Understanding Dog Body Language
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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.
Another aspect, particularly when walking, is your position, relative to the dog. If you are in front, you're the leader. When you're walking and your dog starts to get worked up or aggressive, walk ahead of him and he will immediately calm down.This is because, as you are in the leadership position, he can relax and follow.
You also need to pay attention to the sound of your dogs voice as this is an important means of communication. A high-pitched whine may signal fear, a flat bark attention, and a loud growl may be either a warning or encouragement to play.
In the same way, your dog can read a lot from the sound of your voice. A confident voice tone will quickly get his attention and force him to look at you. Think of commands as short, sharp barks. The dog may not understand the words, but he knows they are important because of your tone.
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.
Keep in mind that dogs respond to tone of your voice, rather than the actual words. Initially, a voice command will have no meaning to a dog. But after many repetitions the dog will begin to recognize the sound of the word and figure out what he has to do when he hears it.
One last point to be aware of, direct eye contact is uncomfortable for a dog - they see it as a threat - so you'll get better results if you direct your gaze slightly to the side or above your dog's line of sight.
Visit www.dogsanddogtraining.com to discovermore about dog training tips, dog care, dog obedience training and other helpful dog advice.




