How Dogs Communicate With Humans

5.1 Introduction

Thus far throughout this course, we have touched on the way that dogs communicate, but we have really only scratched the surface. You know that dogs have the ability to communicate with humans and vice versa, but how do they do it? This module will give you even more information about how dogs communicate with their human companions and what they mean when they perform certain actions. Previously, when we presented information about dog communication, it was mostly about how dogs communicate with other dogs, but, in this case, the module will focus on how dogs communicate with their human companions.

5.2 How Dogs Communicate with Humans

Dogs communicate with humans in four different ways:-

-Vocalisation

-Body language

-Touch

-Scent

If you are a dog owner or know dog owners, you have most likely said or heard phrases like “He is ready to play", “She wants you to pet her head", or “He doesn't like it when I try to pick him up". All of these phrases are based on communication signals that pets give their owners - and over time, owners are able to interpret and then act on the symbols the dog is giving them. This turns into a non-verbal discourse, between two members of different species.

5.3 Canine Vocalisation and Communication

Dogs are not the most prolific vocal communicators, but as we have discussed throughout this course, there are several vocalisations that dogs make. These include whimpering, growling and barking. Additionally, some dogs will make other vocalisations that might sound like purring, moaning or sighing. Though we have covered this in previous modules - here is a quick overview of what these sounds might mean:-

Whimpering - Often used when the dog is feeling anxious, but can also be used when the dog is sad, or in pain.

Growling - A warning from the dog that says, “Back off. I will take further action if you don't".

Whining - Usually, whining means that the dog is frustrated, or feeling anticipation, such as when they watch their owner βill the food bowl. Whining can also indicate attention-seeking behaviour.

Howling - Dogs generally howl when they are lonely, miserable, or attempting to communicate at a long distance.

Barking - Different barks mean different things, including greeting, alarms, attention and threatening.

All of these vocalisations have meanings and in some cases, dogs are able to use these vocalisations to communicate with humans better than they can communicate with other dogs. Dogs also learn quickly that humans will respond to their vocalisations and over time, will learn which vocalisation gets a certain response.

The following is a simple overview of how this works. Think of a new dog that sees a squirrel outside and barks at it. The new owner hears the bark and wonders if the dog has to go to the garden to use the toilet, so the owner opens the door. The dog might think this is strange behaviour, but registers that the owner opened the door. The dog later feels that he has to use the toilet and wants to tell the owner. He tries a few things, but it does not work. Then, the dog remembers that the owner opened the door to the garden when he barked. He tries it, the owner opens the door again and the dog is able to access the garden and his toilet area.

For dog owners, it is important to remember that dogs are not linguists and English is a second language to them. However, dogs can certainly recognise the sounds that humans make, especially those that contain hard consonant sounds, such as 'cuh' or 'the', as found in the word 'cat'. Dogs have the capacity to learn hundreds of different human sounds, but they have difficulty stringing these sounds together.

For instance A dog understands what one means when they hear “sit" and they know what it means to hear “dinner", but would not understand the phrase “sit for your dinner". Since there are limitations when it comes to vocalisations between dogs and humans, we must rely on other methods of communication, to fill the gap.

FACT

By varying the tone of a dog's bark, he or she can convey at least 39 different meanings.

Source:Apbc.org.uk

5.4 Canine Body Language and Communication

Since vocalisation can only get a dog so far when communicating with a human - and vice versa - they use body language, to show us what they want. Dogs are experts at both communicating via body language and receiving information through body language. Humans, however, are not as perceptive. We have already discussed how dogs communicate with each other - they use postures, facial expressions and movements. They also try to use these methods, with their human companions.

Dogs believe that we can understand them, just as easily as they understand us. This, however, is certainly not true. Though it is possible to learn what dog body language means, which is one thing that this course teaches, most humans will never truly understand how to 'speak' with dogs, by reading their body language. Whether it is right or wrong, most people will apply their own interpretation of what a dog's body language means.

For instance An owner might look at their beloved terrier, who is giving them a submissive grin and believe that the dog is snarling at them. They may feel bad and believe their dog is upset with them, or even worse, going to bite or growl at them. You, however, thanks to this course, understand that a submissive grin is not a symbol of aggression at all. Instead, the dog is saying “I respect you, I like you and I do not want to hurt you".

