Questions tagged [communication]
How do dogs use play to establish social hierarchies?
Category: Interpreting Behavior
Dogs use play as a critical tool for establishing and maintaining social hierarchies within their groups, whether those groups are composed of other dogs, humans, or mixed species. Play serves multiple purposes in canine social dynamics, including communication, bonding, and the negotiation of socia...
How do dogs use their tails to communicate submission?
Category: Interpreting Behavior
Dogs use their tails as a vital part of their body language to communicate a wide range of emotions, including submission. Understanding how a dog's tail position and movement convey submission requires a deeper look into canine behavior and communication. 1. Tail Position and Movement in Submissio...
Why might a fearful dog tuck its tail between its legs?
Category: Posture
A fearful dog tucking its tail between its legs is a common and instinctive behavior that serves as a clear signal of the dog's emotional state. This action is deeply rooted in canine communication and body language, and understanding it requires an exploration of both the physiological and psycholo...
How does an aggressive dog use its hackles to communicate?
Category: Posture
When a dog raises its hackles, it is a form of communication that signals heightened arousal, stress, or aggression. Hackles are the hairs along a dog's back, neck, and sometimes tail that stand up when the dog is emotionally stimulated. This physiological response is called piloerection, and it is ...
How does an aggressive dog use its tail to signal dominance?
Category: Posture
An aggressive dog often uses its tail as part of a broader body language system to communicate dominance, assertiveness, or readiness to confront a perceived threat. While tail position and movement are just one aspect of canine communication, they play a significant role in signaling a dog's emotio...
How can you tell if a dog is alert based on its head position?
Category: Posture
A dog's head position is one of the most telling indicators of its alertness and emotional state. When a dog is alert, it is paying close attention to its surroundings, often in response to a stimulus such as a sound, movement, or unfamiliar presence. Understanding how to interpret a dog's head posi...
How do a dog's eyes narrow when it becomes aggressive?
Category: Posture
When a dog becomes aggressive, its eyes often undergo noticeable changes that can serve as important visual cues for understanding its emotional state. One of the most common changes is the narrowing of the eyes, which is part of a broader set of body language signals that indicate tension, discomfo...
How does an aggressive dog's posture change when it barks and shows aggressive body language?
Category: Posture
An aggressive dog's posture undergoes significant changes when it barks and displays aggressive body language. These changes are part of the dog's communication system, which is rooted in instinct and serves as a warning to perceived threats. Understanding these postural cues is crucial for interpre...
How can you tell if a dog is alert based on its tail wagging?
Category: Posture
A dog's tail wagging is one of the most recognizable forms of canine communication, but interpreting what it means requires careful observation of the context, the tail's position, and the speed and direction of the wag. When determining if a dog is alert based on its tail wagging, there are several...
Why does my dog growl when it's being approached by a smaller dog?
Category: Vocalizations
Dogs growl when approached by smaller dogs for a variety of reasons, and understanding this behavior requires insight into canine communication, social dynamics, and individual temperament. Growling is a form of vocalization that serves as a warning or a way to express discomfort, fear, or assertive...