Every Tuesday I go to a yoga class. I like this class because it is gentle and a great opportunity to stretch after working out hard throughout the week.
On this particular Tuesday, the class was packed more than usual. I noticed that the teacher, Debbie, was becoming a bit frustrated because there was not enough props to go around and she could not get to everyone with a hint of how to make the pose work better for them. As her tension became apparent to me, I began to tense up myself. My mind began to wonder. And I began to think about… dogs.
My response to my teacher’s stress is something I see very often in our dogs as a reaction to our own frustration, stress or plain lack of clear communication when we engage with them as to what we want them to do.
I was reading about a study that showed the effect on the blood pressure of the dogs being studied. The conclusions of the study pointed out to the dog’s blood pressure going up when a person – even a person the dog knew well walked head-on towards them. Now, when the person walked on an arch towards the dog the dog’s blood pressure did not rise. Ah! What sensitive animals they are! To read more about the study visit: www.dogpulse.com.
Dogs are keenly aware of our body language - I think everyone has heard this before. But what most people don't know is how exactly and what exactly is their dog communicating back!
In yet another study, researchers discovered that the subject’s of the study (average dog owners) where actually quite accurate in interpreting what the dog’s language meant. They could differentiate by looking at the dog if the dog was fearful, playful, etc.
This is all good news! However, what concerns me is that pet parents and people in general miss on a regular basis, subtle signs of stress and discomfort that can lead to aggression in dogs.
Once the person is made aware of these subtle, yet very important communication they need to learn to “interpret” what they mean and learn to act accordingly. Behavior is always context specific and this is part of the learning for us.
Take, for example, what is called Displacement behaviors (also known in the nonscientific literature as “calming-signals”). Displacement behaviors are behaviors that a dog exhibits when he/she is conflicted. They are called displacement behaviors because they occur in an out-of-context or non-typical scenario. Here is a good example: A dog is hugged by someone; the dog responds by yawning while being hugged or just after begin released from the hug.
One can assume that the dog is yawning because he is tired - which could be true, however the dog yawning as a consequence to being hugged is most probably a sign of distress, and not being tired.
Another example of a ubiquitous displacement behavior: The dog encounters something that he feels mild concern or distress over. The interaction ends and as a result, the dog shakes- as if the dog was wet and wanting to rid himself of excess water.
The jury is still out as to what these forms of communication “really mean”. Is it that the dog is trying to calm himself? Calm the person or animal he feels conflicted about?
While the ultimate “meaning” of these behaviors is still being debated it is well understood in the behavioral sciences that dogs (other animals as well) feel conflicted often. Conflict in turn can lead to stress or escape/avoidance behaviors from what the animal finds threatening. So, if we are unsure as to what they are trying to communicate how then should we react?
Now here is what I tell my clients: Observe your dog closely as you interact with her. Observe dogs interacting with each other. How do they interact with one another?
What makes them come close to the other dog? What makes them move away or cry uncle as a result of interacting with another dog?
Also, when engaging with your dog - say when you hug her, walk directly towards her, raise a hand, raise your voice, pick her up, etc. Is her body relaxed? Mouth and eyes also relaxed and soft? Is she moving away from you or towards you –as if wanting more?
Once in the habit of observing our dogs (observation is a continuum by the way– with responses constantly changing in response to stimuli) we must honor what our dogs are trying to communicate to us. Start here: If the dog moves away after a certain interaction, honor that and find other ways of interacting with your pup that elicits wanting more behavior instead.
On this particular Tuesday, the class was packed more than usual. I noticed that the teacher, Debbie, was becoming a bit frustrated because there was not enough props to go around and she could not get to everyone with a hint of how to make the pose work better for them. As her tension became apparent to me, I began to tense up myself. My mind began to wonder. And I began to think about… dogs.
My response to my teacher’s stress is something I see very often in our dogs as a reaction to our own frustration, stress or plain lack of clear communication when we engage with them as to what we want them to do.
I was reading about a study that showed the effect on the blood pressure of the dogs being studied. The conclusions of the study pointed out to the dog’s blood pressure going up when a person – even a person the dog knew well walked head-on towards them. Now, when the person walked on an arch towards the dog the dog’s blood pressure did not rise. Ah! What sensitive animals they are! To read more about the study visit: www.dogpulse.com.
Dogs are keenly aware of our body language - I think everyone has heard this before. But what most people don't know is how exactly and what exactly is their dog communicating back!
In yet another study, researchers discovered that the subject’s of the study (average dog owners) where actually quite accurate in interpreting what the dog’s language meant. They could differentiate by looking at the dog if the dog was fearful, playful, etc.
This is all good news! However, what concerns me is that pet parents and people in general miss on a regular basis, subtle signs of stress and discomfort that can lead to aggression in dogs.
Once the person is made aware of these subtle, yet very important communication they need to learn to “interpret” what they mean and learn to act accordingly. Behavior is always context specific and this is part of the learning for us.
Take, for example, what is called Displacement behaviors (also known in the nonscientific literature as “calming-signals”). Displacement behaviors are behaviors that a dog exhibits when he/she is conflicted. They are called displacement behaviors because they occur in an out-of-context or non-typical scenario. Here is a good example: A dog is hugged by someone; the dog responds by yawning while being hugged or just after begin released from the hug.
One can assume that the dog is yawning because he is tired - which could be true, however the dog yawning as a consequence to being hugged is most probably a sign of distress, and not being tired.
Another example of a ubiquitous displacement behavior: The dog encounters something that he feels mild concern or distress over. The interaction ends and as a result, the dog shakes- as if the dog was wet and wanting to rid himself of excess water.
The jury is still out as to what these forms of communication “really mean”. Is it that the dog is trying to calm himself? Calm the person or animal he feels conflicted about?
While the ultimate “meaning” of these behaviors is still being debated it is well understood in the behavioral sciences that dogs (other animals as well) feel conflicted often. Conflict in turn can lead to stress or escape/avoidance behaviors from what the animal finds threatening. So, if we are unsure as to what they are trying to communicate how then should we react?
Now here is what I tell my clients: Observe your dog closely as you interact with her. Observe dogs interacting with each other. How do they interact with one another?
What makes them come close to the other dog? What makes them move away or cry uncle as a result of interacting with another dog?
Also, when engaging with your dog - say when you hug her, walk directly towards her, raise a hand, raise your voice, pick her up, etc. Is her body relaxed? Mouth and eyes also relaxed and soft? Is she moving away from you or towards you –as if wanting more?
Once in the habit of observing our dogs (observation is a continuum by the way– with responses constantly changing in response to stimuli) we must honor what our dogs are trying to communicate to us. Start here: If the dog moves away after a certain interaction, honor that and find other ways of interacting with your pup that elicits wanting more behavior instead.
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