Make a sentence with the word "dog" in different meanings. How to communicate with your dog

But maybe tonight the guard dog will wake up and bark.

I have always enjoyed the magical charm of a village that, on a clear night, speaks in its sleep with the lonely voice of a guard dog.

A. Saint-Exupery, "Military Pilot"

Like a dog that bites the legs of the sheep to drive the flock.

A. Saint-Exupery, "Military Pilot"

I still had another hallucination, the last one: three dogs were chasing each other.

They had to leave everything that was dear to them, everything they were attached to, everyone they had tamed in four or five years in France - a cat, a dog, geraniums - they could only take pots and pans with them.

A. Saint-Exupery, "Planet of people"

They watched each other like dogs circling around a tidbit.

A. Saint-Exupery, "Citadel"

Under the guise of love, you hide hatred, you made a stand near a woman or a man, you turned them into your prey and, standing like a dog over a bone, hate everyone who looks askance at your feast.

A. Saint-Exupery, "Citadel"

But even a dog is not fed up with imaginary meat.

A. Saint-Exupery, "Citadel"

Bones are a reality for your dog.

A. Saint-Exupery, "Citadel"

But I know the immediate future of my dog, as soon as the leash is loosened, he will pull me to the east, it smells of game from there, and if I release him, he will rush there with all his might.

A. Saint-Exupery, "Citadel"

You will mourn your dead brother no longer than a dog mourns a drowned companion.

A. Saint-Exupery, "Citadel"

If your dog wants a bone, he stands on his hind legs as you taught him, and little by little he learned the shortest way to the reward.

A. Saint-Exupery, "Citadel"

You also remembered your donkey, which you woke up in the morning, a horse, a dog, the sacrament of communication with them - they answered you.

A. Saint-Exupery, "Citadel"

But with love, without further ado, they will save your city and with an impudent grin, like a bone to a dog, they will throw you your saved barns, because they are also part of the city.

A. Saint-Exupery, "Citadel"

Talk to everyone in any of the neighboring tribes and you will be convinced: each individually hates war, does not want to be away from family hearth, loves his wife, children and home holidays, does not want to shed blood, because he is kind, feeds his dog, strokes a donkey, does not tolerate theft, is busy own house, polishes the floor to a shine, paints the walls, takes care of his garden.

A. Saint-Exupery, "Citadel"

Stray dogs, sitting in a circle, howled at the moon.

A. Saint-Exupery, Southern Postal

I waited for the dog to bark, but the darkness was silent.

K.K. Sergienko, "Borodino Awakening"

Thomas Glan talked about his hunting and the dog Aesop, about the short northern summer, about the gatehouse under the shade of huge pines.

Dogs barked, each ringing of barking hung in the darkness like a transparent pod.

K.K. Sergienko, "Days late autumn»

Soon the summer residents will disperse, a lame dog will pass along the street, and the house will emerge on the white pillow of the garden.

K.K. Sergienko, "Days of late autumn"

Amazing all the same creatures old women, dogs and children.

K.K. Sergienko, "Days of late autumn"

Birds chirp, children chirp, old women coo, dogs bark joyfully.

K.K. Sergienko, "Days of late autumn"

A dog house is, of course, better, but not every dog ​​has its own kennel.

It doesn't matter how long you've had a dog in your house - it's important to learn to understand what it's trying to tell you so you can behave accordingly. To express their feelings, dogs make sounds and use facial expressions and gestures, just like humans. Some gestures are similar to human ones, but in dogs they can mean something completely different. In this article, you will learn how to interpret what your dog is trying to tell you and how to communicate with your animal more effectively.

Steps

Understanding dog behavior

Watch your dog. Observing the animal will allow you to understand the habits, movements and facial expressions of the dog. Many things will be clear to you without explanation. Like people, all dogs are unique.

• Be aware that some dog signs are not easy to recognize.
• If you learn to understand the dog, you will be able to react before something bad happens. If you do not notice small signs of discontent or stress, over time this can result in aggressive behavior.
• Remember that the dog will also learn. She will also need to understand your behavior, so watch your movements and body position. Dogs do not understand human speech. It is important to explain to the dog what you mean by "sit" or "no" commands. If you repeat "sit" many times, the dog will not understand what you want. She will think that this is only part of the nonsense that you say all day. If you help your dog to sit up and then praise him, the word "sit" will be associated with the action.
• Do not forget that the ability of a dog to give signs depends on the breed. For example, if a dog has a docked tail or clipped ears, some gestures will not be available to it.

1. Know how your dog reacts to your gaze. Think about how you feel when someone is not just looking at you, but glaring at you. Not only do you not like this, but the dogs also, because they perceive such a look as a threat. If the dog turns away, it means that he does not want conflict. If you teach your dog to look into your eyes, it will be very helpful in training.

