In this video I will show you how you can use your dogs own language to communicate with them. I will also show you how to interpret your dogs language.
This video is about the secret language of dogs. Some of you might already know about Calming Signals, but the main population that find out about dog training through Television programs might not.
In no way do I condone pestering a dog in order to make them offer calming signals for you to see. I kissed Kiko on the head in this video to show her response, not that I want to condone it! ☺ Also certain dogs will like to be touched and kissed in different situations. So you can tell if your dog is happy with the attention or not by their reaction.
Dogs bite. You should never put your face in a dogs face. Calming signals can be offered when you are standing or sitting, I was very close to Splash at one point in this video because it was hard to fit us in the video screen, and Splash is very comfortable with me being that close to her face. Never lean into a dogs face in order to communicate with them! Its Threatening!
Turid Rugaas is an internationally renowned dog trainer who has studied and researched calming signals for over a decade! You can visit her site on calming signals to learn more AND PICK UP ONE OF HER BOOKS AND DVDS on the subject.
http://www.canis.no/rugaas/onearticle.php?artid=1
Here are the main calming signals that I like to use with dogs-
1 Soft Eye Blinks
2 Looking Away
3 Lip Licks
4 Yawning
1- You can use calming signals to calm a dog down and tell them "no worries"
2- You can monitor your dog's calming signals and if they are doing more than normal you can tell your dog is getting more stressed (calming signals are normal and happen all the time)
3- If you pet your dog and they offer a calming signal that is normal, but Imagine this Scenario- a child pets a dog and he offers lots of calming signals, then the dog walks away from the child, and the parent brings the child to the dog again, and the dog offers even more calming signals and walks away to lie down, then the parent brings the child to pet the dog a third time, and finally the dog is so stressed that it growls, or bites. The parent could have read that the dog did not want to be petted by the child more than that first time if they knew about calming signals.
#dogtraining #calmingsignals
YES! When dogs blink at you it is a very friendly gesture. It can be a greeting, a dog can blink when you stare at them, when dogs NEVER blink at you then you should worry! (unless its a bully breed or pug that dont seem to do calming signals in the same way) If you are walking up to a strange dog and they are just giving you a hard stare without blinking or looking away, that is not as inviting as a soft waging tail, ears back, blinking eyes and a grin.
are you alive still
Miya is all about the calming signals, uses them constantly. She yawns, stretches, and shakes when we get up in the morning, when we’re about to go for a walk, or when anything really exciting (for her) takes place. In the last video I posted, she looks away because I asked her to wait when what she wanted was to RUN. Something like waiting she eventually gets used to and is totally chill but the excited stuff, not so much. will say that her sighs ALWAYS make ME sigh!
Really like this video Emily and this subject matter. I am always fascinated by non-verbal language in both humans and canines – but mostly with canines! You have a very talented gift with animals and it’s kind that you are sharing it with others. 🙂
Oh, I definitely think this subject is absolutely fascinating. I’ve actually considered getting into researching dog behavior and such simply because it is so interesting to me. I’ve heard about calming signals before, but, like others, I often forget about them because many people are not aware of them. Again, awesome video! Thank you!
My chihuahua Kiko has some really freakishly weird calming signals! One being, she will wipe her face with her paw when trying to get closer to Splash eating a bone, or as a greeting. She will even put her paw over her eyes, or put the paw behind her head, like a contortionist! Very unusual, but I have seen a couple other dogs doing it. mainly small dogs.
Your candor, both in imiating dog signals for us and in explaining that you’d like someone else to research your theory, is the most charming and disarming performance I’ve seen here on YouTube in 5 years, minus a few good singers. Good for you, these videos are great and I’m going to subscribe to you now.
Don’t feel pressured to subscribe to me, all of my videos are about motorcycles and adventure-vacation moments.
Best of luck to you, and thank you for all of these vids!!
Great video. I keep thinking of doing something like this and I think you’ve done a much better job than I would have.
For calming signals I mostly use the look away or look at the ground and if I have a shy dog who I’m pretty sure isn’t going to bite me. I’ll sit on the ground looking away but holding out a treat which works fantastically.
You know you can add subtitles? It would be perfect to add one right as doggie is reacting to being kssed.
