Understanding Dog Body Language
Dogs interpret body language in much the same way that humans do. A calm, confident voice and posture conveys confidence and demands respect, a stooped posture and wavering voice shows insecurity or fear, while frantic behavior indicates uncertainty and chaos.
It therefore makes sense to be aware of your body language when you interact with your dog. Your dog is much more likely to obey if you approach him in a calm, self-confident manner.
Body position conveys a lot to your dog. If you stand upright you exert authority, if you bend forward, your dog may perceive it as an invitation to play. So if you're playing or stroking his coat and he starts to get out of hand, stand upright to remind him of your authority. Your tall profile and confident posture will quickly show the dog where he stands in relation to you.
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Another important point, is your position relative to the dog. This is particularly relevant when you are walking. Allowing the dog to walk in front of you puts him in the leadership position, and he is more inclined to pull, and to become aggressive. Walk him next to you and he will immediately calm down.
Your dog's tone of voice is also important. Listen closely and you'll pick up all kinds on nuances. A growl for example is not always a threat, and with a certain inflection is actually a playful sound. A bark may be a sign of excitement, a warning, an attention getter or many other things, depending on how it is vocalized.
And your dog reads just as much from your voice tone. He may not be able to understand the words, but how they are delivered carries a lot of meaning for him. So if you want to be taken seriously you need to speak in a confident voice, almost mimicing the dog's short urgent bark.
Other tones of voice are useful too, for example a soft, loving voice conveys much the same to your dog as it would to a human and should be used for giving praise and affection. An if you want your dog to join you in a game, a high-pitched tone will soon get him worked up.
Remember also that yelling is like barking to a dog. Yelling is counterproductive, so don't do it. It won't help with training, in fact, in most cases it will have a negative impact. It can also damage the bond you have with your dog.
Bear in mind that tone of voice holds much more meaning to a dog than the actual words. A voice command like "Sit", is unlikely to succeed if it is delivered in an affectionate, friendiy tone or in your high-pitched "lets play" voice.
A final point about delivering commands to your dog. Dogs regard direct eye contact as a threat, so don't stare. Rather direct your gaze slightly to the side or just above the dog's line of vision.
If you want to find out more about dog training tips, dog care, dog obedience training and other interesting dog advice visit www.dogsanddogtraining.com
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