What Does A Dog Want To Convey Through Signs Of Calm?
Dogs communicate continuously with their owners or other animals using various gestures and behavioral patterns. Some of them are very obvious and easy to spot, while others are puzzling. Have you ever wondered what your dog wants to tell you with a sign of calm ?
What does a dog express by signs of calm?
Many of the gestures and behavior patterns that a dog displays are signs of calm . Dogs are diplomatic and peaceful, and many of their behaviors express this.
With signs of rest, dogs intend several things:
- They are showing their good intentions.
- You want to reassure someone when they fail to see good intentions or become nervous by an action.
- They try to calm themselves down when they are stressed or nervous.
The signs of rest are the same in all cases. It depends on the context and on the dog itself what exactly he wants to express with it.
Knowing the appropriate gestures and behavior patterns will help you understand your dog better. You can see the world from his perspective and communicate better with him.
1. Lick your own nose
If the dog licks its own nose, we usually consider it a hygiene ritual, if we observe this behavior at all. However, it is a sign to other dogs that is meant to convey calm. This behavior is very common.
Even when a dog approaches the bowl, it often licks itself off. This gesture is very human because it shows the appetite and the desire to eat something. Dogs calm down with this behavior, because eating is exciting and makes you nervous.
Even if a dog is nervous for other reasons and wants you to slowly approach him, he can begin to lick himself off as a sign of calm.
2. Shake yourself
Dogs like to shake when they are wet, but there are other reasons that make them shake too . It is also a behavior that will help you calm down and get rid of stress.
Your dog is shaking in the park? Think about what happened just before, because this is probably how he is trying to shake off stress: maybe another dog barked, he saw a child with a ball, a car drove by or someone came too close to him.
3. Sniff
Sniffing the ground is also a sign of calm that can often be seen in dogs. Sometimes, however, the four-legged friends smell in places that shouldn’t be giving off odors. In this case, they also want to find peace.
The dog may be sniffing a piece of earth in the park without any interest. He doesn’t do this because he enjoys it a lot, but because he thinks you’re nervous or upset and you need to relax. This is his way of saying that he doesn’t want problems, but quiet.
4. Turn your head
Dogs very often turn their heads away or turn them, even when we are not always aware of it. This is an unambiguous gesture that other dogs can perfectly interpret but we do not understand.
When a dog turns its head, it is scared or nervous. Often this happens when you approach him directly and too quickly, or because you are very close to his face. So it is a quick sign that the dog is trying to avoid confrontation.
Few dogs look directly into the camera. They look at their owner, who picks up the cell phone and the dog turns his head. No chance of getting a great picture with the dog looking straight into the camera!
The cell phone makes the dog nervous, he turns his head because he wants some rest.
5. Yawn
This gesture also has a calming effect, but clear conclusions cannot always be drawn from it. Because even when the velvet nose is tired and needs relaxation, it yawns.
However, it can be seen from the context whether it is stress or fatigue. Your dog may need a nap, but they may be nervous and want to calm themselves down by yawning.
In some moments this can be seen very clearly: When the dog is playing with another four-legged friend in the park and suddenly begins to stretch and yawn. It is not siesta time now, the dog wants to draw the attention of his playmate to the fact that he should calm down.
But there are also situations that are more difficult to interpret. For example when the dog wakes up and leaves the room yawning. Is he trying to say that he is still tired or that he doesn’t want any stress?
Respect signs of calm
A dog that knows and uses all of these gestures and behaviors is well socialized and can communicate perfectly with other dogs. He can make dog friends and is able to avoid conflicts.
It is very important to respect these signs of calm. Your dog will become aware that you are listening to him and thus behave better. If you understand what he is trying to tell you, the relationship will improve and everyone can live happily and peacefully together.
