Have you ever wondered why your dog is doing what he or she is doing? Dogs have their own non-verbal way of communicating with each other, and if you take some time to learn what these non-verbal mannerisms mean you’ll have a better understanding of what your dog is saying.
Take sleeping for example. The average dog will sleep up to 16 hours per day. However, not all sleeping is created equal. Dogs like humans have different stages to their sleep. Dogs may be just “napping” or they could be in full “sleep” mode when you see them “sleeping.” Some ways to tell the difference is how your dog is laying. Usually if a dog is on his back with his or her legs up in the air, this is a good indication the dog is in deep sleep mode. While the position can look very comical, it’s the best position for your pet because he or she is fully relaxed. The muscles are stretched and relaxed, the belly is exposed so there’s good air circulation and he or she is cooler. Dreams tend to happen most in this position. You’ll hear little sounds coming from them or their little feet will twitch or some other involuntary motion will occur.
If your pooch is sleeping on their side this usually means they are napping or dozing. The same is true if they are all curled up into a little ball. This curled position is very stressful as compared to the flat on their back position, so your pet will awaken quite easily from this position. He or she is just resting and napping. They are not in a deep sleep state.
Have you noticed your canine likes to sleep with you in a back to back kind of position? This means your pooch is bonding with you and is also exhibiting a form of protecting you.
Another form of communication is “butt sniffing.” Thankfully humans are a little more evolved (though I wonder about some). Dogs have two anal glands. These glands are located on either side of the dog’s rectal opening, and they contain a not so pleasant smelling brown liquid. This “liquid” is dispelled anytime your dog goes potty. He also emits a bit of this liquid when he or she comes in contact with another dog. This is why dogs sniff at each other’s butt. There is nothing “sexual” or “dirty” going on in the dog’s head when they are doing this. It’s simply away for each dog to say “How do you do” in doggie language. You could also say it’s like a human hugging someone hello or giving a handshake. Nothing bad or untowardly is meant by the gesture. It’s simply a social gesture.
Please keep in mind these anal glands can get clogged. So, another way your pooch may communicate this to you is by dragging his bottom across the floor or biting or licking near his rectal area. Again, you really need to keep an eye on all the non-verbal communication your dog is giving you.
These are just a few ways your dog communicated with you. Once you start to understand your dog’s way of communicating you’ll see they really do more than just lie about all day. Dogs talk to us just like humans do; only they use body language rather than words.
Sources
http://dogs.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Dog_Anal_Glands
