What Is Your Dog Trying to Tell You? 

GREATER VICTORIA & VANCOUVER ISLAND REAL ESTATE

A look toward the front door. A paw placed on your knee. A dramatic sigh from the other side of the room. A sudden burst of excitement when you reach for the leash.

We become remarkably good at recognizing our own dogs' habits, but canine communication goes much deeper than barking and tail wagging. Dogs use their eyes, ears, mouths, tails, posture, movement, scent and even the distance they place between themselves and other people or animals to communicate.

Learning to recognize some of these signals can help us better understand when our dogs are happy, excited, curious, uncertain, stressed or simply asking for a little space.

And because so much of a dog's life revolves around home, understanding canine communication can be particularly helpful when introducing a dog to a new house, neighbourhood or routine.

A Wagging Tail Doesn't Always Mean "I'm Happy"

This may be one of the most misunderstood pieces of canine body language.

A wagging tail tells us that a dog is emotionally stimulated, but we need to look at the rest of the dog's body to understand what that stimulation means.

A relaxed dog may have a loose, sweeping wag accompanied by a soft face and relaxed posture.A dog that is highly alert or uncertain may hold its tail higher and move it more stiffly.

Some frightened dogs tuck their tails underneath their bodies.

Breed and individual anatomy matter too. A naturally curled tail, docked tail or very fluffy tail can make signals more difficult to interpret.

The important lesson is simple:

Never interpret one signal in isolation. Look at the entire dog.

Fun Fact

Dogs communicate with one another through combinations of posture, facial expressions, movement, vocalization and scent. Humans tend to focus on faces, while dogs give us an entire body of information to observe.

Those Ears Are Talking Too

A dog's ears can provide another clue about how they are feeling.

Relaxed ears often accompany a comfortable, relaxed body.

Ears that suddenly move forward can indicate that something has captured the dog's attention.

Ears pulled back may occur when a dog is uncertain, worried, appeasing someone or sometimes simply excited to greet a favourite person.

Again, context matters.

A dog standing stiffly with its ears forward is communicating something quite different from a dog with a loose, wiggly body greeting you at the door.

This is also why learning your individual dog's normal appearance is so useful. Once you know what "relaxed" looks like for your dog, changes become easier to recognize.

Why Does My Dog Yawn When They Aren't Tired?

Dogs certainly yawn when they are sleepy, but yawning can also occur during moments of tension or uncertainty.You may notice a dog yawning at the veterinarian, during a busy gathering or in another unfamiliar situation.

Other subtle signs that can accompany discomfort or stress include:

• Lip licking when food isn't present
• Looking or turning away
• Lowering the body
• Excessive panting when it isn't hot
• Suddenly becoming very still
• Showing more of the whites of the eyes
• Repeatedly shaking off when the coat isn't wet

One behaviour doesn't automatically mean a dog is stressed. The environment and the collection of signals around it are what matter.

Recognizing these quieter signals can be especially valuable because dogs often communicate discomfort long before they resort to barking, growling or trying to move away.

What Is "Whale Eye"?

You may have heard dog trainers use the term whale eye.It describes a situation in which a dog turns its head while keeping its eyes focused on something, making the white portion of the eye particularly visible.

Depending on the circumstances and the dog's overall posture, this can be one indication that a dog is uncomfortable or concerned.

If you notice a dog becoming stiff, turning away, licking its lips or showing significant eye white during an interaction, giving the dog some space may be appropriate.

Understanding these subtle signals is particularly important around children, visitors and unfamiliar dogs.

Teaching children that a dog walking away should be allowed to walk away is one of the simplest ways we can respect canine communication.

The Famous Play Bow

This is one of the happiest pieces of dog communication to recognize.

Front legs down.Rear end up.

Tail often wagging.

It's commonly called a play bow, and dogs use it when initiating or maintaining playful interaction.

You may even see your dog perform one toward you.

Try responding with an enthusiastic movement or toy and you may suddenly find yourself participating in a conversation that doesn't require words at all.

Why Does My Dog Follow Me Everywhere?

Kitchen.

Bathroom.

Bedroom.

Back to the kitchen.

Some dogs seem determined to supervise every aspect of household management.

Dogs are social animals, and many enjoy remaining close to the people with whom they have developed strong relationships. They also become exceptionally good at learning our routines.

Your dog may know that opening a particular cupboard predicts food, changing your shoes predicts a walk, picking up your keys means you're leaving and sitting in a particular chair means it's time to relax.

To us, these actions seem insignificant.

To a dog, they can be useful information.

Fun Fact

Dogs are remarkably attentive to human gestures. Many learn to follow pointing, gaze direction and other physical cues, which helps explain why communication between humans and dogs can feel so intuitive.

Why Does My Dog Lean Against Me?

Many dogs lean their bodies against people they trust.

Sometimes they are seeking physical contact or attention. Sometimes they simply seem to enjoy being close.

The important distinction is whether the dog's body remains relaxed.

A soft dog choosing to lean against you is different from a frightened dog pressing against you because they are trying to escape something happening nearby.

Once again, context tells the story.

Why Does My Dog Sniff EVERYTHING?

For humans, a neighbourhood walk is primarily visual.