   • Most effective method dog training is called enhancing positive motivation. The effectiveness of this method has been proven by scientists, veterinarians and dog behaviorists. Punishing dogs is not recommended, because dogs quickly forget everything, and they are unlikely to remember that a puddle on the floor has anything to do with your displeasure. In fact, dogs don't feel guilty. If the dog looks guilty, his owner is not so angry anymore, and the dog knows how to benefit from the guilty look. The dog sees that you do not like the puddles on the floor, so he tries to act as if he feels guilty in order to soften your reaction. In fact, dogs don't understand that a puddle on the floor pisses you off.
   • At the heart of this training principle is praise for what the dog has done right.
   • The dog is guided by what maximum reward or minimum punishment it can receive in each situation. If she enjoys chewing on your shoes, she will chew on them. If you offer her a treat to keep her from chewing on her shoes, she will choose the treat even if you're not around. In turn, punishment or domination only shows the dog who is in charge, and he will continue to do what you do not like when you are not around.
   • Dogs respond to rewards and the dominance theory has been debunked. Dogs do things that will give them maximum rewards, not things that will allow them to dominate you or other dogs. Be the one who rewards the dog as much as possible, and he will be happy to do what you like.
   • If the dog lies on his back and exposes his stomach to you, it means that he wants to please you. If you pet the dog's belly at this point, you will praise the dog for this behavior.
   • This posture can also be a sign of passive resistance to a possible threat.
   • Mating movements may indicate that the dog is under stress, especially if a dog that is not very confident is trying to make contact with a more confident animal.
   • Dogs may express discomfort different ways including sneezing, yawning, licking the face, avoiding direct gazes, ducking down, rolling the eyes, body tension. If your dog is showing signs of discomfort, it is best to stop doing what you are doing and not try again in the future. If you want your dog to let you do something, start teaching him to do it by rewarding him with treats. Very soon, your pet will want to do it himself in exchange for treats!
   • A dog can express many emotions with its tail. If the dog wags its tail and back torso, this speaks of sincere joy. If the dog wags its tail slowly, it indicates that it is very cautious. A tense tail, raised up, indicates attention, and lowered, that the dog is happy with everything. If the tail is tucked in, the dog is scared.

Dog gesture recognition

1. Learn to understand animal postures. The way a dog holds its body speaks volumes about its mood and emotions. Some of the signs will be subtle, and it will take you some time to learn to recognize them, but it will definitely be worth it.

   Learn to recognize playful and joyful behavior. Dogs communicate their self-confidence and desire to play with postures and movements.

   Learn to recognize the signs of discomfort or discontent. If you know that your dog is uncomfortable or unsafe, you can satisfy his desires and calm him down.

   Learn to recognize the signs of aggression. Aggression can lead to unwanted fights or attacks. If you can recognize the first signs of aggression, you will be able to prevent conflict situations.

Interpretation of facial expressions and head movements

Learn to understand what the position of the ears says. A person can do little with their ears, but a dog's ears can transmit a large number of different information. Remember that if a dog's ears were cropped as a child, he will have fewer opportunities to express emotions.

Understand what signs the dog gives with his eyes. The eyes of a dog can express no less emotions than the eyes of a person. You can learn to understand the expression of the eyes of not only people, but also dogs. Below is a list of the most common signs:

Watch the dog's face. Dogs often convey their emotions through facial expressions. If you learn to understand the expressions, it will be easier for you to understand what the dog is feeling and communicate with him.

Understanding sounds

Listen to your dog. Barking, growling, screeching and howling are all dog language. It will take you some time to learn it, but without it you will not be able to understand your animal. Many people think that barking is just noise, but if you start listening, you will start to feel the difference between different shades sounds.

Learn to understand barking. The dogs bark at different reasons, so observation and careful analysis will help you understand the difference in barking in different situations.

Learn to understand the growl. The growl of an unfamiliar dog can sound intimidating, but not all growls express aggression. The dog may growl because of the game or instead of barking. Be careful with a growling dog, as even a playing dog can get so carried away with the game that it will bite anyone who gets too close.

Understand why dogs whine. If you understand why your dog is whining, it will be easier for you to respond to his requests. There are several types of such sounds, each of which means different things.

• A long and prolonged whine indicates that the dog is bored and lonely. If your puppy or adult dog recently taken away from other dogs, at first she may whine. If you spend more time with your pet, he will not be so lonely.
• A short sound with rising intonation indicates that the dog is happy and impressed with something.
• A whine with a bark is a signal that is used in hunting. It is often found in hunting breeds, even if the dog has never been trained to hunt.
• A dog may also whine in response to another dog's whining or any other sustained sound. You may have noticed that the dog begins to howl when a car with a working siren drives past the house. If a dog howls at night, it may be a response to another dog's howl that you cannot hear.

1. Learn to recognize different types howls and whines. Dogs can not only bark, whine and growl, but also howl, and these sounds can also have different meanings.

Gestures and human behavior

Don't allow unintentional signs. The dog understands human language to some extent, but it will be very important for you to know how your dog perceives you and what gestures can cause him stress, fear or anxiety, even if your intentions are completely different. Remember that the dog is watching you, learning and trying to predict your actions, remember your habits and preferences.

Try not to make your dog uncomfortable. Some actions that we perceive as ordinary or even pleasant, the dog cannot understand correctly. If you avoid activities that the dog finds unpleasant, your relationship with the animal will become stronger.

1. Explain commands to the dog. Keeping your commands clear, consistent, and concise will make it easier for your dog to understand what you want him to do. Many dogs are eager to please their owner, so they will try to learn how to do what you expect them to do.

   • Repeat the commands in the same words and in the same tone so that the dog remembers his name and understands that he must obey you.
   • Try to convey emotion through tone of voice. The natural instincts of dogs help them understand when a person is pleased with a dog and when it is not. If you smile and tell the dog in a joyful voice that he is doing well, he will understand that he did something right. If you react in an angry tone, she will remember that she did something wrong. It is very important to remember this during training.
   • Remember that dogs forget a lot. However, they remember what they were taught during training, as well as where different things and people are, who you are, who the dog's friends are, how it is praised and what things are unexpected (bad and good).
   • If you yell at the dog, gesticulate violently, or shake something in front of the dog (like a broom), he will take it as crazy and will not change his behavior in any way. However, this can upset an already fearful and insecure dog. Don't waste your energy and stay calm. Communicate with your dog clearly and reasonably.
   • Keep this in mind when you reprimand your dog. If you get home and find that the dog has torn up the couch, yelling won't change anything because the dog won't be able to understand the connection between the yelling and the destroyed couch.

