How Your Dog Talks with You

When dogs want to talk with people, they do more than just bark. They use an eloquent range of body language to say what they're thinking and tell you what they want.

Dogs may perceive hugs - from humans or other dogs - as signs of competition rather than affection.

SIGNALS YOU SHOULD KNOW

There are slight differences among breeds, and even among individual dogs, but all dogs communicate in more or less similar ways. People can usually tell what their dogs are feeling by the ways they're standing or moving, or just by their eyes. Here are some of the main ways in which dogs communicate with people-and, in some cases, with other dogs as well.

Barking

There are many reasons dogs bark. It can mean they're having fun or are feeling frightened or lonely. It can mean they want attention or that they hear a strange noise.

The tone of barking changes with the dog's motivation, says David S. Spiegel, V.M.D., a veterinarian in private practice in Wilmington, Delaware, who specializes in behavior problems. "A panicked or anxious dog barks in a tone and pattern that we recognize as distress. This is meant to draw us near to help him."

While most dogs bark to say something, others do it just for fun, or out of habit, or because they are bored. This kind of barking can go on all day, and your dog will soon become the neighborhood nuisance.

Chewing

Chewing is natural, and dogs get a lot of fun and satisfaction from doing it. Dogs quickly learn what is and isn't appropriate for them tot chew. So it's rarely a mistake when an adult dog rips up a pair of loafers or chews up a magazine, says Suzanne B. Johnson, Ph.D., an animal behaviorist in private practice in Washington, D.C. Chewing usually means they're anxious or bored. It can also mean that they have too much energy and aren't getting enough exercise to dispel it.

Leaning

Dogs are enormously tactile and they don't respect "personal space" quite as much as people do. It's very common for dogs to get close to people and lean against their legs. Our usual reaction is to reach down to scratch their heads-which may not be the response they were after at all. Dogs who merely lean, as opposed to a catlike rubbing back and forth, may be attempting to expand their personal space by taking over .yours. Conversely, some dogs lean as a way of expressing affection and establishing possession, much as people put their arms around each other when walking down the street. And sometimes, of course, a lean just means your dog is a little itchy and is rubbing against your legs to scratch a hard-to-reach spot.

Leg Humping

LEG HUMPING IS NOT ABOUT SEX; IT'S ABOUT POWER. DOGS WHO HUMP PEOPLE'S LEGS ARE SAYING, "I'M HIGHER ON THE TOTEM POLE THAN YOU."

Nearly all dogs at some time in their life show a little too much interest in people's legs. Most dogs either outgrow it or give it up once they've been neutered. Some dogs, however, do it all the time. It's not about sex; it's about power. Dogs who hump people's legs are saying, "I'm higher on the totem pole than you," explains Jeff Nichol, D.V.M., a veterinarian and newspaper columnist in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Licking

A dog lick is generally considered more of a tribute than an attempt to solicit food. A dog who licks your face is reaffirming his subordinate status and saying that he loves and respects you. "He's telling you that you're the most wonderful thing that ever walked this Earth," says Dr. Nichol.

Limping

Many dogs employ this classic pay-attention-to-me signal.

Mouthing Hands

Dogs who wrap their muzzle around your hand without using their teeth are giving a friendly greeting. This is common in Labradors and other retrieving dogs who have been bred to gently carry game back to their owner, says Laurel Davis, D.V.M., a veterinarian in private practice in Asheville, North Carolina. Muzzle-wraps aren't always gentle, however. Dogs who use their teeth, even in a controlled way, on people are getting way too aggressive, and this type of behavior is often followed by other forms of aggression.

Nose-Nudging

Dogs love to push people with their nose. Most of the time it just means they want affection, says Dr. Nichol. "Or he considers the chair that you're in to be his favorite place and he wants you to move out of the way so he can take possession," he adds.

Smiling

Most dogs don't smile in the same way that people do. If anything, they tend to assume a grinlike expression when they're feeling threatened and aggressive and want people to see their teeth.

Tongue-Flicking

DOGS WHO REPEATEDLY FLICK THEIR TONGUE UP TO LICK THEIR NOSE ARE INVARIABLY UNEASY.

Dogs who repeatedly flick their tongue up to lick their nose are invariably uneasy, says Judy Iby, a registered veterinary technician in Milford, Ohio, and author of The New Owner's Guide to Cocker Spaniels. They often do this when they're assessing a new situation, debating whether or not to approach a stranger, or concentrating extra hard, such as during an obedience session, she says.

Yawning

AMONG DOGS, YAWNING IS OFTEN A SIGNAL THAT THEY'RE FEELING STRESSED.

Among dogs, yawning is of ten a signal that they're feeling stressed. A good yawn briefly lowers their blood pressure and helps them stay calm.

INTERPRETING DOGGIE "TALK"

To a dog, barking is far less important than other forms of communication, such as body language or scent marking. Still, barking, growling howling, and whining have a place in the dog dictionary. How your dog "talks" depends on his mood and what he wants. To tell what your dog is really saying, you need to look at sounds in context.

Barking

Barking is a great way to get the attention of a human or another dog It also announces a dog's territory and helps relieve stress. Different barks mean different things:

Growling

Growling is an unmistakable warning sign. Dogs use it to tell other dogs or humans to back off. They also growl when they're frightened. Study the situation:

Howling

Howling is how a dog gets in touch with other dogs, even when they're miles away:

Whining and Whimpering

Whining and whimpering hark back to puppyhood, when these sounds got him attention. Here's how to interpret them: