A few months back, we attended an evening class on Dog Body Language. I wish I had taken notes.
A dog goes through a whole sequence of actions warning off whoever (dog or person) has intruded in their space. Afterwards, they shake off their tension, returning to relaxed muscles clearly visible in facial and body expressions if you know what you’re looking for. I’m not at all sure I do. Plus, the video clips showing dog attitude shifts happened so quickly that if you’re not watching, you’ll miss them. Except . . .
There are exceptions—those dogs under the influence of medication or over-the-top stresses who made their signals long ago and never shook them off, remaining in an unhealthy state of high-alert.
fear of dogs
I’m afraid of loose dogs, especially unfamiliar ones.
When I was a teen, I sometimes substituted for my sister’s paper route. I wore the double-sided bag containing the flat newspapers. At one particular house with a loose barking dog. I would take off the newpaper bag and hold it in front of my legs. One time, the boy living there grabbed the dog, looking at me with disgust.
Was the dog playing? I didn’t know, then or now.
When in graduate school, I walked to class past a large wolf hound tied up in a front yard. It lay quietly and I, assuming it was friendly, told the dog hello and went on my way. Until the day, feeling sorry for its lonely state, I thought to give it a pat. I stepped toward it. It lunged, tearing my coat.
Fortunately, it arrived at the end of its rope before it got to me. That dog must have been on constant high alert, poor thing.
Ever since, when encountering loose dogs, I walk the other way, or cross to the other side of the street. No class is going to change my reactions.
dogs at play
Our main interest in attending the class was to discover what Sophie might be telling us, and what she might be telling other dogs.
We learned about rocking-horse gait, that bounding run of a dog at play. I love to see Sophie run like that. Relaxed dogs will curve their bodies, whether in a side-ways curve, or resting on elbows in open invitation to play.
Dogs feel threatened if a larger dog looms over them. When they get acquainted, it’s best to approach from the side. As they swap ends to sniff, we— attached to their leashes—are supposed to circle along with our dogs.
Sophie distrusts puppies—maybe because they haven’t learned dog manners yet.
observations
The other day, returning from Sophie’s walk, a pit-bull mix and owner approached on the other side of the street. The pit-bull stared at Sophie and pulled on his leash. Sophie barked ferociously in response.
Before we reached the end of the block, another pair came along. This large setter kept her gaze forward, paying no attention to us. Sophie barked totally differently, much friendlier. She seemed to be saying: I like you. Come over and say hello. Maybe we can play.
Kate Harrington 