How Do Dogs Communicate — With Each Other and With You
How do dogs communicate, with each other and with us? Knowing the answer to this question is critical for successful pet parenting as it also you to pick up on cues and respond to your dog’s needs and reactions the right way. Much like us, dogs also use facial expressions and body language, in addition to barks and whimpers, to express themselves.
However, since their bodies are different from ours, decoding dog communication signals isn’t always easy. The same is true for vocal expressions. Barking is the only language a dog knows, but they can convey so much with the sound, tone, and intensity of their barks. Likewise, the modulations in whimpering and whining noises dogs make can convey any number of things from physical distress and pain to anxiety and fear.
Intrigued? Let’s dive right into this guide on how dogs communicate with each other and with humans to make you a master of dog speak.
How Do Dogs Communicate with Each Other?
Let’s say, you’re walking your dog in the park, and they start barking at another dog passing by. What does the bark convey? Is it a greeting or a challenge to establish dominance? Or just a force of habit? What if the other dog responds by growling? And your dog, in turn, lunges at them? Are you standing at the brink of a dog fight? Or is it just posturing?
All of us pet parents have found ourselves in situations like these. I, for one, do not doubt that we’d be more adept at handling such situations with greater confidence if only we knew how dogs communicate with each other and what their verbal and body language cues convey. Let’s find out:
Suggested Reading: Do Dogs have Emotions?
1. Barking and vocal sounds
Of course, the foremost means of intraspecies communication between dogs are barking and other vocal sounds like whining and whimpering. If you’ve been around dogs, you probably know well enough that all barks are not created equal nor do they convey the same message.
So, how do dogs communicate with each other through barking? According to research, dogs can not only let out different barks in different settings but can also identify what a bark means based on the context, scenario, and who the bark is coming from. For instance, a high-pitched bark can be an invitation to play whereas a deep bark is a warning to stay away.
In addition to this, dog communication signals also include growls and whining sounds. While soft growls can be playful, deep and intense growls are an expression of displeasure and a warning that a dog might escalate their behavior if not removed from the situation triggering it. Whines, on the other hand, are most often a signal of submission or sadness.
2. Body language
Body language plays a key role in dog communication signals. Much like people, dogs also use facial expressions and physical posturing to convey how they’re feeling. Canine behaviorists say that dogs send out a wide array of signals through body language such as:
- Tail position
- Ear position
- Teeth posting
- Bowing
- Yawning
- Exposing the belly
- Body tension
Now, some of these intraspecies communication signs are easy to decipher. If your dog bows or rolls over in front of a fellow canine companion, it’s invariably an invitation to engage. However, wagging of the tail can be both a sign of happiness and a warning of aggression. To be able to interpret it correctly, you need to pay attention to other indicators such as the position of the ears, raised heckles, stiffness in the body, and the pace of tail wagging.
A relaxed body with a swiftly moving tail indicates readiness for positive engagement with another dog whereas raised heckles, tense body, and slow, deliberate tail movement are a precursor to aggression.
Suggested Reading: How to Crate Train an Older Dog: 7 Easy Steps
3. Facial expressions
Those puppy eyes don’t just work on you, they’re also central to how dogs communicate with each other. In fact, many dog behaviorists agree that facial expressions are an extremely important element of canine visual language. Here are a few facial expressions to watch out for to decipher what your pet is trying to convey to another dog.
| Facial expression | Meaning |
| Slight open “smiling” mouth with raised eyebrows and slow pants | Relaxed and friendly |
| Stare or locked gaze, closed mouth, care teeth, white of the eyes visible prominently | Intimidation or aggression |
| Tensed mouth and eyes, pulled back or flattened ears, darting glances, panting | Anxious or frightened |
4. Scent and pheromones
Does your dog stop every ten steps to take in the smell? Do they dig their nose to take in a deep whiff sometimes and move on after a cursory smell at others? Ever wondered why your dog needs to smell everything? Well, because olfactory cues are a crucial part of how dogs communicate.
Smell is the primary sense is dogs and sniffing around helps them make sense of the world around them. Dog noses are designed to pick up pheromone, or scent messages, released by other dogs, thanks to a small part in the nasal cavity called the Jacobson’s organ or vomeronasal organ.
The pheromones dogs pick up different types of messages such as,
- Age, sex, and relatedness of the dog who left them behind
- State of another dog’s health
- And their emotional state, whether the dog was relaxed, fearful or excited
- How long ago the scent was left
These pheromones can be overwhelming for dogs, and that’s why most dogs can’t help sniffing when they’re out and about, especially in a new environment.
So, how do dogs communicate with each other? As you can see, the answer isn’t as simple as “through barking”. Dogs use multimodal communication to get their message across to other members of the species. As a pet parent, awareness about these dog communication signals can go a long way in helping you decode your pooch’s language correctly and de-escalate any potential conflict or confrontation before it gets out of hand.
How Do Dogs Communicate with Humans?
Raising a pet is a lot like raising a baby, especially if you bring home a puppy. Over time, you learn to interpret your pet’s communication cues correctly. For instance, a particular whining sound means your pup wants to be taken out to do their business. Or sitting outside the kitchen with those big puppy eyes is a nudge to feed your pup. And those big guilty eyes with ears pulled back or flattened is your dog’s way of saying, “Uh oh, I messed up.”
Over time, the “how to communicate with my dog” conundrum resolves itself. But maybe, you don’t want to go through this learning curve. Or you want to understand how dogs communicate with humans so that you can interact with furry babies other than your own. And that’s got you wondering, how do dogs communicate with humans? Let’s find out:
1. Barking and other vocal cues
Do dogs communicate with each other through barking? Well, of course, they do. But they also bark as a way of communicating with their humans. Here again, different barks may convey different messages,
- I’m hungry
- Come play with me
- I’m scared
- Stay away
- Look out, danger!