It is so nice of you to put this video out there for the rest of us. Recently, I have become interested in “tongue flicking” as it is referred to by many. I first noticed it on my own about a year or so ago, and I have taken several still photos over that time documenting flicking behavior. Flicking has other meanings that go beyond calming. Again, thanks for the video. I hit the “like” button.
hi. i want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for this video. My dog used to be SO frightened of thunder and fireworks (which we have a lot of in S. Fl). Since using yawning and vocal sighing, my dog has lost 90% of his fear. He is so much more relaxed and confident. Not only am I so happy for him, but it’s much easier when a 60 lb dog does not have to sleep on my pillow. lots of love to you.
Hi Emily, not doing any laboratory tests but I’ve worked in a lot of packs in dog daycares, kennels and grew up watching rural packs in the rough. In response to your mirror neurons. I know what they are and I believe you are right. From the dogs’ point of view I feel as though it is simply an emotional reaction that communicates one thing to pack members but feels like another to the dog exhibiting the behavior, simply as natures way of keeping balance. Just a thought.
I think this will really help one of my dogs! He’s very nervous, and we don’t know if he just had a hard time in the shelter as a puppy, or was even abused by his first owner. He’s so much more calm now that we’ve had him for a few years, but he’s always the first one to get scared if he hears a noise outside or sees something unfamiliar.
Thanks!
Youve got a new fan! Your training techniques are the best I’ve have seen yet! New Dog Whisperer…oh yes! Funny, sitting here at my computer and two of my dogs were laying on the floor mouthing each other. When one had enough, she turned her head..lol. I yawned (with sound) and they both looked up at me and yawned. Keep up the create videos!
My dog has noisy yawns and I just always imitated them without thinking about what they mean, because she seems to like it. Watching this made me realize that while I might pick up on some stuff subconsciously, I don’t know nearly as much about dog language as I thought I did! I’ll definitely have to watch some more of your videos.
I loved the part where you explained what the dogs’ behavior meant as they interacted with another. I wish there were more videos like this!
Thank you for the video!! I have been using the calming signals to communicate with my dog. It has worked great!! It was a scary nightmare to give her a bath but the calming signals have worked to calm her down.
As someone who has rescued dozens of dogs, some of which were abused and extremely fearful, I’d like to thank you for putting out this video. Commenters aren’t understanding that these signals are for dogs that are not comfortable with you, or with their surroundings. They do work with a frightened or confused dog. It’s extremely important to know the signals they give to one another so you can tell when your dog is stressed by another dog or by a person. Dogs have an easily understood form of body language that humans usually ignore. That’s how bites happen. They were warned, but didn’t recognize the warning. I’ve saved the link to this video and also just sent it to a new adopter tonight because I think it will help both her and her dog. 🙂
+janegael I have an incredible anxious West Highland White Terrier. He gets aggressive very quickly, and super excitable. One instance is when we order Dominos, I swear he knows the work ‘pizza’ as he’ll start crying and whining until it arrives. If anyone knocks he hates them. I think he’s just a jerk. I love him, but he is a giant -albeit little- bully!
@DirtyLittleRocker Baby its never the dog, its the human. seems like u just need to train with ur dog 🙂
So dogs do these when they’re stressed? Or they show them when they’re calm?
I have a one year old lab and he is very nervous when going into unfamiliar places. After watching this signal and constantly using calming signal’s he picked up on me doing it and now looks to me when he feels uncomfortable. This was such great advice and really helped me and my dog become closer I guess. Thanks again you’re so awesome!
How to read your dog’s body language in training sessions! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAk8eMRHYjU
i love your channel and in this vid i love how you honour turid rugaas. i read and saw her book and dvd in german years ago. and from clarissa von reinhardt there is a workbook based on calming signals of turid rugaas. not every youtuber or author honours the people they learn from. so i love a lot that you do it !
@Heidrun Schwartz ok
same
oh, and of course I learn so much from kikopup and I can help others by recommending your videos.
Kickpup you are a true gift to all life🐾🐾💜🐾🐾💚
I watched this when mine was a puppy and have been trying to refind this channel ever since. He’s almost 7 now and you have no idea how helpful this video was, I’ve never forgotten it and am happy I found you again
Awe thanks! Glad it was helpful!
Update on Ace – I have gotten him involved in playing some of the games https://www.youtube.com/post/Ugkx1_veP7CApJK_GWy_TczaMciuG64PqJeU and I can see a difference in his confidence already! My other dog played along and he became intrigued – now its a daily part of our routine – about 3 times a day we do the shell game and the muffin tin game. I am so grateful for coming upon your training techniques!