Signs of calm in dogs

Although it lacks verbalization, the dog can boast a language based on signals and movements that is quite rich and universally understood. Unlike humans, any dog in Japan perfectly understands the symbols of a Western dog, provided both have undergone a good learning and socialization process in their early months of life.

Something as fundamental as moving the face or licking its muzzle is a clear signal of the dog's mood and perception of a particular situation. This language is learned when they are young and begins with their mother and siblings, who teach and guide them correctly. Thanks to this, it is naturally passed on to all beings of this species, but in the case of humans, a little attention is necessary, as we generally tend to communicate with words and are not as perceptive to movements or body language as animals are.

What signals do I misinterpret from my dog?

The most important signals that we must respect in a dog, and which are probably the most misinterpreted, are those known as calming signals.

These signals are emitted to mitigate a situation that may be becoming tense, so their goal is to calm the other interlocutor. If we are not aware of the meaning of these signals, we might confuse them with the dog ignoring us or taking it lightly, and administering any punishment after these signals can hugely confuse the dog, frustrating it or causing it to stop communicating with this language with other dogs.

Main calming signals:

Yawning

The yawn expresses discomfort or disapproval of something, making it a signal of alert. It is usually accompanied by a head turn or something that indicates to the other dog or human that it is not comfortable with the situation and wants to calm it.

When a dog yawns and turns its head towards another dog, the dog being “addressed” will likely lick its muzzle, turn on its back, and start doing something different. The first dog wanted to calm the second one, and it succeeded. This is how dogs resolve their conflicts.

Licking the muzzle

Like yawning, this signal indicates that the dog feels uncomfortable or needs to stop what it is doing. In front of a human, it can occur when excessive exercise or exhaustive training is being carried out.

Turning the body or head

This signal usually occurs between dogs. It happens when a dog wants to calm another that is running towards it in a very excited or aggressive manner. It is a way of saying that it is calm and does not want problems. If it does this when you are about to pet it, it means it feels uncomfortable.

Sniffing the ground

If your dog sniffs the ground before approaching an unfamiliar dog, it is alerting the other that it does not want to invade its personal space. This is a very common signal, especially in puppies. It can also occur in situations of loud noise or stress where they feel intimidated.

Remaining still

This behavior originates from hunting instinct; when the prey runs, the predator attacks, but when it stops, the predator also does. It is a way to calm a threatening situation and can happen when you approach it aggressively or scold it. It also occurs when a dog meets several unfamiliar dogs for the first time. It presents itself calmly and allows others to sniff it to let them get to know it.

Approaching in a curve

When a dog does not want to intimidate another as it approaches, it walks towards it in a curve, never directly, to avoid startling it. The problem arises when we force them to go straight; in such cases, one of the two dogs may become nervous and start barking. We won’t know what’s happening and might scold, but the solution is different: keep the leash loose to understand how two dogs are relating and follow your dog if you see it needs to approach in a more or less pronounced curve.

Other calming signals:

• Lying on the ground with the belly down is a powerful calming signal.

• Approaching slowly, taking detours, translates as insecurity and is often done to calm a person or another dog. If your dog approaches you this way, you should try to talk softly and avoid sudden movements to help it feel confident.

• Shaking off can be a symptom of stress with which they relieve tension. It is usually accompanied by other signals.

Practically, more than 30 calming signals are recognized, but knowing the main ones can help you avoid misinterpreting your dog's needs or instincts as bad behavior and learning to respond to them as it needs to establish a good coexistence with you.