Behavior Bytes
Sniffing the Ground
When a dog sniffs the ground, he may be doing more than smelling something interesting.
He could be trying to calm another canine.
World renowned Norwegian dog trainer, Turid Rugaas is an expert in canine body language. She coined the term, "calming signals".
These are signals that dogs give other dogs, people, cats, and other objects/animals that denote some level of stress. They are also behaviors offered by a dog in an attempt to keep a situation calm.
Dogs have about 30 calming signals, perhaps even more!
These signals are dogs' attempt to defuse stressful or tense situations with their owner, another dog, or another animal.
Sniffing the ground is one type of Calming Signal.
He could be trying to calm another canine.
World renowned Norwegian dog trainer, Turid Rugaas is an expert in canine body language. She coined the term, "calming signals".
These are signals that dogs give other dogs, people, cats, and other objects/animals that denote some level of stress. They are also behaviors offered by a dog in an attempt to keep a situation calm.
Dogs have about 30 calming signals, perhaps even more!
These signals are dogs' attempt to defuse stressful or tense situations with their owner, another dog, or another animal.
Sniffing the ground is one type of Calming Signal.
When you might see this behavior:
- Someone is coming towards you
- In places where there´s a lot going happening
- In noisy areas
- A dog sees something he/she is unsure of, and finds intimidating
- In groups of puppies
- You and your dog are out walking and an unfamiliar dog walks by on the other side of the street
- When a cat approaches your dog head-on
- When a dog runs directly at your dog
- Someone is coming towards you
- In places where there´s a lot going happening
- In noisy areas
- A dog sees something he/she is unsure of, and finds intimidating
- In groups of puppies
- You and your dog are out walking and an unfamiliar dog walks by on the other side of the street
- When a cat approaches your dog head-on
- When a dog runs directly at your dog
What to look for:
Sniffing the ground may be anything from moving the nose swiftly down toward the ground and back up again - to sticking the nose to the ground and sniffing persistently for several minutes.
--> Is someone approaching you and your dog? Take a look at your dog. Did she drop her nose down toward the ground, even slightly? Did she turn his side to the person or dog approaching and sniff the side of the road or grass?
That's a calming signal!
In the image below, Hocus has seen an unfamiliar dog ahead, on the other side of the street. As soon as she noticed the dog her nose went down to the sidewalk -- her calming signal.
Note: This pic was taken right before she stopped to continue sniffing for several seconds. After sniffing she then continued walking, looked over at the dog, lip licked - another calming signal, then kept walking ahead.
Dogs are hardwired to use their noses; it´s their favorite activity! However, sometimes sniffing can be calming for dogs. It really depends on the situation.
Your Goal: Pay attention to when and in which situations the sniffing occurs! It is essential to understand that context is important, regardless of species.
Sniffing the ground may be anything from moving the nose swiftly down toward the ground and back up again - to sticking the nose to the ground and sniffing persistently for several minutes.
--> Is someone approaching you and your dog? Take a look at your dog. Did she drop her nose down toward the ground, even slightly? Did she turn his side to the person or dog approaching and sniff the side of the road or grass?
That's a calming signal!
In the image below, Hocus has seen an unfamiliar dog ahead, on the other side of the street. As soon as she noticed the dog her nose went down to the sidewalk -- her calming signal.
Note: This pic was taken right before she stopped to continue sniffing for several seconds. After sniffing she then continued walking, looked over at the dog, lip licked - another calming signal, then kept walking ahead.
Dogs are hardwired to use their noses; it´s their favorite activity! However, sometimes sniffing can be calming for dogs. It really depends on the situation.
Your Goal: Pay attention to when and in which situations the sniffing occurs! It is essential to understand that context is important, regardless of species.
The "Whale Eye"
What is Whale Eye?
Whale eye is dog communication. It is dog body language that provides a cue to you and other animals about what a dog is feeling and thinking. "Whale eye" is the term dog trainers use to describe a dog's body language when you can see the whites of the dog's eyes. It occurs when a dog averts his head slightly, but keeps his eyes fixed on something or someone. You will see the whites in a half moon shape.