2. Make communication with your dog effective for both you and him. Such communication will allow you to strengthen your relationship. If the animal feels that you understand it, it will be easier for you to intervene if your participation is required.

   • Learn how dogs communicate with each other. If you build your communication with an animal on the principles of communication between dogs, it will be much easier for you to understand each other.

• Take time for your dog and understand how he is trying to communicate with you. While most of the recommendations outlined here will work for you, every dog ​​is different and they all react differently. You can understand all the nuances of the behavior of the animal only if you spend more time with the pet.
• Always repeat commands in the same tone, otherwise the dog will get confused.
• Your voice should always be expressive.
• It is important to pay attention to how the dog behaves in the presence of other animals, not counting people and other dogs. When you introduce other pets to your dog, the dog's reaction will tell you if they get along. Sometimes you need to intervene right away to prevent an attack. Start introducing the animals gradually, watch them and be patient. It is not so easy if the dog is already accustomed to his home.
• Don't forget that all dogs are different. If your dog is passive, he may not react as described in the article.
• There are many more subtle signs that can be used to recognize anxiety, stress, interest in a dog, and so on. Study them to predict the dog's reaction to a particular behavior.
• Be consistent in what you allow and forbid your dog. Decide if your dog is allowed to jump on the couch and stick to your decision.
• If the dog lives in an apartment or if you don't have your own yard, start teaching your dog to go to the toilet on command. This will make your life easier bad weather or in the morning when you don't have time to take the dog out. You can also teach your dog to ring a bell when he wants to go to the bathroom.

Warnings

• Note! If the dog whines, it may mean that she is in pain or injured. If your dog is constantly whining for some unknown reason, don't ignore it. Examine her carefully. If you don't find anything out of the ordinary but your dog continues to whine, take him to the vet immediately.
• When approaching unfamiliar dogs on the street or anywhere else, remember to be above the dog's eye level without appearing intimidating or the dog may attack out of fear. To prevent this, calmly talk to the dog in this position.
• As was said in the article, if a dog wags its tail, this does not always mean that he is happy. Dogs can wag their tails for many reasons (just like humans can smile or show their teeth for many reasons). If you are unfamiliar with a dog, always look for signs bad mood. Sometimes it's better to step aside quickly.
• Don't force your dog to do anything. Treat animals with respect and do not harm them.

Usually dog ​​owners consider themselves the owners of their pets, and there is a certain logic in this.

Many say they love their dogs and take care of them like their own children.

However, some parents might say that there is one nuance in this relationship: the owner can love his pet and at the same time not understand him.

In the case of children, parents have an advantage: no matter how strange their child may express himself, in general he still speaks the same language as his parents.

A completely different matter is a pet. Until a dog-to-human translator is invented, owners will have to learn their pet's body language.

With that in mind, here are 12 dog behaviors that can tell their owners a lot.

1. Constant eye contact

IN this case A lot depends on how the dog looks at you. If, looking into your eyes, she has a completely calm expression, this can be seen as a convincing request for affection.

Interestingly, a group of Japanese researchers found a link between similar eye contact And increased level the hormone oxytocin, which influences the manifestation of affection.

2. The dog brings you things.

From the outside, it may seem that the dog thus hints that she wants to play, especially if the thing brought to her is a toy.

However, in fact, the animal wants to give you a gift.

Most likely, this is a legacy of the dog's hunting instincts, which make the animal bring to the owner, instead of killed prey, what, in the dog's opinion, he might like.

3. The dog keeps one paw up.

If the dog has adopted such a pose, with its head slightly lowered and assuming a concentrated look, it is better not to interfere with it.

This suggests that the animal is hunting and intends to pounce on some kind of prey, usually a bird.

4. Hunches over and tries to look smaller than he really is.

It speaks of fear. If you see a dog doing this in the absence of any obvious source of fear, the chances are very high that the animal has been abused.

5. Dog chews furniture

This can be interpreted depending on how the animal was raised. This usually indicates that the dog is worried about separation.

If the pet early age was taught not to worry about it, then he is probably just bored. Try to keep him busy.

6. The dog sat on the owner's legs

There can be many reasons for this. If the dog has a dominant character, it may thus try to raise its status.

If she is afraid of separation, then with the help of such maneuvers she will try to calm herself by sitting closer to the owner.

If the dog has the instinct of the owner, this gesture can show other animals or people that you are her "property".

But if your dog does not fit into any of these descriptions, then most likely she just loves you and wants to be around.