When your dog is barking to invite your attention or to ask you to engage with them, it will be a soft bark. On the other hand, if they’re barking because they feel scared, anxious, or threatened, the bark will be louder and more aggressive. Likewise, whining sounds or barks mixed with whining can be a way to,
- Seek attention
- Convey discomfort
If you often find yourself thinking, “I want to learn how to communicate with my dog”, make sure to respond with words when your dog tries to “talk” to you. They may not understand every single thing you say, but the tone of your voice and some keywords like “it’s okay” or “relax” can make them feel safer and reassured.
2. Facial expressions
Facial expressions are a key element of dog communication signals to humans. In fact, research suggests that dogs use heightened facial expressions around their humans. So, your pet may communicate with you with their eyes, the mouth, and the posturing of their ears. For instance,
- Prolonged eye contact is your dog’s way of showing they trust you and an expression of affection. In dog speak, it means “I love you”
- Avoiding eye contact, on the other hand, can be a sign of fear, being uncomfortable, or an expression of guilt after some mischief
- A smiling face is indeed an expression of happiness
- A stiff jaw, on the other hand, indicates fear, apprehension, feelings of insecurity
- Likewise, relaxed, pulled-back ears are a sign of trust whereas ears flattened out can indicate fear, and stiff ears mean your dog is alarmed
3. Tail posture
One of the most expressive forms of dog communication is the position and movement of their tail, and it’s an integral part of how dogs communicate with humans. For instance,
- A joyful wagging of the tail means your dog is happy to be around you
- When your dog wags their tail vigorously upon seeing you after a gap, it’s their way of saying welcome home, I’m glad you’re here
- If a dog (or even your dog), wags their tale in a slow deliberate manner upon seeing you, it indicates they’re being cautious
- A stiff tail indicates your dog is on alert, often as a way to protect themselves or to protect you from harm
- A low tail conveys contentment
- Tail tucked between the legs means your dog is fearful of you or their surroundings
Suggested Reading: How to Teach Your Dog to Play Fetch: Step-by-Step Guide
4. Licking
Licking is a common way for dogs to bond with their humans and express themselves. But what does dog licking mean? Well, it can mean any number of things, such as
- Your dog is being affectionate toward you
- They’re seeking your attention
- You smell “interesting” to them
- An expression of empathy
5. Flicking the tongue
Flicking the tongue is your dog’s way of conveying they are anxious and expressing a desire to appease you. Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean that your dog knows that they have done something they shouldn’t have but they can pick up on your body language cues to decipher that you’re displeased or upset, and may flick their tongue as a way to de-escalate the tensions.
6. Yawns and sneezes
A yawn or a misplaced sneeze is also an expression of stress and discomfort in dogs. It’s your dog’s way of telling you “I don’t like being in this situation”, and it may happen when your dog is surrounded by unfamiliar people or other dogs/pets. On the contrary, a dog may yawn when they feel content and secure too. That’s why this is one of the dog communication signals that can get confusing. To interpret it correctly, you have to correlate it to the context.
7. Belly exposure and bowing
How do dogs communicate with humans? Well, here is an unmistakable communication signal that every pet owner has experienced abundantly — your dog rolling over and exposing their belly to you. This is a gesture of appeasement and a sign that your dog trusts you implicitly. Of course, the correct way to respond is to give your pet a belly rub.
Another one of the positive dog communication signals to humans is playful bowing. Here is what it looks like — your dog faces you and bows with their front legs with butt in the air. If you approach them while they’re in this position, your dog might just skip and run in circles around you. This communication sign is hard to misinterpret. It’s your dog’s want of telling you, “It’s playtime.” Respond by indulging your furry bay in a game of fetch, and their day will be made.
8. Raising a paw
This is how dogs communicate with humans when they want attention. If your dog comes and places their paw on your lap (in my case, it’s often on my face that too first thing in the morning), they’re saying, “Give me love.” Puppies do this by pawing the air until they have your attention.
9. Bringing things to you
My dog brings me one of his favorite toys almost every day at breakfast, and often, just drops it, and then settles down under the table, with his chin resting on my feet. I interpreted it as an invitation to play but he doesn’t always seem enthusiastic about tugging at the rope he’s picked up or chasing after a ball he’s brought me. So, I decided to read up on it, and what I learned was heart-meltingly surprising — your dog may bring you their things as a gift. It’s their way of showing affection by sharing their prized possession with you.
Suggested Reading: How to Clean Dog Ears — 7 Easy Steps
10. Leaning against you
Leaning against you is your dog’s way of cuddling you. It’s an expression of affection and conveys that your dog finds physical proximity to you comforting. They say dogs do this because they can’t hug their humans the conventional way but my dog, Drogon, certainly doesn’t seem to think so. For him, lying atop his favorite human and licking their face is the right way to “hug”.
11. Freezing
This is a warning sign from your dog, telling you that they feel unsure or anxious and want to be left alone. This typically happens when your dog is chewing a bone or playing with a toy they love dearly. If you approach them as your dog is engaging with a valuable treat or toy, they may freeze mid-action and look at you almost warily. When that happens, it’s best to back off and let your dog know you respect their wishes. Otherwise, the feeling of insecurity or threat can pave the way for resource guarding in dogs.
How do dogs communicate? Whether you came here looking for insights into intraspecies or interspecies communication, I hope you now feel better informed and thus better poised to interpret your dog’s language. I, certainly, hope that paves the way for a far stronger bond between you and your furry baby.
