Dogs may not possess the language or skills to converse with each other in a manner humans would understand, but that doesn’t mean they can’t communicate. Instead, dogs “talk” to each other in their own unique language composed of vocalizations and body movements.
Continue reading to learn what each of these signifies and how they allow dogs to communicate with each other effectively.
How Do Dogs Greet One Another?
Generally, when two dogs first meet, they greet each other with a familiar pattern that involves sniffing each other’s muzzles and behinds. The reason for this is to learn about one another through their scents.
This might seem like unusual behavior to a human – we don’t often greet another person by taking a good sniff of them – but scent is the primary sense dogs use to understand the world, so to them, it makes perfect sense.
Dogs (and other animals) possess a special sensory organ within the nasal cavity called Jacobson’s organ, which allows them to sniff and organize chemicals that are undetectable to the human nose. When a dog sniffs another dog, they learn about its gender, breed, and other forms of identity.
How Do Dogs Communicate With One Another?
As babies, we gradually learn how to communicate with the people around us via an inbuilt knowledge combined with learned behaviors from our surrounding environments, and it’s no different for dogs. As puppies, they learn several movements and vocalizations that allow them to communicate with the world around them.
Because a dog’s style of communication is so different from our own, it can be challenging for humans to understand. Still, with a bit of practice, it’s easy enough for an owner to establish an open line of communication with their dog and to understand the interactions they have with other canines.
This is crucial in keeping your dog safe and happy, as misinterpretations can lead to an undesirable and potentially dangerous situation. For example, if you believe that every time your dog wags its tail, it is happy, you might miss out on some key signals that your dog is in a heightened state of stress.
Can Dogs Talk To Each Other?
Dogs use several vocalisations, including barks, howls, and yaps, to communicate with one another, and each carries its own specific meaning. These vocalizations are like those of their wild ancestors, such as the wolf, and come in two primary forms: short-range and long-range.
When it comes to barking, there are many different things that your dog could be saying to its fellow canine. Rapid barking often indicates surprise or distress; a relaxed bark indicates familiarity, while a slow and continuous bark suggests the dog is feeling aggressive.
Growling is a predominantly aggressive behavior, but it could signify surprise or playful communication if it’s high-pitched. And howling is most often used to express boredom or loneliness, though some dogs will do this for fun.
How Do Dogs Use Body Language to Communicate?
When it comes to the art of conversation, body language is just as important as vocalization during a canine interaction. Their body language is just as complex as humans; even the simplest of movements – such as a tail wag – can carry more than one meaning for a dog. Rather than looking at one specific display, it’s about looking at the overall body stance and temperament.
If a dog’s ears move forward, it can be a sign of interest or agitation, depending on the circumstance. Check their eyes: a hard stare alludes to the fact that they feel agitated, scared, or defensive, while a soft gaze suggests they are more relaxed.
And the expression on a dog’s mouth is also a good indicator of where they’re at. A loose jaw is a good sign that they are relaxed, but if your dog draws their lips back to bare their teeth, it means that they are upset.
A gently wagging tail signifies happiness, but a dog who has a tense tail wagging high over its back may be in an alert or defensive stance. Research has shown that when a dog waves its tail slightly to the left, it indicates that they feel somewhat anxious or apprehensive about a situation. Whereas, if a dog waves its tail slightly to the right, it signifies relaxation.
How Can I Tell If My Dog’s Interaction Is Friendly?
In general, dogs point their heads where they want to go; if they point their head directly toward another dog, it is usually (not always) a sign of aggression. In contrast, if they turn their head away from the other dog, it is considered more of a friendly greeting. Most dogs greet each other by tilting their head slightly to the side.
Sometimes, two or more dogs will engage in a “conversation,” where you’ll notice that the barks and vocalizations go backward and forwards much as a human interaction would. You can interpret the tone of these conversations by looking at the body language of both dogs.
During a relaxed and friendly interaction, you’ll see a lot of “give and take” between the two canines. This may include taking turns to vocalize, advancing, and retreating, and offering up play signals to one another, such as side to side prancing or pouncing on their front paws.
In contrast, an unfriendly interaction will have a different set of body language and is one that we must learn to recognize in our canines to keep them (and other dogs) safe. If there is any kind of force, like one dog pinning another dog down without allowing it to escape, or one-sided interactions such as barking or chasing incessantly, something is wrong.