FOREWORD

Man is given great power speech, but most of it is empty and deceptive, animals have very little, but much more useful and truthful; Better a little truth than a lot of lies.
Leonardo da Vinci, Notes, circa 1500 old story about King Solomon and the magic ring with his seal and the true name of God. This ring allowed him to talk to animals and understand them. After the death of King Solomon, his ring was hidden in "a huge house with many doors." And as a child, I really regretted that I did not have this ring so that I could talk to my dogs.
Then I learned that this was a fairy tale, and I realized that King Solomon could speak with animals and without magic ring and that we, like him, can learn it. Solomon's secret was the ability to understand how animals communicate with each other, and this understanding lies in science, which is a house with many doors. It is necessary to master this knowledge in the same way as knowledge of any other language. To begin with, learn his dictionary, i.e., what the words in the dog language are. You also need to study grammar in order to be able to pick up words and compose an understandable sentence in dog language.
This book is about dogs: how they "talk" to each other, how they understand us, and how we should understand them. Knowing the language of dogs allows you to understand what they feel, think and what their intentions are. Such abilities help to manage their behavior and explain to them what you require of them. This, of course, does not mean that you can talk to the dog about science, philosophy and morality or discuss the latest Hollywood films with him. And yet I find my conversations with dogs more meaningful than my conversations with my two and three year old grandchildren, even if they are on the same topic. Knowing canine language prevents misunderstandings between humans and dogs.
In our "language courses" we learn about different wonderful dogs and how smart man's four-legged friends can be. We will see how people affected communication skills dogs during a long history of domestication of their first companions.
Some of my colleagues may oppose the use of "language" in this context. long time It was believed that language is a feature inherent exclusively in humans. However, it is clear that there is much in common between the habits of dogs and the behavior of people. As a psychologist, I am glad that the conclusions of studies on human learning were based on data obtained from the study of the behavior of monkeys or rats, and for most scientists they coincided. It would be foolish to believe that human learning is fundamentally different from the same ability in animals and they are not identical in this. So I am surprised that, as soon as language is discussed, behaviorists stop believing in the commonality of abilities and argue that our language is radically different from animal communication. Is human language unique - this question has its own history, which will open before us when we try to learn to understand dog language.
I would like to thank my wife, Joan, who made many comments on the first draft of this manuscript, and our daughter, Karen, who also made some good suggestions. I am also grateful to my dogs Wiz, Odin and Dancy for clarifying some aspects of dog language.

