Communication occurs in many ways and most of them are non-verbal. Body language and facial expressions can often express our moods in ways that words cannot. Dogs are keenly attuned to our expressions and body language, and, in fact, often use body language to "speak" to each other. What is a tail-wag, after all, but a friendly "hello"? Dogs actually understand us much better than we think. The problem in our inter-species communications most often lies in our lack of understanding of what the dog is saying to us. Remember, your dog’s whole life literally revolves around you. He has lots of practice in understanding your moods and tones. With a little practice, you can improve your understanding of him. As in our relationships with other humans, communication is key in our relationship with our dogs.

How to Speak to Your Dog:

Dogs are amazing animals and are quite intelligent. They have the ability to learn the meanings of many words but the key is to spend time teaching them and talking to them. Start talking to your dog as soon as he moves in! Don’t be shy…the dog will love it and it can be therapeutic for you too! (You might want to let the neighbors know that you have a dog, however, lest they think you’ve lost your marbles!). All conversation is good, but be sure to use the same word or phrase for the same things each time. It doesn’t matter what the words are, as long as you are consistent. The dog will learn "do you want to go out", "do you want to go for a ride" or "do you want a cookie" so fast you will think that he actually has ESP! Use a different word for each toy and praise your dog when he brings the correct one to you. It is helpful if the words don’t sound too alike. "Ball " is easy to distinguish from "Frisbee" but "Binkie" sounds very much like "Winkie" to a dog.

The same rules apply for obedience commands. Use the same word each time with a clear confident tone. Remember that the dog is reading the tone as well as hearing the word. Say the word clearly, then make the dog do the behavior. For example, say "SIT", then gently put the dog in a sit position. The idea is not to confuse him. Make a clear link between the word and the action or concept. A favorite Far-Side cartoon illustrates this concept—the first panel shows the frustrated owner, with pointing finger, giving a lecture to his dog, " I told you not to get in the garbage, Ginger. Now, Ginger, I have to clean up this mess. Do you know how long that will take?" The second panel show the contented dog, looking up at his owner and what the dog hears, "Blah, blah, blah, Ginger. Blah, blah, blah, Ginger" A long-winded lecture is going to have less impact than a firm "NO". Simplicity and tone are the key.

Take the time to bond with your dog. Speak to your dog while going for a walk, while grooming, or just relaxing in front of the TV. Tell him that you love him—he may not understand the exact words but he will understand the tone and sentiment of what you are saying. You will be forming a bond that will last his lifetime.

How Your Dog Speaks to You

Dogs communicate with body language and with sound. Your dog will use his bark to get your attention or to alert you of someone approaching. He will use a growl as a warning. These are all obvious communication techniques and in very little time, you can tell your dog’s "happy" bark from his "prowler" bark. More subtle are his body cues. Dogs communicate with each other with body language and they transfer this communication to their interaction with humans.

Aggression

A dog who is approaching you or another dog aggressively will be stiff-legged, tense, with his tail straight up. The tail may or may not be wagging slightly. He will be making direct eye-contact. The ears may be straight up, but as the aggression escalates they will be back and the dog may show his teeth. Direct eye-contact is one cue a dog uses as a challenge. He is trying to assert his dominance. This type of aggressive behavior is not acceptable toward you, family members or other dogs.

Fear

A dog who is frightened or anxious will go to a submissive posture, with the ears back, body hunched or completely rolled over, tail tucked and eyes narrowed. He will avoid eye contact and he may "grin" or show his teeth slightly. Approach a fearful dog cautiously as his fear may cause him to nip. Use reassuring tones and try to get the dog to come to you, rather than approaching him.

Playful

A playful dog will appear more relaxed, ears forward, mouth open and may bark a bit. His tail will be up and wagging. He may go into a "play stance" –front end on the ground and back end up. You can initiate play with your dog by simulating a play stance yourself. He will read your body language and know that it is play time!

Alert

A dog who is listening or waiting for something will be upright, ears up, head turning, and tail up, possibly wagging slightly. He may whine slightly. He may try to get your attention if he feels that he hears something that you need to know about.

Communication is key in the bonding process with your dog. Watch the way your dog reacts in various situations and before long you will be reading his body language almost as well as he is reading yours. In this way, you can better read his moods and understand what makes him happy or upset. Talk to him and learn to understand what he is saying to you. You will open a new world for each other and forge the friendship of a lifetime!

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