Understanding the language of dogs

Dogs are our best friends - however, communicating with them is not always easy. What does it mean when our dogs bark, and are we allowed make eye contact with them? Let’s bust a few myths about our four-legged friends and how we can interact with them.

Growling - a sign of aggression?

Growling isn’t always a sign of aggression. Pain, frustration or fear are also possible triggers. It is important to always take growling seriously and try to figure out what your dog wants to communicate. What causes dogs to growl? If your dog is playing with a pouch of kibble, for example, the growling likely signals that it is defending its food. Consult a professional dog trainer if you are unsure.

“Rookie protection”

“I’m sure it’s going to be fine - other dogs won’t harm my dog. It’s still so young!” Many assume that puppies and adolescent dogs enjoy a special kind of protection by fully-grown dogs. Far from it! Generally, other dogs will only tolerate a puppy when it is part of their own pack or family unit. Therefore, make sure that interactions between young and older dogs remain playful, and don’t blindly trust that every dog is well-socialized. Stay vigilant.

Don’t make eye contact

You may already guess it - putting it that way is much too general a statement. Of course, if you stare directly at someone, they will often feel provoked - that goes for both humans and animals. It’s best to avoid this, especially when you don’t know the dog. However, some dogs will actively seek eye contact when they are being hugged or petted. Making eye contact, in this case, can strengthen the human-animal bond.

Let’s cuddle!

Physical contact strengthens the bond between humans and dogs; however, it’s important to take your dogs’ needs into consideration here. Dogs often perceive cuddling as constricting and threatening. So if your dog turns away, you should accept this and pet them in their favorite spots instead. Dogs often prefer to be at eye level with you and like to be scratched around the neck or along their back. And many of our four-legged companions enjoy connecting one-on-one with their humans during playtime!