Dogs and humans have coexisted for a very long time. You should even know that dogs have become the most common pets around. There are several reasons for this and these reasons are not far-fetched. For instance, loyalty, diligence, and intelligence are just a few. Speaking of intelligence, canines have proven themselves helpful in the law enforcement business. They can smell things that are not and cannot be noticed by their human counterparts. Other than this, there are just so many ways to prove how intelligent canines are. How do Dogs Communicate
But despite all this, these creatures have never been intelligent enough to speak the human language. Given the bond we have with some of them, we wish we could communicate with them this way.
Well, the bad news is that this is not likely ever going to happen. You should know outrightly that canines cannot and would never be able to communicate the way humans do.
The way their brains work is one of the reasons for this. For instance, they cannot distinguish between words that sound alike. For instance, they are unable to tell the difference between “dig” and “dick”.
Because of the desire to have our canine companions talk to us and other reasons, there are technological innovations that can help in this regard. For more on this subject, you can visit: https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/dogs-can-t-speak-human-here-s-tech-could-change-ncna836811
Technology or not, communication with these creatures is still very much possible. For one, they can learn to understand a few command words. But it is also important that you understand them and this happens by understanding their body language.
This is because they do not only communicate by barking. A lot of communicating by dogs is done through body signs using certain parts. We will shed more light on this here and advise that you follow through to the end. This is so that you would understand what your dog intends at all times.
Parts of the Dog’s Body Used for Communicating
Canines communicate a lot using body language as stressed above. This means that there are several parts of their bodies that are actively used for this purpose. They include the:
- Tail
- Eyes
- Ears
- Mouth and Face
- Stomach
By understanding how your canine uses these body parts, you will know a lot about what is intended and felt by your dog. For instance, you can tell when a dog is sick or feeling uneasy by understanding the use of these body parts. For more on this subject, you can click here.
So, it is not just about being able to communicate alone. This is why we strongly advise that you take the use of these body parts seriously.
How Dogs Communicate Using Body Signs
Some of the ways dogs communicate using their body parts include the following:
Tail
When the position of the tail is between the dog’s legs, this indicates that your canine companion is feeling uncomfortable or scared. The irony is that it could also mean the canine is uncomfortable or scared because of what you are doing.
We suggest that you book an appointment with the veterinarian if your dog does this often. This is because there could be an underlying problem.
These creatures also use this body part to play the alpha-dog role. This is not only towards other canines but humans as well. This is because when the tail tremors in a raised position, this means that the canine is asserting dominance.
You might notice thereafter that taking instructions will be difficult at such times. Well, knowing this can help you take the right approach to train your dog.
Well, there are also good behaviors that are shown with the tail. For instance, you can tell excitement and the desire to play when the tail is wagging in a lowered position.
However, if the wagging in this position is very slow, then it means they are willing to be very submissive. It could also mean they are confused about happenings in their surroundings and need clarification.
Eyes
Here is where it gets a bit tricky. These creatures communicate a lot with this part of their body but understanding them this way is harder. However, it is not an impossible task. You could even become very good at it. So, let us see some of the ways they communicate using this body part.
Excitement and playfulness can be shown when the eyes wink, blinks or squints. This is especially true if it is directed towards you.
However, you need to make sure your canine is not doing this all the time. The reason is that it could mean the animal is experiencing some eye problems. You should see a veterinarian if this is the case.
Eyes that are wide open in an alert manner mean that the canine is trying to gain your attention. It could also mean that the animal is trying to prove assertive as an alpha-dog or creature in charge. You would need to respond firmly but not in an abusive manner if this is the case.
Ears
Dogs can communicate their state of being frightened and/or distrust of a surrounding using their ears. They could do this by allowing only one of their ears to be raised. You should try to calm them down in such situations.
Whether forced downward heavily or in a light flattened manner, a scared canine could also pull the ears back against the head. This is another way they could use their ears to express this unpleasant feeling.
Conclusion
We have explained how canines communicate using 3 body parts in particular. However, you should know that their breed peculiarities could influence things as well. For instance, there are some dog breeds without a tail. This is why you need to understand canine breeds before getting any dog. You can see holistapet for more on this subject.
Dogs communicate even though this is not through the speech method like humans. We have shed light on this here and advise that you learn more about how dogs use body language to communicate.
