Talk to Me! Communicating with Your Pet

Remember the TV show "Lassie"? The magnificent collie always found a way to let her humans know that poor Timmy was in some sort of danger - and somehow, they always managed to correctly interpret her barking.

Our "real-life" pets communicate with us -- and we with them -- in ways we may not even realize. "The key to peaceful co-existence," says Matt Svede, professional trainer for Best Friends Keystone Pet Care Center in Bethany, CT, "is getting people to listen to their dogs, as well as getting them to listen to you." Therefore, it's important to understand how we communicate with each other.

Body talk

Just as we need to read a pet's body language (watch her ears, tails and eyes), they must interpret ours. "A dog's senses are sharper and more acute than humans," Svede says. "They can sense our moods, and things we're feeling, and then react to those feelings."

Posture, facial expressions and tone of voice convey a lot more to a dog than words. Keep in mind, though, that dogs have limited interpretation of our movements. They focus on the same signals that are used within their own species, such as eye contact and posture. Opening your arms wide may be perceived as a positive gesture, similar to a dog lying spread-eagled on his back.

Although recent studies have shown that some dogs can understand hundreds of words, spoken language may actually be secondary in effectively communicating with your dog. "I always teach hand signals before verbal commands," Svede says. "Some of our words mean different things to us, but only one thing to a dog." For example, you might tell your dog to "get down" off of the couch, but the dog may just hear the word "down" and continue laying there, believing he's obeying the "down" command.

Doggie dictionary 

Dogs don't use words, but they do have different barks, howls, growls and whines that effectively communicate their desires and emotions. Observe your dog often and carefully, and you'll eventually understand the differences in her tones.

These "voices," however, are far less important than body language. The hackles, head, ears and tail are all indicators of a dog's expressions (see "Parlez-Vous 'Dog' in a previous issue of "Between Friends"). In general, a dominant dog will try to make himself appear larger, while a submissive pet will contract

All in the family

Effective communication with your pet will ensure that he knows his place in the family pack. "Dogs communicate with each family member differently," says Matt. "They may treat the children like one of their own, and be more assertive with them than you, their alpha." Observe the dog's posture with the children, and be sure to correct any misunderstanding about his perceived status in the social structure. Be enthusiastic when interacting with your dog, but maintain a confident, self-assured attitude and tone of voice.

An old proverb sums it up perfectly: "One reason the dog has so many friends: He wags his tail instead of his tongue.