3-ONLINE EXPERT ARTICLE

 When Will My Dog Speak to Me?

 

Like most children, I grew up watching cartoons. I watched everything from Cartoon Network, Disney, Nickelodeon, and even Boomerang for the older cartoons. One thing that cartoons can accomplish that most shows can't are talking dogs. They could drive cars, become secret agents, and occasionally rulers of the world. Even as a kid I knew that was crazy, but I had hope that I could one day talk to my dog. That I would wake up one morning and suddenly understand her. Unfortunately, I got older, and that reality also started to slip away. 

What I didn't realize at the time was how much my dog was already talking to me. It might not be the same way that you and I would talk. I never got a handwritten note or anything like that. Obviously, dogs must have a way of communicating with each other. Dog barks are the most obvious indicators. Another subtle, yet common, form is smell. The blissful moment when your dog puts their face as close as possible to another dog’s butt. To be fair, their sense of smell is much more advanced than ours and they use it for almost anything. 

Even armed with this knowledge, it did not really help me find out how they talk to us. We use a whole host of methods to communicate with them: talking, using hand signals, and making strange high pitch sounds. So then, how do dogs respond and what should you look out for when they try to talk to you?

The easiest way to see it is to break it down to three main parts:

1. Vocal Language 

2. Body Language 

3. Facial Expressions

 

Vocal Language 

Barking is the easiest form to recognize, but it can mean all sorts of things depending on the pitch. A low-pitched bark can be an indication of fear, anger, or arousal. Similarly, they have a low-pitched growl or snarl (grrrrrr). However, this plainly means to be careful. You probably hear a bark the most when they detect just about any foreign sound, whether it be the doorbell, a bird, or another dog. This comes from arousal to alert you of the sound and deter the possible "threat". 

A higher pitched bark is an attempt to deliver a friendlier connotation. Barking at you means they are trying to get your attention. This might be because they are hungry, thirsty, or need to go outside. Likewise, it could mean arousal, but a different kind. In this case, it would be positive; they are happy or excited for whatever is going on in front of or around them. Maybe you just came home, you're giving them a treat, or they're playing with their favorite toy. 

 

Body Language 

Body language is a lot easier to decipher but requires a bit more awareness. The most recognizable form is from the tail. Look for posture here; either high, low, or tucked. A high wagging tail shows happiness and if they're shaking their whole butt, excitement. However, if it is stiff and high, they are on alert, ready to jump. A low tail is contentment and their regular state, and a tucked tail is fear. It's best to be cautious around dogs showing fear as it can quickly change to aggression if provoked. 

Next would be to look at their body. If you notice their fur standing up, similar to hair on a cold day, they're aroused or excited. Again, this could be positive or negative arousal. An uneasy body is stiff or frozen and may turn into aggressive if you invade their space. A fearful dog shakes and shivers, sometimes contracting their body. Rolling over and exposing their belly is calling for a rub and shows they are comfortable and happy. 

Last is took look at their ears. Similar to their tail, it can be either high or low. However, just looking at their ears is not enough to determine their mood. High ears are associated with arousal, excitement, and aggression. Low ears are related to relaxation, fear, and anxiety. So, you can see how varied the meaning can be and why it is important to look for other indications. 

 

Expressions

Expressions are the most difficult to understand. In these cases, you want to look at the eyes and mouth in combination. Fearful and anxious dogs avoid eye contact, lower their eyebrows, and typically keep their mouth shut.  Anxiety can have other signs like excessive panting and licking their lips. Personally, I can tell when dog is happy. After some research it seems to be almost universal. They look as if they are actually smiling, sometimes having a slight grin (maybe it is just her underbite). They're relaxed and usually accompanied by a wagging tail. 

 

Will They Ever Really Start Talking?

Recently, I came across an Instagram video of a poodle using buttons on the ground to talk to their human. Her mat includes over 70 buttons with everything from outside, play, and scratch. It did take extensive training but shows that it is possible to get a sort of human communication. The research into this area is relatively new and there is no concrete evidence of dog cognition, but so far it seems promising.

References

University, T. (n.d.). Home. Center for Shelter Dogs. https://centerforshelterdogs.tufts.edu/dog-behavior/dog-communication-and-body-language/.

Preidt, R. (2017, October 19). Does Your Dog 'Talk' to You? WebMD. https://pets.webmd.com/news/20171019/does-your-dog-talk-to-you.

Sanchez, K. (2020, November 11). How Bunny the dog is pushing scientists' buttons. The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/21557375/bunny-the-dog-talks-researchers-animal-cognition-language-tiktok.

Gibeault, S. (2020, January 27). Understanding Dog Body Language: Decipher Dogs' Signs & Signals. American Kennel Club. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/advice/how-to-read-dog-body-language/.