Puppy psychology
Probably the most important thing you can do
for your puppy is to learn something of his psychology. An
understanding of dog psychology can help you to live happily
and harmoniously with your dog. We're not expecting you to
become a dog psychology expert, neither is it necessary. But a
little understanding will go a long way, and if you need help
and advice before a small problem becomes a large one, your
first port of call should be your vet.
Reading your puppy's body language
Dogs have always communicated with each other by using body
language. This involves facial expressions, body postures,
noises and scents. Dogs will use their mouth, eyes, ears and
tail to express emotions. And one of the reasons why they make
such good pets is the way they're able to communicate with
humans. Your puppy will see you as an extension of his own
canine family, and will be extremely quick to interpret your
moods and intentions. So by learning how to interpret his body
language, you can, in turn, interpret your puppy's
intentions.
Big dog: If your puppy is feeling brave or
aggressive, he'll try to make himself larger by standing tall,
with his ears and tail sticking upright. He'll also push out
his chest and raise the hair on his neck and back (his
hackles). He might also growl and wave his tail slowly.
Small dog: On the other hand, a submissive dog will
try to make himself appear small and act like a puppy; that's
because an adult dog will 'tell off' a puppy but not attack
him. So submission will take the form of a sideways crouch near
to the ground, his tail held low but wagging away. He may also
try to lick the face of the dominant dog or human. He may even
roll on his back.
Your puppy's tail: now there's a tale. Most of us
recognise that tail wagging is a sign of friendliness and
pleasure. However, exaggerated tail wagging, as we've
mentioned, can be seen in submissive dogs, as well as those
with very short tails. But the tail can indicate other moods,
too. If it's waved slowly and stiffly, that's an expression of
anger; clamped low over his hindquarters means your pet is
afraid. An anxious or nervous dog may droop his tail but wag it
stiffly.
The normal way a dog holds his tail varies from breed to
breed but generally speaking, a tail held higher than 45
degrees to the back expresses alertness and interest.
Reading your puppy's face: Your puppy's face will
tell you much about his mood; whether he's frightened or
anxious, excited or playful.
Pricked up ears indicate alertness or listening; flattened
ears on the other hand, could indicate pleasure or fear. So to
read his mood correctly, you must look for other body language.
If your dog's eyes are half closed, that's a sign of pleasure
or submission; when they're wide open, that's a sign of
aggression.
Let's look into your puppy's eyes: In the wild, dogs
stare at each other until one backs down or makes a challenge.
So you should never attempt to outstare your puppy, especially
if he's nervous, but regular eye contact will reinforce your
relationship and reassure him.
Is that a smile? Submissive dogs and some breeds such
as Labradors often open their mouths in a kind of lop-sided
"grin" and indeed, it is a sign of friendliness. But when lips
are drawn back tightly to bare the teeth, that's aggression,
make no mistake.
Play, please: If your puppy wants to play, he'll
raise a paw or bow down and bark to attract attention. Or he
might offer up a toy, or bound up to another dog to get him to
join in a chase.
Your body language: If you want to improve
communication with your puppy, you can improve upon your own
body language. For example, crouching down with arms opened out
is a welcome sign. But towering over him and staring is a sign
of threat. Your puppy will watch you to read your body signals
more than he will listen to you, and he'll quickly learn what
you're feeling even without you speaking.