Listening is a lost art. We have so much that vies for our attention, including television, social media, jobs, kids, and friends, that it’s hard to know who to listen to and how to listen. By evening, when it comes to listening to your dog, we may be too tired to do it well. We may give them a nice pat on the head, fill their bowl with food and not pay much attention to them.
We may not even know they are trying to communicate with us. But listening to your dog can pay off. Dogs use both barking and body language to communicate, and we just need to know how to translate these signals.
For example, if a dog is continually barking quickly, it could be a warning that someone is invading his or her territory. If the barking takes place over a long time at intervals, it can mean your dog is lonely and wants attention.
Have you ever seen your dog tilt its head and think how cute it is? What your dog is doing is trying to understand how you are feeling. Tilting the head helps dogs’ ears get more information.
You’ve also probably noticed your dog panting after a good run or playing fetch. Did you also know that if panting takes place without prior exercise, it could mean that your dog is feeling stressed?
And no conversation about listening to your dog would be complete without considering the dog’s tail. That one moving appendage can mean different things. If it’s wagging, your dog is probably anticipating that treat you are preparing. A lower tail conveys respect, and if it’s tucked under, your dog might be afraid of something.
Communication with our pets requires a lot of work on our part. But listening to your dog can help you understand what’s really going on. And at least we don’t have to worry about them asking for their own phone to text us.
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