Body Language Of Dogs

A Brief Look at the Body Language of Dogs
Excerpts from Sarah Kalnajs, Body Language of Dogs (DVD)
Turid Rugaas Calming Signals: On Talking Terms with Dogs & Barking (Books & DVDs)
Maureen Ross, M.A., Train Your Dog, Change Your Life (Book)

Most of the time, we don’t recognize signals that our dogs give us until it is too late. Our dogs
are giving cues and signals with their body languageall the time. Here are a few:


Signs of Stress (in context): Most signs of stress to watch for come in sequences (clusters),
not alone. It is essential to look at the WHOLE DOG and WHOLE PICTURE.
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

Penis Crowning (arousal and can escalate to aggression)
 Females – Unknown – could be pheromones
Lowered Head
Teeth ClatteringSweaty Paws
Lip Licking (invasive – other thing happening too)
Tongue Flicking
Dilated Pupils – Whale Eyes – Whites Exposed
Tap-Outs
Bunny Eyes
Freezing
Closed Mouth
Tucked Low Tail
Pacing
Stiff Posture
Excessive Shedding
Over Stretching (not the relaxing play bow)
Trembling
Muscle Ridges (around forehead / eyes)
Urogenital Check-Outs --- Assessing if it is still there, but Ibelieve this is a form of
displacement, not just checking to see if equipment is still intact).
Spatial – Invasive (males & females)

Stress Vocalizations:
Stress Panting – Dry/Shallow
High Pitch Whining
Happy Panting
Dry Heavy Panting
Excessive Salivating – Panting – Whining (again --- Clusters and can happen with
Submissive Licking)
i Cheek Puffing
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Dog Talk & TheraPet,LLC
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

Calming Signals (Turid Rugaas): We don’t recognize them (and some dogs never learn
them or have them taken away) so we don’t offer them as calming signals. This can become
a social deficit, excluding dogs from playing in a pack with out dogs.
It is important to look at the “WHOLE PICTURE”.
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

Yawning
Looking – Away
Sniffing –(dogs sniff in Technicolor) Keep in context with the situation and other
behaviors. Dogs love to sniff. Sniffing does not always mean stress.
Sneezing: Learned and/or often do. This is usually not stress. Dogs love it.
Snorting is sometimes an indication of excitement.
Scratching / Excessive shedding: Again, excessive shedding is very noticeable in
clumps on the floor. Scratching happens incontext with the surrounding criteria
/ environment / happenings.
Blinking
Shaking Off
ARCing … the dog chooses to arc away from a situation

Sequences: You can see clusters like yawning /lip licking / nose licking
i Sniff / Lip Lick / Shake-Off
i Tail / Tongue Flick
i Look-Away – Trembling … etc.
i Yawning – Lip Licking – Blinking
i PAW RAISE …

Distance Increasing Signals: People anddogs have spatial bubbles. DIS is when dogs are trying
to increase spatial distance from what is stressing them out. It is the lowest level before
escalation. They simply try to pull-back and move-away.
Sub-Thresholds: Barking / Lunging
Barking: Dogs bark for a variety of reasons, one being because they are dogs and
can send messages. They bark from boredom or to make something go away
whichis very rewarding for even a small Yorkie. There is an alarming bark and an
announcing bark (they’re home or they’re here).
i Reading the signals to recognize thresholds is vital for trainers / behaviorists and
dog owners.
i Pilo-Erection: Middle back – top – back – watch tail position and thresholds.
This can be accompanied with a high – fast – flagged tail.
i High – flagged and TIPPED tailwith Pilo is a highly aroused / dominate dog telling
you to MOVE-AWAY.
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Both dominant and submissive “extremes” have equal potential to bite
It is like a Type A and B Personality … Balance is key

Dog Talk & TheraPet, LLC
www.dogtalk.com

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Distance Decreasing Signals: The opposite of DIS, the dog is in YOUR SPACE. There can be
submissive lip licking, licking you, frontal...