Though humans are not as well versed as dogs, when it comes to body language, we do have body language of our own, which we often do not realise. For example, humans often stare with intent. When we feel threatened, we jut our chins out and move our necks forward. When we feel shame, we lower our heads. Though we do not have tails like a dog, or ears that can wiggle and move easily, we do have hands that we often use for the same purposes. However, since dogs do not have hands, they do not use their paws in the same manner. Instead, they have to be trained to see our hands as a means of communication.

Speaking of training, when giving dogs commands, it is extremely important to use body language, since remember, dogs are experts in this type of communication. Hand signals, body movements and even eye contact can all be easily understood by dogs. In fact, even deaf dogs can be trained in this way. The following is a summary of some of the ways that dogs use body language, to communicate with humans:-

The Way the Dog Uses the Eyes

Direct eye contact - Dogs use direct eye contact when they want attention, or if they wish to threaten a human. To know which type of eye contact the dog is using, seek out other signs.

Averting the eyes - Dogs avert their eyes, to show submission or deference.

Looking directly at an object - Dogs will look directly at an object, to bring their owner's attention to that object. They might look directly at the sofa, because a ball is under there, or they might look directly at the door because they want to go out to the garden.

The Way the Dog Uses Head and Neck Postures

Heads that are held high - Dogs hold their heads high when they are paying attention, or are wishing to challenge you.

Heads that are turned to the side - When a dog turns their head, it is an attempt to avoid the human.

Heads that are held low - Dogs that keep their heads low are showing submission.

The Way the Dog Uses the Body

Dogs with tense muscles - When dogs tense their muscles, they are preparing to fight, or flight. It is a subconscious reaction.

Dogs with relaxed muscles - When a dog has muscles that are relaxed, they are feeling easy- going and non-threatening.

Dogs with low heads and elevated hindquarters, with a wagging tail - These dogs just want to play.

Dogs and their tails - A dog's tail is designed to communicate with other dogs, not so much with humans. A dog's tail (the position as well as the type of movement) indicates a number of emotions. A raised tail (usually above spine level) signals arousal, excitement and uncertainty while a straight tail indicates relaxation. A fearful dog will have its tail tucked between the legs. Again, look at the rest of the body to see the dog's intentions.

Dog moving towards a human - When a dog moves towards a human, it is trying to get the human's attention.

Dog moving away from a human - Dogs that move away from a human are showing uncertainty. This is a defensive move.

Dogs, in general, react to situations with three standard responses: Fight, βlight or avoidance. They lean forward to fight, will run away for a flight response and may avert their bodies to avoid facing the situation at hand. Your pet may come charging at you when you arrive home from work. This is due to affection and excitement and you'll see this clearly in his body language. Similarly, another dog may come charging at a person to attack or lunge. This is also clearly indicated in the body language (raised hackles, stiff back, bared teeth and snarling). When a dog runs away, he or she could be fearful or wanting to start a game with another dog. In any situation, pet owners should keep a careful watch on the ears, head, tail and back.

FACT

A Japanese study showed that human-puppy eye contact creates a similar bond to the parent-baby contact.

Source: CBS News

5.5 Canine Touch and Communication

Another way that dogs communicate with humans is by touch. The following are some ways that dogs use touch to communicate:-

Pawing

Dogs are usually quick to use their paws when they want something because they know that they will probably get what they want. A dog will paw their human companion for specific things, such as head scratches or food. To figure out what a dog wants, look at their body language. If he/she paws and lowers their head, for instance, it is likely that he/she wants a pat on the head. If he/she paws and then bows down with their tail wagging, he/she most likely wants to play.

Licking

Licking is a classic greeting from dogs and is often seen as a sign of affection. Dogs also lick, however, to show that they are feeling submissive or anxious, at a particular moment. Dogs often lick the face, to tell humans that they are friendly and unthreatening.

Touching Noses

Many dogs also follow their nose, when it comes to communicating with humans. If you are around dogs a lot, you have likely had their nose in your face. Dogs have an advanced sense of smell and the nose is one of the most important tools in their communication tool kit. Dogs will touch their nose to yours, or your face, as a greeting. Dogs also might 'nose' you, because they want to have a scratch on the head.

Placing Their Weight On You

Finally, one might notice that a dog will lean and push its weight on you. Dogs do this because they are seeking out security or reassurance, as they feel anxious or threatened. They also might do this, when they feel as if you feel threatened or anxious.