For a dog, it is an information-gathering expedition.

Their sense of smell allows them to investigate an extraordinary amount of information about their surroundings.That fire hydrant you've walked past hundreds of times?

Your dog may find it considerably more interesting than you do.

Allowing a dog appropriate opportunities to stop and sniff can provide mental stimulation in addition to physical exercise.

Instead of measuring every walk exclusively by distance, occasionally consider giving your dog a slower "sniff walk."

Let them investigate.You might cover less ground, but your dog may have had a very interesting outing.

What Does a Happy, Relaxed Dog Look Like?

Every dog is different, but a comfortable dog often has a collection of relatively loose characteristics:

A relaxed body rather than a rigid one.

Soft eyes.

Natural breathing.

Comfortable movement.

A willingness to explore, rest, play or interact.

The word loose is particularly useful when learning canine body language.

Compare that with a dog that suddenly freezes, closes its mouth, shifts its weight, stares intensely or becomes noticeably rigid.

A dramatic behaviour isn't always required for a dog to tell us that something has changed.

Sometimes the most important communication is extremely quiet.

Dogs Need Personal Space Too

We often show affection through hugging and face-to-face contact.

Not every dog enjoys either.

Some tolerate hugs beautifully. Others become uncomfortable when restrained.

The same applies to interactions with unfamiliar people.

Rather than automatically reaching over a dog's head, allow the dog some choice about whether they want to approach and interact.

And if a dog moves away?

Let them.

Choosing distance is communication.Respecting that choice can help build trust.

Your Home Is Part of Your Dog's World

We tend to think about our homes in terms of bedrooms, kitchens, storage, views and living space.Our dogs experience the same property very differently.

They notice smells.

Sounds.

Floor surfaces.

Windows.

Doors.

Neighbourhood dogs.

Delivery drivers.

Wildlife.

The location of their bed.

The sound of the garage opening.

Even the particular patch of afternoon sunshine where they like to sleep.

Over time, all of these become part of what "home" means to them.

That is one reason moving can be such a significant event for a pet.

Moving to a New Home With Your Dog

Imagine suddenly waking up somewhere where almost every familiar scent, sound and landmark has disappeared.

That's essentially what happens when a dog moves.

While some dogs investigate their new home enthusiastically within minutes, others need more time.

During the first days in a new house, consistency can help.

Keep familiar beds, blankets, toys and bowls rather than replacing everything at the same time.

Try to maintain normal feeding and walking schedules.

Establish a comfortable resting place early.

Allow your dog to investigate the house gradually.

Supervise outdoor time until you have carefully checked fences and gates.

Update identification and microchip contact information promptly.

And pay attention to your dog's communication.

A dog that is panting, pacing, following you constantly or having difficulty settling may simply need more time and predictability while adjusting.

Before You Let Your Dog Explore the New Backyard

A fenced backyard may look secure during a home showing, but dog owners should inspect it carefully before allowing their pet to roam freely.

Check:

• The bottom of the fence for digging opportunities or gaps
• Gate latches
• Spaces between fencing and buildings
• Loose or damaged boards
• Access beneath decks
• Potentially hazardous plants or materials
• Ponds and water features
• Garden chemicals and fertilizers
• Outdoor storage areas
• Access to neighbouring properties or roads

What contains one dog may not contain another.

A tiny gap may be irrelevant for a Labrador and very interesting to a Chihuahua.

A September Home Check for Dog Owners

September is a perfect transition month for a quick pet-focused home inspection.

As the days begin getting shorter, check your exterior lighting around doors, gates and walking areas.

Inspect fences after the dry summer months.

Make sure identification tags are readable and contact information is current.

Check your dog's leash, harness and reflective gear before darker fall walks begin.

Wash beds and blankets.

Review your pet's emergency supplies.

And if you've recently moved, make sure your veterinarian, licensing information and microchip records have your current address and telephone number.

These are small jobs, but they're easy to forget during a busy summer.

One Final Fun Fact: Your Dog Is Learning You Too

Perhaps the most interesting part of canine communication is that it works in both directions.

While we're learning what our dogs' different movements and expressions mean, they're busy studying us.T

hey learn routines, voices, gestures and patterns.

They know which door leads to the walk.

They recognize the sound associated with dinner.

They may know that the suitcase appearing means something unusual is about to happen.

And somehow, many dogs seem to know exactly when we've sat down in our nicest clothes before deciding that's the perfect moment for a cuddle.

Living successfully with a dog is, in many ways, an ongoing conversation between two species.

The more attention we pay to what they're communicating, the better we become at understanding the animals who share our homes.

Because Home Belongs to Them Too

For pet owners, finding the right home isn't only about square footage, countertops or the number of bedrooms.

It's also about lifestyle.

Where will we walk?

Is the yard appropriate?

How busy is the street?

Where will the dog sleep?

Is there a park nearby?

What are the strata's pet bylaws?

Will this home work for every member of the household, including the four-legged ones?

As a Greater Victoria Realtor and lifelong local, I believe those everyday lifestyle considerations matter when choosing a home.

Because ultimately, a home isn't simply where we live.

It's where our pets live their lives alongside us.