1
CONVERSATIONS WITH DOGS

The excuse was powerful. If his master had spoken, Ears would have heard. But the author was a dog, They did not listen to him.
Jean de La Fontaine (1621-1695), Peasant, Dog and Fox
Probably, many would like to become Dr. Doolittle at least for a while or get King Solomon's ring in order to start talking with animals and understanding them. As for me, I most of all wanted to talk to dogs. I remember one Sunday evening: I was sitting on the living room floor in front of the big family radio with my beagle, Skippy. I leaned against easy chair while waiting for your favorite radio series to start, where leading role performed by the famous dog Lassie. sounded musical theme- it was, in my opinion, almost a folk melody "Green Sleeves", and in a moment I heard her voice. She barked in the distance, her voice getting closer every second... Before the current galaxy of canine movie stars like Benji and Beethoven, and their many TV counterparts Eddie, Wishbone and the Little Tramp, Lassie was everyone's favorite. She was more than just a dog: she was a friend and close comrade, a brave defender of the offended and weak, and, of course, a fearless fighter.
The dog, which became the prototype of all his brothers in the cinema and a model of canine ingenuity, first appeared in short story published in the Saturday Evening Post by Eric Knight in 1938. The story was so good that in 1940 Knight wrote a bestseller based on it, and in 1943 the melodrama Lassie Comes Home appeared. It was a color film set in Britain, where Lassie's poor owners, under the pressure of financial problems, sell a friendly collie to a wealthy dog ​​owner (whose daughter is played by a very young Elizabeth Taylor). Lassie escapes from the duke and his cruel dog handler - this is how her journey from Scotland to England begins, home to her young master (played by Roddy McDowall). Lassie, a dog pleasant in all respects, was generally played not by a bitch, but by a male named Paul. Virtually all Lassies since then have been drag queens. Males were preferred as they are larger and less timid. But, more importantly, unneutered bitches have oestrus twice a year, during which they shed a significant portion of their hair. This, of course, worried the director - after all, the audience would have noticed that Lassie's coat changes from scene to scene.
However, let's leave sexual questions aside. Lassie was the first dog to inform people about how animals think and act. So far, only nine films have been made about her adventures. But in them, Lassie managed to push into the background the most famous stars Hollywood including James Stewart, Helen Slater, Nigel Bruce, Elsa Lancaster, Frederick Forest, Mickey Rooney and many more. The television series, which ran from 1954 to 1991 (with short breaks), saw six cast changes. During this time, Lassie's television family included such notable actors as Cloris Leachman and June Lockhart. Many of the episodes are still being repeated on television. There was even an animated series about Lassie ("Lassie the Rescue") that was shown on Saturday mornings on the children's channel.
Perhaps Lassie's most unusual starring role was in a radio series that ran from 1947 to 1950, and I was a young fan of hers. I bet if the producers made a radio series with a dog today, they would decide that Lassie should be given a human voice so that we can hear her thoughts and understand what she wants to say. It would be soft female voice, which is indeterminate in age, perhaps with a slight Scottish accent that reminds us of her origins. However, that radio series matched the screen character of Lassie. She never spoke human language - she barked. The floor in the radio shows also barked, and the whining, growling, and chugging sounded convincingly from humans.
The magic of the show was that Lassie didn't have to speak English, Spanish, German, French, or any other language. Her masters and all the rest, who am I? I heard it, understood it without translation. A typical episode looked something like this.
Lassie comes running, barking and whimpering desperately.
Her young master asks:
What happened, girl?
Lassie barks in response.
"Did something happen to your mother?" the boy deciphers (and Lassie barks and squeals). Oh no, she got hurt! Dad had told her not to use that car on her own. Run to Dr. Williams, I saw him go to Johnson, just down the road. I'll go back and see if I can help myself.
The boy runs home. Lassie barks and rushes for help. The doctor, of course, will understand every “woof” and whine and will definitely help.
In other episodes, Lassie announces by barking that they are approaching bad people, about lost or stolen items, or warns the owner that someone is telling a lie. It seems that Lassie has a universal language. There is one series where a boy from France after tragic death parents come to live with their uncle. The poor child does not know English. Fortunately, this is not necessary. After all, Lassie speaks the universal language (let's call it canine). The boy immediately understands this - all French dogs use the same language. So Lassie can tell him (by barking, whining, whining, sometimes muffled growling) that he is where people are his friends, although there is one bad boy worth looking at. Thanks to her abilities, Lassie befriended him with local guys, sorted out some misunderstandings between them and taught him the first words in English. English language. Of course, they were “Lassi, you are a wonderful dog!”.
I really envied the Lassie family and their neighbors. All about... knew how to understand dog language and knew how to explain to their dog what they wanted from it. I stroked long ears Skippy wondered why I didn't understand this language.
It wasn't that I didn't understand at all what Skippy was trying to tell me. When he wagged his tail, it was clear that he was happy. When he tucked his tail, I understood that he was ill. When he barked, I knew that someone had come or that he wanted to eat or play, or that he was just excited ... In general, he barked a lot. For example, when he barked at someone (beagles make a peculiar singing sound - yodel), I knew that he was chasing some kind of "prey". Skippy didn't have language problems, I did. My dog ​​had to be quite resourceful to tell me anything. One day he moved his water bowl on the kitchen floor until it rested against my legs to let me know that he was thirsty and there was no water in the bowl. However, more often than not, I could not understand what he was "saying", and the gaps in our communication made me very upset. Now after for long years study and research, I think I began to understand the language of my four-legged friends. As a psychologist, I also sought to understand whether the mutual understanding between a dog and a person affects their relationship.
People think that speech is the most important part human relations. Look at families with children with intellectual disabilities. You will find love and affection there, even if the child cannot speak and fully understand the language of adults. But such a child gives parents more grief than a healthy child, because there are problems of communication and understanding. As some studies have shown, the most an important factor entry of an immigrant or refugee into a new society is the speed and quality of learning the language of this new country. And a person's ability to understand a dog's language determines how well it fits into the family. misunderstanding emotional features dogs can harm her owners and even herself. Here, for example, is the story of Finnigan, the beautiful Irish Setter from Melanie's breeding stock. I knew Melanie as a careful breeder. Her conscientiousness allowed her to create a line of dogs that were not only beautiful, but also kind, playful and friendly. Imagine Melanie's astonishment as she listened to complaints over the phone from the people who had bought Finnigan. They said he was too aggressive. It was said that he jumped and growled at the guests and other dogs. They turned to the trainer, but he said that it was impossible to correct such behavior. In the end, he advised that the dog be euthanized. But they didn't want to, even though they couldn't keep Finnigan any longer. Melanie offered to refund them full cost dogs and asked to return it.
