Calming Signals In Dogs

Calming signals are used by dogs as well as most other animals as a conflict solving method when faced with unpleasant situations such as:

aggression
stress
fear
to prevent these things from happening.

Dogs are great conflict solvers; this is necessary for their survival.

Calming signals are used to establish trust and security, and an important way to communicate and be understood.
calming signals are meant to keep order and to maintain a healthy social structure.
dogs of all breeds, shapes, sizes and ages regularly use the calming signals in a variety of situations.

Pet owners must learn to use the pet language in order to communicate clearly with our dogs. Using the signals will help decrease stress among our dogs and will help our relationship with our best friends. Many of the calming signals can be seen clearly when you are looking and know what you are looking for.

Other calming signals are very subtle, small and varied. Recognizing these signals comes with experience. They can happen quickly, or can be a quick series of signals that can be observed, but if you are not paying close attention they might not be noticed. Misunderstandings or problems can occur between owners and dogs when the calming signal language is not understood by people.

Some dogs with behavior problems can be helped by re-acclimatizing with their loss of a dogs calming signal language.

There is confusion when dogs use their calming signals and we don’t recognize them. When a dog uses the calming signals and when we recognize the signs, we can prevent stressful situations, fear and aggression in our dogs.

Through the use of calming signals that are understood, dogs:

become more social. grow more secure.
are happier.
will be able to cope better in various situations.
will have a much better ability to solve conflicts.

Calming signals will help you:

to train your dog.
to understand when your dog is tired, stressed or unable to focus.
by using calming signals, you will be able to calm down a dog who is becoming nervous or stressed.
if you use the calming signals, you may be able to show other insecure or fearful dogs that you can be trusted.
you can become a better friend to your dog by understanding him more.

Calming signals are used in behavior therapy to help dogs overcome problems.

Dogs sometimes lose their understandng of the calming signal language. When calming signals are not used in a dogs immediate surroundings for an extended length of time, they lose the ability to use and understand them. We teach dogs all kinds of new commands which becomes their new language.

Without the understanding of our dogs calming signal language, people tend to punish dogs for using their calming signals. When in training, your dog might look away, seemingly ignoring you; when he may be trying to calm you and to calm himself because you may be making too many demands on him.

If your dog yawns and turns away from you when you are tense or giving a command with a loud, angry tone, he is giving you calming signals. Many people who do not understand the calming signal may punish the dog for being stubborn and ignoring you.

Here are some easily recognized calming signals:

looking away
turning away
blinking eyes
licking nose
walking slowly
freezing
sitting down
yawning
sniffing the ground
peeing

Article presented by Joanne from greytinspirations.com greytinspirations.com

No tags for this post.

Related posts

• No related posts.