How dogs communicate

Dogs have a rich and varied language; not solely relying on verbal language,  they use other mechanisms so that we can understand them. There are three main ways they use to communicate with us:

1. VISUAL COMMUNICATION

They communicate by using body postures or using body parts, also known as body language. Usually, they use this type of communication when the distance between them and us is small. Most people have experienced this type of communication. In fact, you´ve probably noticed your dog jumping or rolling around, trying to catch your attention. After establishing visual contact, dogs communicate through the positioning of their ears or their tail, or through their general posture.

Example: When dogs feel threatened or scared, they usually change their posture, arching their body upwards and putting their tail between their legs. On the other hand, when they feel calm or want to calm others, they tend to lick their top lip and avoid eye contact.

2. VERBAL COMMUNICATION

Dogs communicate through different sounds and vocalizations. This type is the most similar to our verbal language. They usually use this type to communicate from long distances and they have a bunch of different sounds depending on what they want to communicate. Barking, grunting, howling or groaning are the sounds that are usually made and, depending on the tone, dogs use them to communicate different things.

Example: Dogs use barking for different things, for example to show happiness or agitation, to send a warning signal, or simply to get your attention. When dogs howl it´s usually because they are apart from their family, while grunting shows playfulness as well as aggressiveness.

Normally, tone and volume differentiate each sound.

3. OLFACTORY COMMUNICATION:

This type of communication is transmitted by the scent of urine and other type of secretions. It is normal for dogs to leave a little urine in different places as a way to communicate. The urine communicates information about the dog’s sex, reproductive state or status to other dogs. Secretions are also used to give information since they are rich in pheromones, which are important for their olfactory communication.

If we take a moment to observe our dogs, we´ll enjoy their company much more, since we´ll understand their emotional state and behavior better. By understanding how they communicate with us, we´ll avoid behavioral problems caused by miscommunication, and we´ll have a better relationship with our pets.