Then she called me.
"I've never dealt with aggressive dogs before," Melanie admitted, and added, "I'd like to ask you to come over and help me deal with it."
I couldn't imagine one of her dogs becoming aggressive, but there was so much concern in Melanie's voice that I agreed to accompany her. I brought with me a full set of equipment for aggressive dogs - several strict collars and strong leashes. There was also a muzzle, in addition, I took a heavy blanket with me, so that in case of resistance, to restrict the movements of the dog and put on a muzzle and a leash. The final touch is a couple leather gloves(which saved my hands several times).
When Finnigan's truck arrived, I inspected his carrier. No growling, no throwing, just an excited whimper. However, we were still afraid and therefore slowly opened the door. A happy dog ​​jumped out of there, looking around, trying to figure out where he was. When he realized that he was in a new, unfamiliar environment, he opened his mouth and showed all his white teeth and a huge mouth.
I laughed, which probably upset Melanie, but I didn't do it on purpose. The fact is that for a person who does not understand the language of dogs, the instant flash of forty-two white teeth could seem aggressive. However, a dog can show teeth in a variety of situations and with a variety of facial expressions. And on Finnigan's face now was a submissive, peaceful smile. And that expression didn't mean, "Get back or I'll bite you!" It meant, "Great. I don't threaten. I understand that you are in charge here.
The activity of the young setter really made him jump on people and dogs. But this jumping was part of the greeting. He just wanted to touch the noses of two-legged creatures, and the only way to reach such a high nose - to jump. To show that this was not a threat, he grimaced peacefully. And the more his family and trainers tried to correct him, the more submissive he became. The more submissive he became, the more often he tried to "smile", thinking that they just missed this signal, and he wanted to calm them down. And of course, the wider he “smiled”, the more noticeable his teeth became. Finnigan's first family simply didn't understand what the dog was trying to tell them, and had they followed the advice given to them by the trainer, the dog would no longer be alive. Now Finnigan is happy with new family. Melanie told me that he still smiles and jumps around, but she immediately explained to the new owners what this means.
Unfortunately, the incorrect translation of the signals given by the dog can lead to great difficulties and mutual resentment. Eleanor came to me because of her difficulties with the American cocker spaniel beautiful light color named Weedles. As Eleanor said, “She drives my husband crazy. She simply refuses to be clean and now makes puddles just out of anger. Steven (husband) says that if we can't handle this situation as quickly as possible, we'll have to get rid of the dog."
The period when the puppy learns to send his natural needs outside is a rather stressful time. But anyway, it's a matter of a few weeks. The owner just needs to clearly track the time of feeding and take care to take the dog out on time. Weedels, when I first heard of her, was already seven months old—old enough to make puddles. Therefore, I asked what the owners were doing to accustom her to cleanliness. Steven loves to keep the apartment clean, so it was important for us to teach Weedels how to walk outside as soon as possible. I read one of the books on the subject and did as it says, so Weedels learned to pee and poop in the street. But we still had "accidents". Steven said that I was being too soft on Weedels and dealt with the problem in a different way. When he found the place where she had soiled the floor, he grabbed her, dragged her to the "crime scene" and poked her nose into what she had done. He yelled at her, slapped her behind, and pushed her out into the street.
Not so long ago, Stephen went on a business trip for four weeks. While he was gone, Weedels behaved perfectly. Is that a couple of times I could not stand it, and that's it. I just wiped it off after it and took it out into the yard without too much fuss. Then for two whole weeks the house was absolutely clean. But as soon as Steven returned, everything went topsy-turvy. You won't believe what this dog did. When he entered the house, she began to write right in front of him. Steven was so angry that I was scared - he could really beat her. And Weedels seemed to want to annoy him even more. As soon as Stephen entered the room, she fell on her back right at his feet, showing her stomach. And when he bent over her, she tried to write directly to his face. That's why I'm here now.
In my heart I immediately felt sorry for poor Wiedels. Dogs communicate using different signs than humans. Weedels made signs in the only language she knew. Unfortunately, there were no interpreters nearby, and her request for understanding was misinterpreted and turned into real problem. Her behavior had nothing to do with the lack of training or the desire to annoy the owners. From my conversation with Eleanor, I realized that Weedels hardly wrote at home. This line of behavior was chosen by the dog because of Steven. He reacted too sharply to the fact that little Weedels sometimes got into a mess. This horrified her. When a dog is too intimidated, he tries to appear as insignificant as possible, small, absolutely not threatening to a person. Low squats and rollovers are part of this behavior.
What Eleanor took to be a vicious attempt to urinate in her husband's face was just a display of maximum submissiveness and fear of the dog. She wrote to appear to the “dominant dog” as a small puppy and so that he would not offend her. This behavior is laid down in childhood, when the mother, in order to lick the baby, turns him on his back with his paw. In fact, Weedels went out of her way to say, “You scare me, but look, I'm not a threat. I'm just a little defenseless puppy." Once the message was translated, Eleanor knew she had to believe Weedels. It was more difficult to persuade her husband to become gentler, not to be so angry with the dog and not to scare him anymore.
Many dog ​​messages can be misunderstood. I was approached by Josephine, who was having problems with her dog.
“Pluto is being too gentle with me, which makes my husband very upset. He took it as watchdog and does not want him to turn into a lapdog even in family circle she said over the phone.
Pluto turned out to be a large Rottweiler named after cartoon character- the dog Pluto, who always fought Popeye the sailor. Such a name says a lot about the person who gave it and what he expected from the dog. Vincent trained the dog, sometimes using rather harsh methods, to make him that Pluto. The dog obeyed him, although without much desire. According to Josephine, he did not obey her at all, although he constantly caressed her.
When I came to them, Vincent was working. Josephine led me into the living room. I sat in an armchair and watched her as she sat upright on the edge of the sofa. Pluto was at her feet. He was quite big dog- about 55 kilograms of steel muscles, Josephine weighed about 45 kilograms, was fragile and not very athletic. We were talking, and Pluto put his paw on her knees, and she immediately answered him - she stroked her head. In a couple of seconds Pluto was already jumping on the sofa, and Josephine had to move to fit a large animal on the sofa. He sat there, looking at me, then looked at her carefully. When he looked straight into her eyes, she immediately stroked him.
