Dog Body Language: Do Not Pet
Published June 29, 2011
Reading a dog's body language is a nuanced skill, but could go a long way to bettering your relationship with the pup in question.
Think the dog in the photo is enjoying the petting he’s getting? Everything in his posture says, “No thanks,” but I watched the petting continue despite his obvious displeasure. At times it looked like the little Chi wanted to bite the petter!
Petting can be a selfish act if the dog on the receiving end doesn’t appreciate it. So how can you tell if Fido welcomes your touch? You can examine his body language,from the ears down to the tail, for clues about how he feels, or you can try this quick test: pet for a moment, stop, and watch what the dog does next.
A dog that is enjoying your touch will likely lean in to you, paw at your hand or do something similarly obvious to let you know that he’d appreciate more, thank you.
The dog that isn’t enjoying the petting will probably move away, even if it’s only a step or two. Some dogs just shift their body weight away, or move their head out of the “strike zone.” The point is the dog tries to put distance between his body and your hand. Obvious, right? Of course, this test is best used when you have already asked the person at the other end of the leash if it’s okay to touch their dog.
I meet a bunch of dogs every day that are completely over-stimulated by the sights and smells in the store; usually petting from me is the last thing they want. As difficult as it is to refrain from touching every canine visitor, I honor their subtle requests to “just let me shop, lady!”
Happily, there are exceptions. A sweet old Golden shopper comes in and sits behind the counter with me, whimpering for shoulder massages and flicking her nose at my fingers when I stop. A Brussels Griffon opts out of playing with Millie and leans against me for some love. More often than not, though, my canine shoppers just want to Hoover the floor.
Deciphering dog body language is a nuanced skill, and my little “stop and watch” tip only scratches the surface of learning to read a dog. However, it’s an easy way to take a step back and assess if a dog considers you a pleasure or a pest. (Believe it or not, that there are some dogs that don’t enjoy petting at all. Stay tuned for more!)
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Comments (10)
Does your dog bite? No my dog does not bite.
How come when I tried to pet him he nearly
took my hand off? -THATS NOT MY DOG.
Moral: get all the facts first.
Never had the urge to pet a strange dog.
Nope, never. But - I confess, a couple of times I wanted to pet the biped with the wiggely tail.
Didn't though. For the same reason I did not pet dog.
I own three chihuahuas. (I should say they OWN me!) I feed them quality dog food. They receive the best medical care available. I provide them with a safe, caring environment to live in. I bought these pups off street vendors in Sai Gon, Vietnam (Where I live.) Their lives could have been very bleak and short.
I will pet my dog when I wish. The pups seem to be comfortable with this arrangement. They know too well what happens to dogs when they start copping an attitude in Vietnam - they become part of the food chain!
P.S. To those of you who complain about the poor grammar appearing in these comments: GET A LIFE!!!
This is why dogs bite people. My friends and family are amazed at how well I interpret dogs, but for me it just comes naturally. People just need to stop and think, and implement a little bit of common sense. How would you like it if someone you didn't know suddenly came over and started petting your hair?
Truly, can't you commenters actually talk about the article itself and the information in it, or lack thereof? No one cares about your petty arguments.
As far as the article, goes I can say in my experience, the majority of people have little to no understanding of animal body language. I am a pet sitter, and have had years of experience with all kinds of animals. Many DO think "look, he's wagging his tail" is always a happy dog. Not true.
I have a cattle dog mix named Attitude, and her body language is unmistakable. If she wants to be petted, she will put her butt on you & bark, or back up to you and wrap her back leg around your leg, or paw you.
After a few stitches to a friend's lip and a permanent scar for life, I've found that putting your face up to an obviously agitated or stressed dog, showing your teeth, and making growling noises, is not the proper way to ask if the dog wants attention.
Instead, to learn more about these beautiful creatures, Steve Irwin (R.I.P.) will agree with me when I tell you to jam your thumb right up the dog's back orifice. Then, observe the dog's reaction. If it remains docile, and leans closer to you, you can tell certain things about the dog's personality and sexual orientation.
If the dog, instead, repeatedly bites the inner side of your thigh and crotch and eviscerates you while you're still gasping for breath and screaming, while people around you stare in amazement and horror at your predicament, then you know it's a normal dog with a generally acceptable disposition.
Thanks! I can't stop laughing!