Having a dog is an extremely rewarding and loving experience, and part of the reason for this is how communicative and loyal they are. This allows us to form deep bonds and relationships with our pets, and get to know them as people. Dogs use many ways to communicate with their owners, and even pick up on non verbal cues from their humans. Just like we as humans have both verbal and non verbal cues that point to us being happy, sad, needing something, desire, and more, dogs have a large vocabulary book of these verbal and non verbal cues as well.
In a recent study, it was actually found that dogs have a total of 19 different unique ways that they use to communicate with their owners. Dogs use everything from their tails to their ears and even their mouths to send these communication signals, and we are going to dive into a few here.
Tail Speak
Dogs use their tails often in a method of communication. A curled or relaxed tail, for example, usually means a relaxed dog. If you notice your dog is laying down and their tail is curled around them, then your pup is relaxed and happy. If you notice your dogs tail wagging, however, it can mean more than just them being happy. A wagging tail can also signal anger, dominance, or even act as a threat. This is why it is important to understand all of the communication signals for dogs, as it allows you to properly gauge your dog’s behavior.
Ear Communication
We all love seeing perky dog ears whenever our dog is excited about a walk, a toy, or a treat. Perky ears tend to signal happiness and excitement, and paired with a big smile it is one of the most lovable sights for a dog owner. Ears leaned back, however, often signals either distress or anger. If your dog has their ears leaned back but their tail wagging, it can signal anger, which is often seen in protective or reactive dogs when on a walk or in a new environment.
Eye Communication
Dogs are extremely expressive creatures, and they talk to us with their eyes often. Many times, if you notice your dog staring at you, it may be to get your attention. Studies show, however, that our dogs actually get an oxytocin boost whenever they look into their owners eyes, so your dog may just be enjoying looking at you and being noticed. In addition, furrowed brows and a lack of blinking can signal anger, aggression, or protectiveness from our dogs.
Barking
Barking is a classic method of communication for dogs that dogs use to talk both to each other and to their humans. Dog barking can signal many different things. Dog Barking can mean your pup is trying to get your attention, it can mean that your pup is bored, and it can signal aggression or anger.
These are a few of the ways that dogs use their unique communication skills to talk to their humans and other dogs or animals. If your dog won’t stop barking, consider purchasing an ultrasonic dog bark device such as the Bark Be Gone anti dog bark remote control!