Then Pluto leaned on the little woman with all his weight. After a while, she moved to free herself from the heavy dog. He moved too and leaned on her again. She moved a few more centimeters, he again moved towards her. This performance went on all the time that we talked, until Josephine was on the other end of the sofa. When she had nowhere to move, she stood up and pointed at Pluto.
“That's exactly what I meant. He is always looking for my attention. Looks into my eyes and leans against me to show how much he loves me. I can't watch TV without it sitting behind me and pushing me away while Vince is away. I don't want to hurt his ego, but he's a big dog. Such obsession irritates me and worries my husband. Is there a way to teach him to be more independent and confident?
Again the dog was sending a message that was misinterpreted by humans. Pluto didn't tell Josephine, "I love you. I need you. I completely depend on your attention, ”how she and her husband translated his signals. Instead, he reported: "I have more high status than you, so when the leader of the pack (Vincent) is far away, I am in charge of everything, and you will yield to me and give me everything that I need.
The signs of dominance were quite obvious. A dog that puts its paw on a person's knee, thereby expressing its dominance over that person, so does the wolf when it puts its paw on the shoulder or on the back of another wolf, demonstrating its leadership. In addition, it is also a threatening gesture, designed to calm the members of the pack. Josephine acknowledged his leadership by stroking him, just as an ordinary wolf might lick the muzzle of a higher status wolf. Finally the dog leaned against her to force him to make room for him. The leaders (alpha leaders) can occupy any territory, can sleep where they want and lie where they please, and the rest of the pack members are forced to yield, thus demonstrating their agreement with the dominant position of the leader. In a word, Pluto said: "I am in charge," and Josephine answered: "Yes, I recognize your authority."
Once the message was deciphered, the solution to the problem was easy. Josephine took the dog to training courses, where he learned to follow her commands. Since she couldn't physically dominate the animal, she used treats to get him to obey. Moreover, she became responsible for feeding him at home. Before getting his bowl, the dog had to follow simple commands, such as "Sit", "Stand". IN wild nature the order of distribution of food and control on the hunt is carried out by the leader, he is in charge of all the prey of the pack. Taking over the management of the meal and issuing treats for correctly executed commands, Josephine used a formula from dog communication conveying the following information: "This bipedal dog has a higher status than you, even if it cannot be as strong as you."
So people can learn to understand the language of dogs and communicate with them if they can speak the dog dialect. interesting story told me Dr. Michael Fox, who is known for his sensational research on the behavior of domestic and wild dogs. Fox taught in the Department of Psychology at Washington University in St. Louis. In his study, he compared the behavior various kinds wild dogs - wolf, fox and American wolf (coyote) - with the behavior of domestic dogs. Scientists have found that there is a set of universal rules of behavior that are common to all dogs. Knowing this, we can learn a lot about pets by studying wolf behavior. And vice versa, we can study the behavior of a wolf using the example of a small spaning la, which gets in the way under our feet. Now this statement is known to everyone and is used by many scientists, and then Fox's discovery was still disputed.
I met Dr. Fox after a lecture he gave. I introduced myself and said I saw documentary, which he filmed, "Wolfman". He immediately took the conversation in an unusual direction:
- Yes, while making the film, I realized that I really can communicate with wolves so well that it saved my life. But I did not know then that the wolves would be the first to want to avoid collisions.
He talked about it easily, like an adventure:
“We just brought together some wolves in accordance with the research program and wanted to observe them. I was hoping we could get a good shot of the salutation patterns and the process of establishing a hierarchy. We mixed a couple - a wolf and a she-wolf (they were about four years old) with a group of unfamiliar animals. The she-wolf was in estrus and was flirting with the wolf. In the situation with the new wolves in his territory and the "current" she-wolf, the wolf became very nervous.
We were hiding behind a bush when a couple dealt with the alien wolves and ended up near our hideout. As they approached, I figured this would give me some great shots, so I hurriedly aimed my lens at them and came out of hiding. And then they abruptly changed direction and caught me in the act. They saw a man who boldly walked straight at them, and even stared with all his eyes. This behavior (moving directly at the wolf and looking directly) signals a threat. So I immediately stopped. I thought that would be enough to keep me out of trouble. But I couldn't take my eyes off them, which they deciphered as a challenge. There were no further negotiations with me, the wolf just attacked me. With a camera on my wrist, I couldn't do anything. It remained only to raise your hands up and call the trainer. (Now I understand that I did it completely wrong, because the raising of hands is like an attempt to establish dominance. This is how the wolves translated it into their language, seeing me as an animal that wants to appear larger in rage. And the cry was understood as a perverted growl. ) Meanwhile, the wolf bit my hands and pounced on my back, and the she-wolf who joined him gnawed at my legs. And then I gathered my courage and remembered how to tell them that there was no need to bite me. I froze and sank down to look small to them, began to whine and squeak like a frightened wolf cub. They immediately stopped tormenting me, but the wolf looked me straight in the eyes and growled. I averted my eyes, continuing to whine. When the couple relaxed and moved a short distance, I tried to step back a little, which caused them to attack me again. True, this time the attack was not so cruel. This meant that they understood what I was trying to tell them.
By that time, the trainer arrived. He grabbed the wolf and dragged him away. But the wolf continued to look into my eyes, as if waiting for me to make the next move. I didn't move. Left there with half eyes closed, whimpering and squeaking, until she was collared and taken away.
I was wearing quite thick clothes, so they couldn't really tear me apart. And yet, while they were carrying me, I received many painful blows and bruises, a tendon was also damaged and one muscle was stretched.
He laughed and took a sip from the glass.
This incident was filmed. One of those photos perfectly illustrates the expression of fear in wolves.
In this situation, well prepared and knowledgeable person gave the wrong signals, which provoked the attack. Fortunately, he knew dog language well enough to explain to his attackers in time that the incident was a mistake and he did not intend to challenge or threaten anyone. This is what saved him from real reprisal.
How well we get along with a dog depends largely on our ability to understand its language. If a person can speak the language of a dog, then he will be able to translate what the dog tells him, to correctly understand all its signals. Unlike human language that can be learned, most canine is programmed into the animal's genes. True, the dog itself is able to learn a lot of the human language, which makes it easier to communicate with it. However, before we can talk to our pets, it will be useful to know something about their language as such.

