Dogs by nature are social animals. Through evolutionary biology wolves became pack animals as a survival mechanism. Then once domesticated by man for companionship and protection, they maintained their pack mentality and accepted their position in the human family they lived with.
Although a dog can’t obviously communicate its exact
thoughts and emotions, they do communicate non verbally. So just what is going
on behind those puppy dog eyes? According to the study of dog psychology,
here’s what animal specialist believe and why dogs with service dog vests make
such great companions.
Dogs Understand Voice Tones
Dogs have a limited vocabulary, but they do know their names as well as commands. But overall, dogs do not respond to actual words. Instead they do respond to tone. This is one of the first things taught in any good dog training course. You may protest and say your dog responds to lots of words.
In
reality, they know the tone or your everyday voice associated with words. This
include your angry and fun tones. So just know that a dog will change their
behavior based on tone, as when you come home and become angry when you see the
mess they’ve made. Happy voice tones mean it’s time to play. Angry tones mean
something’s wrong. Always follow an angry tone with a happy tone once a
situation is resolved or lesson learned.
Communication Through Tail Wagging
Dogs wag their tales a lot! But you shouldn’t always assume that tail wagging is a sign of happiness. Dogs do wag their tails when happy. Generally, when a dog’s tail wags more to the right, this is an expression of happiness. If a dog’s tail wags more to the left, this is an expression of fear. A low tail wag means the dog is nervous. If a dog’s tail wags rapidly and the dog also shows tense muscles, the dog is in a posture of aggression.
Dog’s Succeed on Acceptance
As mentioned above, dogs are pack animals. A pack functions well when every dog, or wolf in the wild, knows its place. This means a dog will learn its place and act accordingly. Once a dog knows what is expected, they enjoy the routine and knowing they have pleased their master. So, when training a dog be sure to show love and vibrant facial expressions, but also be clear on good behavior and bad behavior. They want to learn, and after lots repetition, they will learn what their masters expect of them resulting in a happy dog. Therefore, a dog needs a balance of disciple and affection with the positive reinforcements of lots of tasty rewards.
In Conclusion
Although a dog can’t obviously communicate its exact thoughts and emotions, they do communicate non verbally. And they want to learn and to please. This is why dogs you see with service dog vests make such great companions to those they assist with physical and emotional difficulties.
