Pets World

Some dogs with behavior problems can be helped tremendously by re-acclimatizing with their lost language. There is great confusion when dogs use the signals and we, the humans, don't recognize them and even punish our dogs for using them because we think they are being bad, stubborn, or inattentive. By using calming signals with our dogs and recognizing the signs, we can prevent stressful situations, fear and aggression in our dogs.

Through the use of calming signals, your dog will become more social. He will grow more secure and therefore become a happier dog. He will cope better with a variety of situations and he will have a better ability to solve conflicts, a very natural instinct in dogs.

Calming signals will help you train better. When your dog is tired, stressed or unable to focus, he will let you know. In addition, the use of calming signals will help you to be able to calm down a dog who is becoming nervous or stressed. Because of your use of the signals you may be able to show other insecure or fearful dogs that you can be trusted. You can become a better friend to your dog by understanding him more. Calming signals are wonderful to use in behavior therapy to help dogs overcome problems. As a matter of fact, it is critical that they are used if long term success is to be obtained in behavior therapy.

Dogs may lose their language through our own fault. When no one in their surroundings uses the signals, they lose the ability to use them. We teach dogs all kinds of commands which in essence, become their new language. Unknowingly, we punish dogs for using calming signals. When you are training, for example, your dog might look away at some point, seemingly ignoring you, when in fact, he may be trying to calm you and to calm himself, as you may be making too many demands on him ( ie. training for too long) . If your dog yawns and turns away from you when you are tense and giving a command with a loud, angry tone, such as "HEEL! for god's sake, HEEL!", he is giving you calming signals, yet you probably punish him for being stubborn and ignoring you.

So watch your dogs and learn from them!

Here are some easily observable calming signals:

• Looking away
• Turning away
• Blinking eyes
• Licking nose
• Walking slowly
• Freezing
• Sitting down
• Yawning
• Sniffing the ground
• Peeing