The Dogs Bone

The key to understanding dog behaviour lies in learning to read the non verbal language expressed in dogs faces and bodies. Dogs speak volumes in this way, both in how they react to people and other dogs. In fact, by watching how your dogs interact with other dogs you can learn a lot, as well as providing valuable time for your pet to socialize.

As the dogs interact with each other, ask yourself how they react to movements from each other. When they are playing, and one of them gets upset, what happens with the behaviour of both of them? How does your dog greet dogs he knows, as opposed to strangers? How do dogs start playing chasing games with each other, and what differences are there between familiar and non familiar dogs?

Training dogs is not a clear cut set of rules. It is more an art than a science. So, by learning how your dog reacts, you can tailor any training to his quirks. And some dogs are more sensitive than others.

You can also develop more of an understanding of dog behaviour by studying the behaviour of wolves. Wolf and dog behaviour is very similar, and the quirks of wolves often provide an insight into some of the habits dogs have. For example, wolf pups are fed by food regurgitated from the mouths of older wolves. They trigger this by licking the faces of older wolves. And when they grow older, it still remains as a form of greeting. This goes to explain where your dog gets his habit of licking yours and other people's faces!