What It Means
If you notice a dog is exhibiting whale eye, he/she is telling you that they are feeling anxious and uncomfortable. The dog is feeling some kind of stress. It could be a signal that a dog could show aggressive behaviors (because a dog who is anxious is more likely to bite). This is a warning signal and is often accompanied by hard eyes, freezing, stiffening up. It extreme cases it can lead to growling.
Whale eye is dog communication. It is dog body language that provides a cue to you and other animals about what a dog is feeling and thinking. "Whale eye" is the term dog trainers use to describe a dog's body language when you can see the whites of the dog's eyes. It occurs when a dog averts his head slightly, but keeps his eyes fixed on something or someone. You will see the whites in a half moon shape.
What It Means
If you notice a dog is exhibiting whale eye, he/she is telling you that they are feeling anxious and uncomfortable. The dog is feeling some kind of stress. It could be a signal that a dog could show aggressive behaviors (because a dog who is anxious is more likely to bite). This is a warning signal and is often accompanied by hard eyes, freezing, stiffening up. It extreme cases it can lead to growling.
What To Do
If you see your dog displaying this body language, back off and figure out what prompted it. Was your dog guarding something? Was he or she uncomfortable with how you were touching or interacting with him? Is he/she sore or experiencing pain? Be sure to relax and calmly back away so he or she can relax and become more comfortable.
What NOT to do
Whatever you do, make sure you never punish a dog who is displaying warning signals. Instead, figure out why he is warning you and do something to change his emotional response to whatever was upsetting him so that it no longer bothers him.
If you see your dog displaying this body language, back off and figure out what prompted it. Was your dog guarding something? Was he or she uncomfortable with how you were touching or interacting with him? Is he/she sore or experiencing pain? Be sure to relax and calmly back away so he or she can relax and become more comfortable.
What NOT to do
Whatever you do, make sure you never punish a dog who is displaying warning signals. Instead, figure out why he is warning you and do something to change his emotional response to whatever was upsetting him so that it no longer bothers him.
Some Dogs Don't Want Belly Rubs!
Dogs who truly want their bellies rubbed will have loose and floppy body language, with soft eyes and wiggly bodies. When a dog appears tense, looks away from you, has wide eyes (or whale eyes), licks their lips, or shows other signs of stress, he or she is probably asking you to back off. This body language is known as a “tap out” or “inguinal exposure,” and should be respected by giving the dog space to feel more comfortable.
There are different reasons why a dog may offer his/her belly. Some dogs really do want belly rubs, and other dogs will offer their belly as a distance increasing signal. In those cases, their belly-up posture is a polite way to ask you to leave them alone.
How well do you speak dog? Check out these images (from Paws Abilities Dog Training) to see which dogs are inviting a belly rub and which ones are asking you to leave them be.
There are different reasons why a dog may offer his/her belly. Some dogs really do want belly rubs, and other dogs will offer their belly as a distance increasing signal. In those cases, their belly-up posture is a polite way to ask you to leave them alone.
How well do you speak dog? Check out these images (from Paws Abilities Dog Training) to see which dogs are inviting a belly rub and which ones are asking you to leave them be.
Dog Signals
The question is not whether the dog will bite, but whether the dog and person are both enjoying the interaction. - Colleen Pelar
How often do you watch your dog and really understand his or her behavior? Dogs have a very diverse and rich body language that they use to great effect. We can eavesdrop on what a dog is telling you (or another dog or cat) by knowing a little bit about how dogs behave when they are relaxed, happy, nervous, frustrated or angry. Do you know what each of these behaviors mean?
Learn what all of these very specific and deliberate behaviors mean HERE and HERE.
- Standing Still
- The Rocking Horse Run
- Crouching
- Bowing
- Stiffness
- Hard Eye
- Freezing
- Stiff Mouth
- Lip Licking
Learn what all of these very specific and deliberate behaviors mean HERE and HERE.
Listen to: "What Do Dogs Say with Their Tails?" 🚧
Listen to: "How to Read a Dog’s Facial Expressions" 🚧 under construction
Listen to: "How to Read a Dog’s Facial Expressions" 🚧 under construction