Can You Speak Dog?

Tucker (Australian Shepherd) is incredibly intelligent and intense. This is his 'focus-on-me' look.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could walk in from a long day of work and have a conversation with our pup about anything? Fortunately for you, dogs can understand a lot more than you think, but can you understand their language? Luckily, we’ve decoded most of the language our dogs do speak-which is primarily body language.

The trick to a perfect dog selfie is to hold a desirable goodie behind the camera. In this case, it was Tucker's ball.

It’s common knowledge that dogs are descended from various species of wolf, who are interestingly enough, quite vocal. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of conversing with a husky, you might have heard the high pitched babble on a regular basis. Not unlike wolves, who use communication when they’re separated from the rest of the pack or carrying out a complex hunting sequence, dogs will sometimes innately howl if they’re triggered by a high pitched whine. Unless you’re a husky parent yourself, however, you likely aren’t about to hear many noises aside from barking, snorting, and huffing from your beloved pooch.

If they don’t speak your language, it’s still possible to decode your pooch’s love language by paying attention to their actions and body posture. Does your pooch actually love you? Keep reading to find out.

Shiner (Blue Heeler) and Tucker in their usual spots while I was cooking dinner. Both are thoroughly relaxed doggo pancakes.

The Wag

The most universally understood proclamation of joy or happiness from a dog is the tail wag. According to Victoria Stillwell, the direction of your dog’s wag can mean they’re relaxed, nervous, or anxious. A relaxed dog will hold its tail in the “relaxed” position, but the stronger the wag of the tail (or body, in some cases) usually is a good indicator of happiness.

Molly (Catahoula mix) mid-tail wag.

The Eyes are the Window to the Soul

“Soft” eyes are a telltale sign of a happy pup. Soft eyes are usually seen with a relaxed mouth and ears, sometimes a lolling tongue, and contented sighs. Erect ears and soft eyes can also mean happiness, the only difference being that you have their full-undivided attention. Seeing the whites of a dog’s eyes are usually a sign of unease, anxiety, or fear, so tread carefully if you see a wide-eyed pup. If you have a dog that’s constantly staring at you, they’re showing you that you are (quite literally) the center of their world, and that they are seeking your approval and love.

A really great example of soft eyes. Molly is completely relaxed here.

Posture Makes Perfect

Posture of a pooch is another way to tell if a dog truly enjoys your company. Dogs that lean into you are very trusting and yearning for your affection. Some pups physically can’t get enough love from their parents and will bump into legs, hands, or feet, just to get some attention from their favorite person. If your doggo is literally climbing onto you to come cuddle while you veg on the couch, you’ve got a buddy for life.

Molly and Tucker, before Shiner came into the pack. Tucker's and Molly leaning into me are pretty good indicators of how they feel.

Would you like some Cheese with that Whine?

Pups that are vying for affection will commonly make noises, (like grunts, groans, grumbles, huffing, whining, boofing, or all of the above) to get the attention of their parent. I myself have a crybaby pup that will bay if she doesn’t get what she wants (usually food or a ball to chase and not bring back) If you’re trying to meet a deadline and zoned in to your work for hours and your pooch is loudly complaining, it’s likely that they are seeking your attention because they love spending time with you.

Tucker might as well have the heart emojis on his eyes.

Ways to Show Your Pooch Some Love

1. Pet them! You know your dog the best, so give them a scratch on just the right spot.

Molly has always been a snuggler.

2. Talk to them! Dogs have been proven to understand human facial expression and tone of voice. While you may be talking in human terms, they get the intent of your words.

Dogs can understand tone better than most words, so in this case, Tucker was understanding I was upset that he murdered his favorite toy.

3. Play! Some dogs may prefer endless games of fetch, while others may enjoy hide and seek or swimming in a pond. Whatever spells F-U-N for your pup, plan an outing just for them!

Shiner and his one true love. The ball.

4. Invite them on the bed. Dogs that are allowed to sleep with their owners typically have a stronger bond than those that don’t. If you’re wary of having dog hair all over your bed (who are we kidding, dog hair is dog people’s glitter, but I digress) think of it this way: we have millions of things in our life to focus on. To us, our dogs are a part of our world, but to them, WE are their whole world. Make the most of the time you have together.

Tucker thinks that the bed is his and we borrow it.

5. Take them with you on short rides. Unless you have a pooch that is invariably prone to expelling their stomach contents during a car ride, take them with you on short errands (but never bring them unless you’re going to a dog friendly place and don’t have to leave them in the car) so they can experience a whole slew of new smells.

Shiner has always been a co-pilot pup, even in the beginning.

6. Get them puzzles. Smarter dog breeds require lots and LOTS of attention and love, but when you have work, instead of having them pine for you and fuss, try giving them a Kong with a delicious treat like Peanut Butter.

Tucker loves the puzzle of how to get to the tennis ball, even if it requires swimming, which he often forgets that he loves.

7. Take care of them! If you’re like me, you consider your animals members of the family, and in most cases, dogs are like your own children. Take them to the vet regularly, make sure their food is high quality with lots of protein, groom them or brush them, and help them get plenty of exercise.

'Dog love language is beautiful.'

Dogs’ love language is beautiful. If you listen closely enough, you just might hear them tell you how much they love you.

#dog # doglove #pets #lovelanguage #petbehavior #dogbehavior #bodylanguage #animals #puppy #dogmom