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Canine Codes: Recognizing Them to Understand Your Dog

Canine Codes: Recognizing Them to Understand Your Dog

Canine Codes: Recognizing Them to Understand Your Dog 

It is not uncommon to hear a dog owner boast about their dog’s qualities by saying, "he just lacks the ability to speak!" However, animals do communicate with us—it's just a matter of observing them carefully to understand their language. In this new article, let’s take a closer look at the signals our dogs send us.

Dogs Have a Wide Range of Communication Codes

Dogs have a vast array of codes that allow them to communicate with their peers and, by extension, with us humans. These "canine codes" are an integral part of a puppy’s learning process from the first weeks of life when everything goes well. Let's take a closer look at these codes, the foundations of canine communication.

Why Learn to "Speak Dog"?

For us humans, who primarily communicate through speech, understanding dogs' communication codes can be tricky. It requires careful observation and particular attention to our four-legged companions. Knowing these codes not only helps strengthen our bond with them but also improves our ability to communicate effectively with them, fostering a deeper connection.
In order to improve the relationship between humans and dogs, there is nothing more essential than learning to understand each other. As in all relationships, right? Our dogs are probably trying to convey messages to us regularly, but we don’t always understand what they truly mean. This happens simply because we don't observe them carefully enough. "This human isn't getting me, hey, I’m talking to you!" they must be thinking.
On the flip side, our dogs constantly scrutinize us. Their sense of smell, far more developed than ours, enables them to understand us with ease. Our emotions are transmitted through the odors emitted by our sweat glands, hormones, and pheromones. Our dogs sense all this and can sometimes detect our physical or emotional state before we are even aware of it.
They also learn to decipher our state by observing our gestures, posture, micro-expressions, and the tone of our voice.
What if we returned the favor?

The Importance of Knowing Canine Codes

Understanding Your Dog:

We love our dogs deeply and want them to feel fulfilled. For this, it is essential to understand them in order to meet their basic needs and provide the well-being they deserve. 

Making Yourself Understood by Your Dog:

Our dog is capable of understanding us, so it’s important to reciprocate. Learning their language allows us to communicate effectively with them, using codes they already know, which makes the relationship between human and dog easier. For example, when our dog seems slightly stressed and looks at us, we can indicate that the situation is calm by gently squinting our eyes, yawning, or turning our head. If the dog responds by mimicking some of these behaviors, like yawning, it helps calm them and proves that communication is well-established and understood. 

Understanding Interactions with Their Peers:

When dogs interact with each other, it is crucial to recognize the canine codes and signs of appeasement. This not only helps us better manage play sequences but also understand the nature of the relationship between the dogs and prevent unwanted behaviors.

Understanding Interactions with Other Animals:

For example, as we mentioned earlier, dogs and cats can get along perfectly, as long as they understand each other, since their communication codes differ. Observing a dog when it interacts with other animals allows us to identify its emotions and intentions, as well as adjust our approach if necessary.

Detecting Emotional States in Your Dog:

Dogs experience various emotions: some are happy and playful, others prefer cuddles, while some may be more reserved. Some dogs are confident, while others may be anxious or afraid of things invisible to us, like noises we can't perceive. By knowing the canine codes and appeasement signals, we will be better able to recognize when our dog is uncomfortable and help them by placing them in a calmer environment.

Avoiding Reinforcing Certain Behaviors:

Understanding your dog helps avoid reinforcing problematic behaviors. Sometimes, out of ignorance, we unintentionally validate behaviors that can lead to issues. For example, petting a fearful dog might unintentionally reinforce that fear because, by petting them, we send the message: "Yes, you're right to be afraid, come to me, I'll reassure you." This reaction can intensify their fears, such as fear of loud noises or a particular person, whether canine or human. If these fears become chronic, they can cause the dog to become so stressed that it puts itself in danger, such as by running away to escape the situation.

Can a Dog Not Know Its Canine Codes?

