May 23, 2007

Calming Signals

Our dogs speak to us, but do we listen? Humans often expect them to understand English (substitute any language), and I know our dogs do. Or do they understand the body language that goes along with the words? Since this is National Dog Bite Prevention Week, SuperCoolPets suggests On Talking Terms with Dogs--Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas. This book, as recommended in a prior post, can help educate us in canine body language.

From a review by "gunillam":

I attended a weekend seminar with Turid Rugaas last year which opened my eyes and I know that this works. Since then, and also since looking at video recordings from dog meetings, I now understand that dogs "talk" all the time. When meeting us or another dog, every single move or glance can carry a meaning. The other dog understands, if he has been allowed to "practice" dog language in lots of meetings with other dogs, but we, the humans, the supposed alphas, don't understand. Instead we try to teach the dog OUR verbal language. How frustrating for the dog! Shouldn't we first learn the dog's language?

On Talking Terms with Dogs--Calming Signals also available in DVD from Amazon.

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