Reading your puppy’s body language
One of the reasons puppies make such good pets is the remarkable way they can communicate with people. Our puppies see us as an extension of their own canine family, and are very quick to interpret our own moods and intentions. Understanding how your puppy communicates will help the observant owner to correctly figure out the message their pup is trying to give.
Your puppy can communicate through a series of signals, including a variety of facial expressions, body postures, noises and scents. Your pup will use his mouth, eyes, ears and even his tail to express his emotions. By reading the combination of body signals, you should be able to understand your puppy’s mood.
Your puppy’s tail
One pattern of behavior that's characteristic of puppies and familiar to almost everyone is tail wagging. Most people would recognize that loose, free tail wagging indicates pleasure and a general friendliness. Exaggerated tail wagging, which extends to the entire rump, is seen in subordinate puppies — as well as puppies with very short tails.
The tail, however, is also an indicator of other emotions. A tail waved slowly and stiffly, in line with the back, expresses anger. Clamped low over the dog's hindquarters, it's a sign that the dog is afraid. Anxious or nervous dogs may stiffly wag their drooping tails as a sign of appeasement.
The normal tail carriage of the dog has been modified through breeding and docking. Some breeds — such as the Whippet and the Italian Greyhound — naturally carry their tail in the clamped-down position, but in general, a puppy’s tail held at higher than 45 degrees to the spine expresses interest and alertness.
Your puppy’s facial expressions
The facial expressions of your pup will tell you a lot about his mood — whether he's anxious or excited, frightened or playful or any one of a vast range of emotions he may express. Your puppy’s ears will prick up when he's alert or listening intently, but will be held back or flattened against his head when expressing pleasure, submission or fear. These facial expressions help you to understand your puppy’s mood, however, it’s important to watch for other body signals at the same time. For example, the narrowing or half-closure of your puppy’s eyes indicates either pleasure or submission, but when his eyes are wide open, this may be a sign he intends to be aggressive.
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