Body language of dogs

The body language of dogs is one form of non-verbal communication whereby dogs can express emotions and intentions through bodily movements.[1][2] It refers to the interpretation of posture and behaviour of species in the genus Canis. This form of visual communication is generally used for identifying emotions and intentions of domestic dogs, though it can also be applied to wild canines such as wolves.[3] Understanding the body language of dogs is particularly important in preventing dog bites, especially of children.[4] This communication can occur between dogs, or during a dog-human interaction. Such movements primarily involve the tail, the ears, and the head/body.[1] Tail-wagging is a common tail movement used by dogs to communicate.[5][6] Additionally, ear flattening or heightening are typical movements made using the ears.[2] In terms of the head/body, it is of interest to study turning of the head, as well as the overall posture of the dog.[1]

Because dogs communicate differently from humans, it is more difficult for humans to interpret their emotional states. By focusing on the combinations of motions made by dogs, and studying the aftermath of such sequences, humans are able to attribute different emotional states (i.e., contentment, fear, or aggression) as a result of the dog's body language.[1]

By properly interpreting the body language of dogs, not only are humans able to decipher what a dog is trying to communicate, but are also able to recognize warning signs prior to an attack, decreasing the number of dog bite occurrences.[1][2][7]

It is important to note that the body language under investigation can be divided into three different forms of cues: behavioural, holistic, and other.[2] While behavioural cues focus primarily on studying movements without considering the underlying reasoning behind such movements, holistic cues are ones that occur as a result of either expressing emotions, or communicating intentions.[2][8]

Understanding the body language of dogs can also aid in optimal obedience training, as observation of body language may reveal when the dog is most motivated and therefore provides a time-frame whereby dogs will learn more readily.[9]

  1. ^ a b c d e Pierson, Melissa Holbrook (2020). "Learning How to Listen to Dog Language --- They may not use words, but our canine companions say a lot more than we realize with their bodies". The Wall Street Journal.
  2. ^ a b c d e Demirbas, Yasemin Salgirli; Ozturk, Hakan; Emre, Bahri; Kockaya, Mustafa; Ozvardar, Tarkan; Scott, Alison (2016-12-30). "Adults' Ability to Interpret Canine Body Language during a Dog–Child Interaction". Anthrozoös. 29 (4): 581–596. doi:10.1080/08927936.2016.1228750. ISSN 0892-7936. S2CID 152049120.
  3. ^ Mech, L. David; Smith, Douglas W.; MacNulty, Daniel R. (22 May 2015). Wolves on the Hunt : The Behavior of Wolves Hunting Wild Prey. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 9780226255149.
  4. ^ Dixon, Cinnamon A.; Mahabee-Gittens, E. Melinda; Hart, Kimberly W.; Lindsell, Christopher J. (February 2012). "Dog Bite Prevention: An Assessment of Child Knowledge". The Journal of Pediatrics. 160 (2): 337–341. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2011.07.016. PMC 3258302. PMID 21885057.
  5. ^ Quaranta, A.; Siniscalchi, M.; Vallortigara, G. (2007). "Asymmetric tail-wagging responses by dogs to different emotive stimuli". Current Biology. 17 (6): R199–R201. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2007.02.008. PMID 17371755.
  6. ^ Siniscalchi, Marcello; Lusito, Rita; Vallortigara, Giorgio; Quaranta, Angelo (2013). "Seeing Left- or Right-Asymmetric Tail Wagging Produces Different Emotional Responses in Dogs". Current Biology. 23 (22): 2279–2282. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2013.09.027. PMID 24184108.
  7. ^ Gershman, Kenneth; Sacks, Jeffrey; Wright, John (1994). "Which dogs bite? A case-control study of risk factors". Pediatrics. 93 (6): 913–917. doi:10.1542/peds.93.6.913. S2CID 10994085 – via Highwire Press American Academy of Pediatrics.
  8. ^ Valentin, Giancarlo; Alcaidinho, Joelle; Howard, Ayanna; Jackson, Melody M.; Starner, Thad (2015). "Towards a canine-human communication system based on head gestures". Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Advances in Computer Entertainment Technology. ACE '15. New York, NY, USA: ACM. pp. 65:1–65:9. doi:10.1145/2832932.2837016. hdl:1853/54527. ISBN 9781450338523. S2CID 11378679.
  9. ^ Hasegawa, Masashi; Ohtani, Nobuyo; Ohta, Mitsuaki (2014-02-27). "Dogs' Body Language Relevant to Learning Achievement". Animals. 4 (1): 45–58. doi:10.3390/ani4010045. PMC 4494300. PMID 26479883.