Canines in
general are craftsmen of the highest calibre when it comes to the
unspoken language of physical communication. Their subtle movements,
often times missed by their human companions, are every bit as elegant
and efficient as the words of people and usually more so. We have a
tendency to muddle our own language; what one person says another may
interpret differently and entire meanings can be misconstrued. Not so
with the complex yet simple language of dogs and wolves. Each of them
understands and speaks it so there is no communication barrier, despite
one dog being from China and another from Mexico. Not many humans can
claim that ability.
Because their
language is all about the tiniest quirk of an eyebrow or the position
at which one holds its head, dogs are well-versed in reading the body
language of other animals, especially those who are around them often:
their pack humans. Unfortunately, we are not so spectacular with
reading body language and often completely misunderstand our beloved
hairy friends. Just as with any form of communication, it takes time
and attention to comprehend the gestures of dogs. They speak with every
part of their bodies: tails, eyes, posture, mouths, tongue, and even
ears.
Ears
Can Talk While the
message is understood only when taking the pieces and combining them as
a whole, much like taking pages and putting them in the context of a
book, it is necessary to understand all the variants of the dog
vocabulary such as the ears. These expressive little things, sometimes
floppy and cute, sharply straight or long and ridiculous have their own
stories to tell. Or at least they have something to add to the dialogue.
Relaxed: This varies with the breed.
A German Shepherd has high and sharp ears but a Labrador has floppier
ones. While they look different they will do the same job in the same
way. Ears up but not forward, is a good sign of a relaxed dog or a
playful one. Floppy ears that are at rest and not lifted fulfil the
same function.
Alerted: If your floppy-eared
Scruffy raises his ears and tips his head in a quizzical expression,
then most likely he is trying to hear you better. It is similar to
cupping your ear with your hand. It can also mean your little Sadie has
been alerted to some curious noises as she trying to figure them out.
It is an adorable gesture with meaning. The twitches and swivels in the
base of the ear can indicate she really is 'tuning in' to whatever has
caught her attention.
Fearful: It can be heartbreaking to
witness the obvious terror of a dog friend when confronted by a menace.
The entire body posture screams the emotion and the ears are flat and
back against poor Sunshine's head. There are two types of fearful dogs:
dominant and submissive. A dominant dog will not be on her back but
ready to attack. If pressed, she may bite. Extremely fearful dogs in
submissive posture will have her ears plastered back to her head and
roll on her back to expose the belly. She is hoping this will prove she
is a non-threat and whatever is terrifying her will go away.
Dominant and Aggressive: Ears are
forward and could be spread a little to make a V shape. This is an
attempt to make the dog look bigger than he really is much as raised
hackles and pushing the weight forward to the front legs will do. Teeth
are exposed, the legs become stiff and the tail is high and bristled.
There is no way to mistake this stance as anything but aggressive.
Stressed: Yes, sweet Lulu feels
stress when something happens that she does not like or something in
her environment annoys her. This can include a baby in her face, being
loomed over, or having otherwise unwanted contact from humans or other
dogs. It may include sounds, too. The ears are back when Lulu is
stressed. She may sweat through her paw pads, pant excessively and have
dilated pupils. The best way to combat this is to remove the source of
stress or distress even if that source is you. Definitely remove any
children or babies in the area if your dog is displaying these signs.
Submission: Not to be confused with
the look of stress, when your beloved Lulu is delighted to see,
especially if it has been a few hours or a few minutes, you will notice
her ears go from up and playful to back, but not tightly so, against
her head. This is a sign of utter submission that she recognises you
are her Alpha and that she is so happy to see you. She will approach
you hesitantly and wait for you to tell her to sit and be praised. Then
don't be surprised if she smothers you with puppy kisses! Although they
are back, they are relaxed, again so not to be confused with stress.
In a nutshell,
one could conclude that relaxed ears are good while ears back are bad.
Erect ears indicate attentiveness, listening and alertness. Relaxed
ears reveal an inner calm. Laid back tightly against the skull ears
show fear, concern and stress. Ears up and forward express aggression,
assertiveness or challenge.
Learning to read
your dog's body language will serve you both very well. After all she
has learnt yours by paying attention to you almost every moment of the
day, it would be nice to extend the same. All of the best relationships
enjoy strong communication and Lulu is worth the effort.
reprinted with kind permission
from
Peter Banks
Web: www.irishdogs.ie
Tel: +353 (45) 860921
Mob: +353 (85) 120 6800
