THE POWER OF THE WAG How Dogs Use Body Language to Communicate The tail might be the best window into a dog’s soul. There’s no evidence that dogs have a complex verbal language, so they primarily communicate with others through their bodies. While their tails aren’t the only tool dogs use to convey information, the tail plays the most critical role in advertising their emotions.
it’s how many dog bites happen to small children. Tail movements can also communicate anxiety, submission, fear, and other emotions.
For example, many dogs lower their tails and wag them slowly when in trouble. It’s how they submit to their owners and show they’re contrite. A slow wag usually indicates hesitation or insecurity. Meanwhile, a dog who wags their tail very quickly could be particularly excited to play or show they’re ready to attack. Attention to other cues is crucial to fully understanding your dog’s message. At the same time, we may never completely understand how dogs communicate with each other. But research provides us with some clues. A 2013 study found that a tail’s position can share more complex information with another dog. Specifically, a dog that wags its tail slightly to the right usually indicates positive emotions, while a left- leaning wag is generally negative. Dogs understand these subtleties. They relax while observing another dog with a right-leaning tail wag and adopt aggressive postures when faced with left-dominant movement. Who knows what other secret messages they might be passing back and forth?
Clien th ts e SWpr o e r a d ding Most people will say a dog’s wagging tail indicates happiness, but that’s not necessarily true. Excitement and joy are probably the most common reasons dogs wag their tails, particularly if they’re well cared for. But assuming a dog with a wagging tail is excited to be pet is dangerous — Just as humans aren’t born knowing how to speak, puppies don’t intuitively know dogs’ shared language. They must learn it from their mothers and siblings. Once they reach the right developmental stage, dogs observe other canines and begin mimicking how they communicate.
While the tail does much of the heavy lifting, watching for signs from their ears and eyes is crucial. Observing a dog’s body language is the best way to understand their thoughts and feelings — and avoid a potentially dangerous misunderstanding.
LPautmt e pf ko irnDSopgi cs e Inspired by CookingWithJanica.com
Tara Sayers Eric Twitty Roxanne Kempf Maura Quinn Brandon Dowell Cydney Jones Curtis McCrackin Braidy Kirkman
Fall is here, which means it’s time to bring on the pumpkin spice lattes! But some sweet treats are better when you can share them with your furry friends. So this season, whip up this pup-friendly pumpkin spice latte so you and your pooch can celebrate the season together!
INGREDIENTS
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Dash of ground cinnamon Dash of ground ginger
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1 cup goat’s milk or unsweetened coconut milk
Organic xylitol-free whipped cream
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1 cup pumpkin purée
DIRECTIONS
1. In a blender, place all ingredients and blend until mixture is thick and creamy, about 1 minute. 2. Into a small dish, pour about 3–6 oz of the mixture (depending on your dog’s size). Top with whipped cream and serve! TIP: Place the rest in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for about a week!
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