It might not sound obvious, given that they can’t use spoken language like us, but dogs are actually pretty skilled when it comes to communication.
Our canines have lots of ways to use sounds and body language to express how they’re feeling, and it’s up to us to decipher what they’re trying to tell us and support and advocate for them. Maybe they’re simply telling us they want one of the best dog treats, or perhaps they’re unhappy with something and want to let us know.
Sometimes, dogs can convey their feelings and emotions in quite subtle ways, so we need to be alert for changes in their body language. And certified dog trainer Melissa Goodman of Mission Pawsitive has discussed one particular sign of discomfort in the new Instagram post – let’s check it out here so we know what to look for.
“Sometimes dogs can become playful when something uncomfortable happens,” says Goodman. She’s working with a dog, Hana, who doesn’t like hands over her head – and subtly turns her head when Goodman’s hand is over it, ready to pet her. Knowing how to read dog body language in a situation like this one – as Goodman can – is ideal.
“This was a clear, but also subtle way for her to nicely tell me she didn’t like that, and she followed it up with appeasement behavior of rubbing up against me,” Goodman continues, explaining in the caption that it’s sort of a canine version of changing the subject. “She then gives me the area she does want pets.”
She explains that it’s easy to misinterpret this sort of behavior as simply being play, when it’s not quite. “Then she gets the zoomies, which is playful, but also something dogs do to relieve stress or diffuse a potential conflict,” she adds. Why else do dogs get the zoomies? Find out all you need to know here.
“Have you ever laughed when nothing was funny, but because you were uncomfortable or nervous?” Goodman asks in her caption. “Dogs do the same thing, in their own ways. Just like laughter is playful, it’s not the only time we laugh. Just because zoomies and butt wiggles are playful, doesn’t mean it’s always play.”
This subtle turn away that Hana does in the video is just one of many aspects of dog body language to be aware of, however. If you’d like to learn more, you might find this article interesting: I learned these five dog body language cues and they changed my relationship with my dog.
