How to properly communicate with dogs, understand their ways of thinking, learn their "customs" and habits.

Let's imagine a friendly guest from the remote, exotic country of "Hindustan" coming to visit us - would not we familiarize ourselves with the habits of his "culture" beforehand to be a good host?

How do we behave best so that our four-legged roommate feels comfortable with us? Would not we try to learn a few words of his language?

Greeting

What does it really mean when a dog "licks" his mouth?

This ritual was handed over to the dogs by their ancestors, the wolves. Already the wolves have welcomed their parents in this way - and it means, so it says: "I like you".

How should one go to a dog?

Look and hand contact should be avoided to a large extent, dogs use the nose and mouth at the welcome.

This means: Do not touch. Do not look. No eye contact. Let the dog come to him, breathe calmly and evenly, turn his head a little to the side.

One should give the dog enough time to get to know a stranger man by means of sniffing and to evaluate before touching him at all. Do not stroke the dog on the head, but on the chest and on the head.

If possible, do not bend over a dog from above - this position could be perceived as an insecure dog as a threat.

Language / communication

Why should dogs learn to understand hands?

Dogs are difficult to learn spoken commands - these are given along with hand signals, the dog learns the learning of the commands more easily.

Integration into the family

How does a dog actually see its position in the "family pack"?


It is said that a dog as the lowest-ranking rudder member is particularly satisfied and balanced in his family.

Dogs, by the way, know that they do not have to take their position in the pack by fighting with "their" humans. They also do not orient themselves towards their own strength or their ability to assert themselves - for them is the determinateness and sovereignty of their man or pack leader.

Dogs strive instinctively for confirmation by their pack leader. They automatically submit to a higher-ranking group member, regardless of whether they are a person or a kind of mate.

Learn foreign customs or: Why does it really do that?

Why bark very peaceful dogs so often in the car?

The relatively small space is easy for dogs to defend, which strengthens their self-esteem and invaders, they become so much bolder.

What does it mean when a dog throws grass in the air when scraping?

This behavior is observed in males: they mark their territory in this way and underline this power demonstration additionally by the thrown grass.

Everyday life and special features

What can a dog actually sniff at the "other" dog's "hinterland"? 

Chemical substances in the urine of a conspecific animal let a dog know when the other dog has passed, which age and which sex has it.

What colors can dogs recognize? 

Dogs can recognize blue and green, but they are - in contrast to us humans - in the eye of the cones for the color red, the red receptor. However, dogs can see much better at dusk than we do, because their background is almost "mirrored" and reflects incident light one more time. Dog eyes also do not look as sharp as people and prefer to take movements.

When dogs see a particular object, they first judge it according to the way it moves, then its brightness, and then its shape.

 Why do many dogs like to swim in lakes, but do not like rain?




This is due to the fact that dogs are not afraid to get wet, but the rain increases the general noise, which does not please many sensitive dog ears.

Etiquette

How and where should dogs be best stroked?

Dogs are not accustomed to being caressed, clawed and, above all, petted in their dealings with each other - so some dogs have to find their way to touch.

In general, strangers or unknown dogs should never be stroked at the head, because this affects the important sense organs of the dog and makes him unsafe.

Delicate spots are also the abdomen and the hind legs, while "safe" petting zones apply against the back and chest. A lot of dogs are clawed in the area under the collar or behind the ears.

"Calming Signals" - true or not?

The concept of "calming signals" (= appeasement signals, also "Demutsbärden") goes back to the Norwegian dog trainer Turid Rugaas. This claims that dogs use genetically determined appeasement signals to solve conflicts and relieve stress.

Dogs communicate by means of appeasing signals not only with their conspecifics but also with us humans. The positive thing: We humans can also send out appeasement signals to the dog to signal to him that we are not a threat to him and are interested in a peaceful conflict resolution.

Appeal signals may include:

yawning
raise paw
To snap the snout
Head or body
Sniffing on the ground
scratch oneself
Slow movements, "freeze"

Although the concept of "calming signals" has been widespread for years in the dog education, there are also critical voices that want to curb an "appeasement".

According to critics, a problem of the appeasement signals is that such signals are often "double-occupied" and "can have different meanings depending on the situation."