Calming Signals in Dogs - Canine Curiosity Dog Training

Species that live in packs need to be able to communicate with their own kind in order to survive. This communication is not only used in hunting and raising offspring but also to live in peace. Confrontation in packs is dangerous and causes physical weakness, ultimately not a good thing for a pack. In fact, this is one of the causes of Extinction. Below we discuss the main Calming Signals in Dogs.

As an owner, it is important to understand the calming signals in dogs to help facilitate a peaceful lifestyle for them and their dogs.

Dogs live in a world of sensory input: Visual, Olfactory, and auditory perceptions. Dogs easily perceive the tiniest movement, such as a body shake, lick flipping, or nose lick. Most of these calming signals are ways your dog tries to diffuse a high tense situation. Generally speaking, dogs know about 30 calming signals to date.

The Problem

Dogs use this signal system in communicating with their owners. It is the language they know and believe everyone else understands. The problem is that the majority of owners fail to see these calming signals from their dogs. Sometimes even punishing their dogs for using them. This can cause serious harm to your dog. Some dogs if punished enough will stop using these signals with both humans and other dogs causing frustration, aggression, nervous or stressful situations as a result. Young dogs can even go into a state of shock.

How Dogs Use Calming Signals

Yawning

Someone bends over them, tone of voice is angry, yelling in the family, vet visits, directly approaching the dog, excitement with happiness and anticipation. Threatening signals (direct approach, reach for the dog, bending over the dog) will always cause the dog to use calming signals.

Licking

Used by the majority of black dogs, dogs with hair around their faces, and others whose facial expressions may be more difficult to see than those with lighter colors, visible eyes, and long noses. Can be as simple as a very quick lick, the tip of the tongue is barely visible outside the mouth and only for a short second. Other dogs see it better and will understand and respond to it.

Turning Away/ Turning of the Head

The dog will turn head slightly to one side, turn head completely over to the side or turn completely around so the back and tail are facing whoever the dog is calming. Most common signals were seen in dogs, especially emotional support animals.

Play Bow

Going down with front legs in a bowing position can be an invitation to play if the dog is moving legs side to side in a playful manner. This signal has a double meaning and may be used in different ways. The most common is to play to make a potentially dangerous situation less tense and divert to something safe. Make sure both dogs’ body language is safe before allowing them to greet. It can take 1-3 seconds for a greeting to go wrong. That is why I advocate for off-leash greetings versus on a leash to give dogs the space to clearly communicate how they feel.

Sniffing the Ground

Surprisingly this is another frequently used signal, especially in groups of puppies or when you’re walking your dog and someone comes towards you. Especially in places with a lot going on, in noisy places, or when seeing objects that the dog is not sure of and may find intimidating. +

Walking Slowly

The speed of walking may affect the way your dog perceives another dog or human. High speed is seen as threatening to many dogs causing them to go in and try to stop one who is running. This is partly attributed to hunting behavior in dogs. A dog who is insecure will move slowly.

Freezing

When a dog stops moving while completely still, sitting, or laying down, and remains in that position. Partly due to a dog’s hunting behavior – prey runs the dog attacks. Prey stops, the dog stops. When you get angry and threatening your dog may stop moving in order to calm the situation and make it better. They may also walk slowly, freeze, and walk slowly again. If your dog wants to stop or move slowly, let them.

Walking in a Curve

A dog’s instinct is to approach at a curve versus head-on. Head-on is threatening to a dog. To emphasize this is why off-leash greetings are better than on leash. Allow your dog to the curve (wide or small) when passing dogs.