaws Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.
January 25, 2017
I love this! Animals communicate with us in so many ways, if we just take the time to listen. Oh but, how do you know if a tail is wagging to the right or to the left?
January 25, 2017
Heather – I am still trying to figure out the tail wagging thing myself. I try to watch it when it begins (soI can determine which way it starts) but I haven’t mastered it yet. I am trying to really understand their gestures because I think we can learn so much from them. Love having dogs in my life.
January 25, 2017
That’s so true about Jax!
January 25, 2017
Please let John know he made the blog!
January 25, 2017
The picture is too adorable!!! You’ve hit the nail on the head with the laughing at us! Brando does it a lot, I guess we must be amusing! BOL!
January 25, 2017
Oh, I know for a fact that Harley laughs at me every single day. He’s too smart for me.
January 25, 2017
Totally in love with that quote: The biggest COMMUNICATION problem is we do not listen to understand, we listen to reply. Right on!
January 25, 2017
Monika – when I saw it, I fell in love with it too! Because it’s so true. All day at work I tried to remember the quote so that I would listen more and reply less. I was about 50% successful 🙂 Will continue to work at it!
January 25, 2017
I love this. There’s been a few times Sebastian and I have gazed at each other where I almost started crying because I could just feel the love and kindness he was giving me through his eyes (and no, there’s was no food involved – ha!)
xoxoxo,
Erika and Sebastian
January 25, 2017
Hi Erika – Welcome to Doodleville! Sebastian sounds a lot like Harley. He can melt your heart with just a glance. I love having dogs in my life. Please come back and visit soon.
January 25, 2017
Bentley uses his eyes to speak to us but Pierre “talks” in a unique voice. He asks permission to get on the bed or to snuggle on the couch. It is very sweet ♥
January 25, 2017
Bentley is so suave!!!! I love him. He doesn’t have to say a word… LOL Please catch Pierre in one of his convo’s – I’d love to hear him. Take care my friend.
January 25, 2017
Your dogs are very expressive! I love the communication going on in the photo. It is really a beautiful moment. 🙂 My kitties have all kinds of ways of communicating with me. They like to use eye blinks, the way they walk, and the way they move their tails. 🙂
January 25, 2017
Thanks so much Robin, both Harley and Jaxson can make anyone start talking to them based on the way they look at you. They’re very expressive.
January 25, 2017
Rita is a pretty quiet communicator. She does come and give me a nose-poke every once in a while if she thinks I’ve been staring at the computer too long! 🙂 Last night she hopped up on the sofa next to me – usually she just curls up in a ball and goes to sleep. But last night she sat and looked at me, so i was talking to her and giving her some lovin, and then I went to go back to my iPad, and she gently put her paw on my arm. So cute. I totally got the message – “Don’t look at that thing. We were done with the lovin’s yet.”
January 25, 2017
Jaxson will climb up on the couch and first he’ll places paw on the keyboard, if that doesn’t wrk, he will then place his entire head on it. By thenI’m laughing so hard, I just put the laptop away!
January 25, 2017
Leroy sits in front of me and barks, does that count? 🙂
January 26, 2017
AbsoDOODLEtutely!
January 26, 2017
Jax isn’t my kinda guy, loves looking at people directly in the eyes… err FACE.
The boys are the same. Baxter is always watching with one eye closed; he never misses a thing.
But the head tilts? They get me every time!
Have a great weekend my friend and give your boys love for me and from the boys, too!
xoxox
January 26, 2017
Jaxson will stay “in yo face” until you figure out what he wants. Usually it’s to play or cuddle. He doesn’t beg for treats #thankthedoodle Have a glorious weekend girlfriend XOXO
January 26, 2017
Ducky is a chatterbox at times. She’ll talk so much we won’t know what she’s saying. But most times it’s either play, potty, or both.
Shadow is much more mellow. She gives us those eyes, or a little wiggle, and we know exactly what she wants.
January 26, 2017
Harley is the one who drags his paw and claws down your leg. When you look at him, he will slowly move towards the object of his affection at the time – freezer for ice cream, counter top for greenies, and fridge for cheese. He’s got us well trained.
January 26, 2017
Last night I asked Rodrigo if he wanted to go upstairs with me – “do you want to go night night with mommy?” Rodrigo’s eyes widened, his ears perked up, and he jumped off the sofa where he had been cuddling with Johan, and stood look at me, body tense, tail slowly wagging and then he barked once. Loudly.
That was his version of HELL YEAH!!!
January 26, 2017
That’s exactly what I was thinking too! He was like – how many other signals do I need to send you! Too funny…
January 26, 2017
If you want to really learn to read and understand your dog, try nose work or tracking, sports where the human is 100% dependent on the dog. Other sports like rally, or agility is where the dog is dependent on the human. Mom has learned quite a bit about us and how we communicate by doing nose work. It’s imperative you read your dog right. In tracking, Bailie is too fast to read, Mom just follows and tries to stay upright. Just as every move a dog makes means something, we assume the same of humans. Body position is very important.
January 26, 2017
I never tried nose work with the Boys. Harley would have absolutely no interest – Jaxson may be worth a try. I’ll have to look for something here in Charleston. Thanks Emma.
January 26, 2017
Awesome post!!! Glad I came across this, thank you for sharing! 🙂 Henry
January 26, 2017
Hi Henry! Thanks so much for stopping by, hope to see you around again soon…..
January 26, 2017
What a lovely post! Non dog people say how do you know what your dog wants when they can’t talk and I think dogs always talk but we don’t try hard enough to listen and understand. 😀 Happy is a great communicator. He has all kinds of different facial expressions and body language to show me when he wants more food or when he wants to go out and pretty much everything he wants he tells me. He’s a funny dog! 😉
January 26, 2017
I find it fascinating. I like to watch Harley – he does everything he can, short of speaking to me. He will get our attention and then show is what he wants. Dogs make life so much more colorful. Have a great weekend – hugs to Happy.
January 27, 2017
Ruby is a big communicator with her eyes and tail. Her eyes are very expressive and pretty much always let on to how she’s feeling. She doesn’t do the head tilt thing. Our former dog was a huge head tilter and I just loved that
January 27, 2017
Ruby sounds a whole lot like Harley. He can tell a complete story with his eyes. And he’s a master with that head tilt thing….
January 27, 2017
Luke communicates a lot with his overall body language….he has a certain way of standing and looking at me when he wants something! If I’m not quick enough to response he’ll throw a little whine in there.
Cricket likes to use her beagle voice when she really needs to get her point across, like “throw the ball – NOW”.
January 27, 2017
I love the “in your face” communication style. Sinead uses that approach as well. She is much smaller than a doodle, but she can be awfully persistent about putting her little face right in my face when she wants something!
Jean from Welcome to the Menagerie