| Understanding Your Dog » Dog Body Language |
| Most people realize that a puppy gives cues when it needs to go potty. But reading a puppy?s body language is important in many other situations. Even at a very young age, dogs can begin to show aggressive tendencies and it is imperative to stop these behaviors before they become dangerous. But how does one tell if a puppy is being aggressive, playful, or scared? For example, do you know why a puppy may hold its ears back or perked up? Does a curled lip always mean, ?watch yourself or I?ll bite?? The following set of cues includes many different, sometimes contradictory, reasons why a puppy may exhibit certain behaviors. Although a curled lip can mean that your puppy is ready to bite, this alone is not always an accurate clue to aggression. Most of the time there will be other signals to indicate aggressive behavior such as a stiffly held tail and averted eyes. Some puppies use a curled lip to indicate happiness or submissiveness. Their facial expressions usually look more like a ?smile? and the eyes will have a softer look. The puppy?s tail will generally be held low and its body will be relaxed. Perked, highly held ears (even a puppy with floppy ears can perk them up) can also warn us that a dog may become aggressive. Usually this cue is accompanied by a direct stare, which is considered a challenge stance. But ears held forward or upright are also an indication of interest. Curious puppies will run toward new things with all their senses on high alert. Their ears are held as upright as possible to take in every sound that the new object, animal, or person may project. When a puppy wags its tail, it is most often an expression of joy and contentment. But the way the tail is held is really a more accurate way of determining the dog?s mood. A thumping, quickly wagging tail, especially when accompanied by the ?smile?, a lowered head, and ears held back, shows a dog that is happy and submissive. On the other hand, a tail stiffly held straight up and wagging only slightly is another challenge stance and is used when a dog is trying to assert his or her dominance. A puppy that is shivering can be expressing many different things. Excitement over seeing other dogs at a distance can trigger shivering, especially if your puppy is restrained from visiting them. Fear and uncertainty is another cause of shivering. A puppy may begin to shiver the moment he or she is in an unfamiliar situation such as at the vet clinic or grooming shop. Shivering can also be a sign of illness or pain. If your puppy is shivering for no known cause and it doesn?t stop within 24 hours, you should make an appointment with your veterinarian to rule out serious illness. Dogs and puppies communicate with each other and their human companions through body language. It is up to us to learn how to read their cues so we are better able to understand their moods and to meet their needs. |
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