Some dogs may have limited knowledge of their communication codes due to their life experiences.
This may be the case if they were separated from their mother too early, before weaning, or if the mother didn’t play an active maternal role, neglecting their education. Similarly, the absence of littermates with whom they could have interacted and learned canine codes may affect their development. Lastly, growing up isolated from other dogs can also hinder their learning of social behaviors specific to their species.
In these situations, it is crucial to allow a dog that has not acquired or has poorly acquired these codes to relearn them by exposing them to an experienced dog in canine communication. It is essential to choose a "teaching" dog, as exposing them to dogs with poor communication codes would be counterproductive. This could even hinder their learning and lead to inappropriate behaviors, both from them and their peers.
For the dog to learn to communicate well and feel at ease, it is essential for them to have positive and enriching experiences.

The Different Modes of Canine Communication

Although a dog cannot express itself verbally, it uses its whole body to communicate. Its communication codes are therefore diverse and varied. They can be categorized based on the dog’s different senses:
Hearing:
Dogs communicate through sound signals. They use barking, growling, whining, squealing, panting, yipping, and other vocalizations to communicate with their peers. Each type of sound has a specific meaning. For example, a dog wanting to play doesn’t bark the same way as a dog protecting its territory.
Sight:
Through body postures, eye contact, and facial expressions, dogs communicate their intentions and perceive those of their peers. Depending on the breed, some signals can be difficult to interpret. This is particularly true for brachycephalic dogs, such as Pugs or Bulldogs, and also for breeds like Shar-Peis or Chow-Chows. These dogs, with their wrinkled skin, partially hidden eyes, and noisy breathing, can have difficulty transmitting or perceiving certain communication signals with other dogs that have longer snouts.
Smell:
Smell is one of the most used senses by dogs to interact and recognize each other. By sniffing pheromones and hormones released through urine, feces, secretions, or even fur, dogs learn to know their environment and their peers.
Touch:
Dogs engage in many behaviors involving the sense of touch. For example, a dog may place its head on another’s neck to assert dominance. They may also touch each other by rubbing their snouts, nibbling during play, or licking, especially when they share a relationship of trust.

The Different Canine Codes

There are around thirty appeasement signals in dogs, although there are likely many more to be discovered.
It’s important to note that the use of these codes can vary with each dog, as every individual has its own personality.
Dogs use these signals to:
  • Deescalate a tense situation or calm a meeting with other peers.
  • Manifest peaceful and friendly intentions.
  • Indicate discomfort or an uncomfortable situation.
  • Calm themselves in stressful situations.

Canine Codes vs. Appeasement Signals

Canine codes are sometimes referred to as appeasement signals, although it’s useful to distinguish between the two.
Appeasement signals are generally used when a dog feels uncomfortable, while canine codes encompass both these signals and other behaviors that express joy and well-being.

Known Appeasement Signals in Dogs

Common and easily identifiable appeasement signals include: yawning, turning the head or body, licking the nose, squinting eyes, and wagging the tail. These signals can be addressed to other dogs, humans, or even other animals, as they are part of the canine language.
Here’s a detailed overview of these signals, along with some more subtle ones:
  • Yawning: This is not necessarily a sign of boredom, but rather an indicator of discomfort. Sometimes it may also indicate impatience, such as when a dog yawns before a walk.
  • Turning the Head: The dog shows it’s not seeking conflict.
  • Turning the Back: Similarly, a dog turning its back to an individual shows a desire to avoid confrontation.
  • Sitting and Turning the Back: This gesture also indicates a wish to avoid conflict.
  • Licking the Nose: A subtle gesture of peace.
  • Squinting the Eyes: Slight eye blinks are signs of appeasement.
  • Wagging the Tail: The tail movement has different meanings depending on the context.
  • Freezing: When a dog freezes with a rounded back, ears down, and tail tucked under, it expresses fear.
  • Fleeing: A dog that runs away shows it is frightened.

This detailed analysis will help you better understand your dog and its signals, fostering a deeper connection with your four-legged companion! Feel free to share your observations and experiences in the comments below! 
Canine Codes: Recognizing Them to Understand Your Dog

Instinct Vagabond

on nov. 25, 2024

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