5.5 Canine Scent and Communication

Finally, dogs use their sense of smell, to communicate with humans. This type of communication is the least known to us, but to dogs, it is the type of communication that they can learn a lot from. The sense of smell is the dominant sense in dogs, in fact, so for canines, when they smell someone or something, they are learning much more than we could ever imagine. Thus, when it comes to their nose, they treat humans just as they would other dogs. One of the reasons that dogs use their sense of smell to communicate is because they simply want to say hello and get acquainted. Remember, a dog can learn a lot about a person, simply by smelling them.

You might know that humans produce pheromones, which is a chemical substance that dogs can easily pick up. These pheromones come out of the sweat glands of the body and have a higher concentration in the genital areas. Dogs can smell these chemicals and be able to identify the gender of the person, their health, age and even mood. In women, a dog can even tell if she is pregnant. Dogs can also smell fear, which is why they often go up to people who are afraid of dogs. People who are fearful sweat more and, thus, dogs can smell that fear.

Taste

Though dogs can smell much better than humans, it is interesting to mention that the human sense of taste is far superior to that of dogs. If you watch a dog eat its food, you can see that this makes perfect sense. A human has about 9,000 taste buds on their tongue, but dogs only have about 1,700. This means that although they can still distinguish tastes, such as sour, sweet, salty and bitter, it is far less pronounced than the human ability to sense these tastes. Dogs also have a very strong aversion to bitterness, which is why bitter tastes are often used as deterrents for dogs.

Scent

When it comes to the owner of the dog, the dog often will find the owner by scent. The scent of a loving owner is one of the most beloved scents to any dog and studies show that the scent of the owner causes the brain of the dog to have a strong response. It is similar to how we might smell a certain scent, such as baking bread and think of our grandmother, or smell cologne and think of our first love. This reaction is immediate and emotional for us and it is the same for a dog that catches the scent of its owner. If you have a dog, you might find that he or she will bring your clothing into their bed, or even sleep on a pile of discarded, sweaty clothes. This is because these clothes smell like you and this scent makes them feel good, safe and loved. Thus far, canine communication with scent has been rather adorable.

However, in some cases, a dog's communication with scent is far from cute, but they, of course, do not realise this. Take, for instance, a dog's tendency to mark its territory with urine. Until recently, we did not know a lot about urinating, especially - and communication with dogs.

For example For decades, we believed that male dogs were much more likely to do this than female dogs, but this is not true at all. Males that have not been neutered are more likely to urinate, or mark, their scent as a way to communicate, but female dogs are not far behind. Males generally only urinate over the urine of other males, because, yes, they can tell the difference, but females will urinate over any canine urine they βind. Dogs of both sexes that are more submissive are more apt to sniff out the urine, but they will not often urinate over another dog's mark. All dogs do this because they are attempting to communicate by scent.

The dog's sense of smell also comes into play, when they are attempting to 'read' a person - and in some cases, they can smell things we can only dream of. For instance, there are dogs that can smell if a diabetic person has low blood sugar. This is likely due to the change in the person's body chemistry, caused by ketosis. There are also dogs that have such good scent that they can smell tumours inside of the body before their owners even realise the tumour is there. Yet, others can anticipate when someone is about to have a seizure, all by how the scent of the person changes.

Module Summary

It does not matter how they manage to do it, or how we manage to interpret their signals, there is no doubt that a dog can get their messages across to their owners and many times, can fully manipulate a person, to suit their needs. Though we can only have one-sided deep philosophical discussions with our dogs, our basic needs and wants are a two-way street. Remarkably, dogs can pick up on our emotions and change their demeanours towards them, in addition to showing us what they need.

As this module has shown us, this is a constant back and forth between the species. It does not matter if a dog is showing us that he or she does not want to be bothered, by giving a soft growl or welcoming us home after a long day at work, they are always trying to communicate with us. As owners learn how dogs can communicate with them, they gradually build a more fulfilling and harmonious relationship with their dogs. The more we, as humans, can understand how dogs are trying to communicate with us, the better dog owners we can become. Even with a 'one-way' communication process in place, many people still have quite lengthy conversations with their dogs.

Though the dog cannot understand the majority of the conversation, he or she will realise that they are getting attention, they will certainly recognise some words and sounds and they will pick up on the mood of the human who is speaking. Dogs are much better communicators with us than we are with them, but the more we learn about how dogs communicate with each other and attempt to communicate with us, the better we will become.