Canine Body Language

I always loved Dr. Doolittle, the man who could Talk to the Animals. I always thought I could, too. As a child I was constantly appalled when I would hear Folks refer to the "Dumb Animals." I always figured we must be the dumb ones...After all, they understand our language much better than we have ever understood theirs.

 In searching for some of the answers to some of the thousands of questions that I had, and still have about Wolfdogs, I ran across these charts on The Wolfdog site, adapted from David Mech's reference book, "The Wolf", and a couple of Turid Rugaas' drawings from "Calming Signals", which illustrate some of the visual cues canines send as communication. By understanding that Canine body language is an integral part of Canine communication, I found it easier to Train my animals, because it was easier to understand the feedback I was getting from them. By incorporating some of the "words & "terms" I learned from them into our daily routines and interactions, I find our Relationships grow richer. I've found Canid behavior fascinating.
One of the things I've learned while trying to understand wolfdogs, is a deeper understanding of dogs in general. Watching them has taught me the value of visual cues. Along with all the various & wide ranged vocalizations that dogs are capable of, especially the social Wolves & Wolfdogs, there is a rich tapestry of stylized movement. Each flick of ear & tail tip, every shift of eye, has its own message. Each curl of lip, and the placement of shoulder while doing so is a layer of communication that, when taken with the whole, can really make getting along with your companion a lot easier. When trying to decipher your wolfdog’s body language, you have to take all the "messages", all the "phrases", together as a whole. The ear language, tail language, facial expressions, form of mouth, line of backbone, eye language, they are as a choir of different dialects all singing the same phrase, “This is how I feel”. Add in the actual Aural Communication, and you can see that the Language of Wolves & Wolfdogs is much more complex than has often been assumed. I find it is more difficult to "read" a soft-eared canine's "Ear Language". Prick-eared canines are much easier to "read". Eye positions can be very valuable communication tools. A quick shift of the eyes to the side and then back says, "Be Calm, I'm harmless but proud". A quick turn of the head is an indication of unease. It is also a Calming Signal, often used in conjunction with a slowing down of speed, and slight physical avoidance circles. “Here, I’ll give you a little time to cool off.”