Sometimes many of us are amazed at how smart our pet dogs can be. This is expressed in their behavior, and in their habits, and in many other ways. Sometimes they seem to understand us. But how well do we know them? How to understand the language of dogs? What does one or the other mean from a pet? What does it mean if a dog flattens its ears or wags its tail? We will consider all this in the article.

The non-verbal language of dogs has been formed over thousands of years within a purely canine collective as a means of communication. Therefore, any state of a dog today can be very easily determined by its behavior, body language and other non-verbal signals that our four-legged pets show not only among themselves, but also in human family. Very many signs of states can be easily understood thanks to a translator from a dog language.

Satisfaction

Satisfaction is the most ordinary state of a dog. All parts of the body are relaxed, the ears are not pressed. The dog does not behave in any unusual way. The mouth is closed or open for breathing.

Often the dog wags its tail when it feels calm, or holds its tail in normal position. It all depends on the breed.

Aggression

An aggressive dog becomes very dangerous. Signs of aggression are manifested in the fact that the dog begins to growl, baring its teeth, takes a position, as if it is about to attack, pushing its ears and body forward. And indeed it is. It's just that the animal is waiting for the right moment to attack. If the victim (another dog or person) does flick, which the dog will perceive as real threat then he can attack.

Often this reaction occurs along with fear. It manifests itself as aggression. Only the dog, if possible, does not attack, looks away. At the same time, the muzzle is wrinkled with a grin and fangs are bare, but the body is compressed, and the tail is pressed.

There is aggression of the dominant of the pack, when the dog shows its leadership by its behavior and influences other members of the pack. Usually such dogs are put in the place of others with a growl, a direct look, bared teeth and raised ears.

The dog wants to play

When the dog wants to play, he tries with all his might to attract the attention of the owner: he runs up, jumps, pushes his nose, licks. Some dogs, if they like to play with toys, may pick up a ball or other object and bring it to the person.

Another signal of playfulness in a dog is his approach and distance from you or from another dog. Usually this alternates with jumping. When the pet jumps, it seems to lie down, sinking onto its front paws, and then bounce again. All the muscles of the animal are at the same time relaxed, and the tongue is stuck out.

Love, joy

Rejoicing dogs tend to wag their tails, fuss, sometimes jump to the owner or spin in place. Love also often manifests itself in licking. The dog may lie on its back to show its trust.

Under such conditions, the muscles of the body and muzzle are as relaxed as possible, as the dog feels comfortable.

Submission

The manifestation of signs of obedience in the language of dogs is necessary in order to observe the hierarchy in the pack. The weaker dog shows the stronger one that it is not dangerous and is not going to attack.

Domestic dogs also often show humility in front of people who are treated as older brothers. They lower their head and tail slightly, turn their ears back, look askance and avoid direct contact eye. Pets still use a similar position of the body and muzzle when they want to reconcile or feel guilty. This happens when the owners scold the dog for something.

Very often, our tailed pets, when they feel a threat they want to prevent, or show their trust in their owners, lie on their backs.

Sadness

So-called dog sadness can manifest itself when a pet misses its owner. He starts to whine and maybe even howl a little. As a rule, when dogs are in this state, they behave very passively or lie down.

With annoyance, longing, dissatisfaction, the tail and ears, as a rule, are pressed to the body, and the muscles are relaxed.

When dogs feel sad because of loneliness, they try to attract the attention of the owners by licking.

State of fear

Fear in dogs cannot be confused with any condition. They begin to press their ears and tail, the hair may stand on end, and the body itself may take an unnatural pose. The body seems to bend, as if the dog is trying to appear smaller. The muscles are very tense. The dog may try to run away if possible.

Let's summarize what has been said

So let's sum it up:

• Tail wagging usually signifies joy or contentment. Dogs perform similar actions when they meet the owner or receive Tasty food. And also dogs wag their tails if they feel calm and good. But this should not always be taken as good sign, as the animal may slightly wag its tail when aggressive or fearful.
• Growling appears as a sign that the dog is aggressive, anxious or annoyed.
• When the dog jumps, he is happy, wants to play, or begs for something (for example, food that the owner holds in his hand). Often pets jump before a walk. An animal can be weaned from this habit if it is stopped with a firm voice and a subsequent reward.
• Eyes and gaze in the language of dogs also play a big role. But the correct interpretation depends on others non-verbal signals. So, in a dog with aggression, the eyes are very open and the gaze is motionless, but not directed into the eyes of the enemy. But if the dog, on the contrary, looks at you and lowers its head slightly or looks away when it meets you, this means that it is submissive to you and is in a good mood.
• The position of the body can also change: the dog tries to either curl up into a ball, lower its head if it is scared or feels humiliated, or, on the contrary, stand on tiptoe, proudly lift its head when the dog shows that it is in charge here. That is, the dog says that it does not pose a threat, when it “decreases”, it shows humility. It shows its dominance or aggression when it seems more than usual.
• Our tailed pets close their ears when they are afraid or express their humility, and rise in their usual state or when the animal is experiencing curiosity, surprise, enthusiasm.
• With whining, pets usually show their longing and how they miss their owners. This is how they want to attract attention. Sometimes animals whine when they are scared.
• Licking is also a way to get attention or get a treat. But mostly dogs lick their owners after they meet to show their love and how much they missed them.
• Barking is the most ambiguous sound in animals. They may bark when they are afraid, aggressive, seeking attention, or being played. Typically, animals use a high bark when they are afraid, and a low bark when they are experiencing aggression.

There is no doubt that dogs are very smart. human speech animals don't understand. However, tailed pets are very sensitive to any changes in intonation and volume. And they also have a very developed memory. Therefore, a good ability to train and remember commands can be explained. Dogs can learn a lot of commands and words, but this is because they remember a combination of sounds and a certain intonation. They are also incredibly sensitive to human emotions.

And also dogs can understand what is required of them on this moment. Often, pets understand very well those people they know, that is, their owners. So we can conclude: dogs understand us in the same way that people understand the language of dogs.