Calming Signals

THE DOGS' LANGUAGE AND SIGNALS

The photos below are not made to provoke signals.
Click the photos with YELLOW frame for full view	FIRST MEETING WITH A KOOIKER DOG
Click the little photo above for full view of the 3 photos below First meeting in Holland with a kooiker in 1994. I did everything the wrong way............	I met the first kooiker dog several years ago - before I had learnt about calming signals from Turid Rugaas. Holland 1994 I met a kooiker dog (see photos left side) and was unable to get its attention: She turned her head away from me Turned all of her away from me Sat down with her back towards me I did everything the wrong way: Bent over the dog Smiled at her Stared at her Forced myself on her I did not understand what she told me...

Pepsi	The first Norwegian kooiker dog In October 1994 I met Pepsi, who had just moved to Eva Brenna / Harry Olsen. No problem getting Pepsi's attention... Even a confident dog like Pepsi had the same signals: Pepsi turns her head and looks away when I stare at her When I accidentially look away, Pepsi looks at me She tried in vain to tell me: Do not keep a dog tight Do not stare at a dog

Candy - first relaxed - but then someone walks straight towards her and stares at her...	Same language When a Norwegian dog meets a foreign dog, they will understand each other because they talk the same language. We often learn several languages, but have little knowledge of our dogs' language. Our remarkable kooiker dog We had waited for quite some time when Candy finally came to us in 1996. At that time I had learnt a little about calming signals - essential knowledge with a dog like Candy. But I have come to realize: Knowledge about calming signals is essential knowledge for all people training dogs. CALMING SIGNALS Dogs have approx 30 calming signals Some signals are used by most dogs Some dogs use more signals than others All dogs know all signals Dogs use these signals in their relationship with us These signals are meant to show us that: The dog is friendly The dog finds what is happening a bit unpleasant or frightening The dog wants to calm others or himself The dog wants to avoid a conflict If you do not understand these signals and react wrongly, your dog may end up insecure, stressed or in worst case aggressive both towards you and others.
Someone is approaching too quickly, her eyes look away, she bends her head, and shows the tip of the tongue
Cory in the same situation, relaxed first, the photographer is too close, and she shows more and more calming signals




Head and eyes turned more and more away from the photographer	How to recognize these signals Some of the signals which are easy to notice, and which dogs use when meeting people or when feeling insecure/frightened are: Turn the head away Lick his nose Show the tip of his tongue Lift a paw "Freeze" - i.e. stop, not move or he may sit or lie down Turn away Sniff the ground Lick the corner of the mouth of other dogs/people Go slowly Sit down Scratch himself Shake himself Wet himself Do something else (Examples: The dog grabs something and runs around with it in his mouth - suddenly sniffing something or he looks like he is absent - see picture of Candy) Play bow Stretch Yawn Walk in a curve. Dogs never walk straight towards each other - they try to keep their side towards each other (see photos below) Eyes blinking Look down / lower the lids

Click the little photo above for full view of the 3 photos below Photographer too close, a paw lifted, she "freezes", looks down, turns her eyes and head, tip of the tongue

Licking the corner of the mouth
Candy looks down, lowers her lids, eyes blinking



The puppy yawns	Yawning Yawning is a calming signal, and at the picture (to the left) yawning is a signal to the child that the puppy wants to be left alone. The puppy wants the child to stop - not come closer. Probably the puppy feels threatened. All dogs who have not lost their language, will show a calming signal before attacking.

Candy is smiling A smiling and tail wagging kooiker	A smiling kooiker Candy often meets us with a big grin. She has experienced lots of positive attention from us when smiling, and we seem these smiles more and more often. Everything positive will be repeated! Dogs who have lost their language can get it back by being positively reinforced when using it. A smiling and tail wagging kooiker often meets us when we come home. Both the tail wagging and the smile, the lifted paw and her blinking eyes can be calming signals, but they can also be a nice way of greeting us and calming us down.

Candy scratches herself - a signal she often shows when it is too much for her	Cory's and Candy's "favourite signals": Cory often yawn and stretch, while Candy in the same signals shake off and scratch. Both of them use these signals to calm themselves when they feel stressed - something is too much - either pleasure or expectation - f.ex. at the door wating to go for a walk or in the car.

Candy showing calming signals. Reason can be seen from the little picture: My husband is bending towards her, staring at her	THREATENING FOR THE DOG A dog can be threatened by signals we are not aware of. On the picture to the left my husband is bending towards Candy - staring at her - Candy's answers his approach by lowering her eyes - looking away.

Cory looking down, turns her head Reason can be seen from the little picture: I holdt her tight, bend towards her and the photographer is too close too suddenly Holding Candy tight is too much for her - you can tell by her absent look (click photo)	Dogs will show calming signals if something is threatening, and there are lots of thing we do which dogs may find threatening: Threatening signals: Smile to the dog Bend over / towards the dog (f.ex to pat or comb the dog) Hold the dog tight Arguing and noise Stare into the dog's eyes Quick movements Go straight or quickly towards a dog Angry / strict / stressed voice Put your hand on / over the dog's neck / head (children often do this to pat dogs - teach them to pat the chest) Learn how to avoid being threatening and to recognize the calming signals!
Candy and Cory avoid looking direct at each other - they look past each other
Cory with her eyes pinched - maybe because of the hand on her neck



	WHAT SHOULD WE DO

Dogs never go straight towards each other, they walk in a curve. The same curve can be seen when playing.	Start using the calming signals yourself Another dog would reply to calming signals by using calming signals, and even people can show calming signals. We can yawn, stretch ourselves, turn away, turn our head, avoid staring at the dog's eyes, walk in a curve, go slowly, play bow - and lots of other things Insecure dogs My first meeting with a kooiker dog was not very successful because I did not understand what the dog told me. Later I have met several dogs - especially in agility classes - the owners tell me their dog is afraid of people. By using calming signals it is remarkable how easy it is to get these dogs to contact you. Turn you head away, yawn, and leave it to the dog to contact you. Lead out If you call your dog, and he turns his head away from you or maybe he starts sniffing, be aware of the tone of your voice. Your dog is showing calming signals to avoid conflicts - maybe he in the end walks slowly towards you - maybe in a curve. In stead of being annoyed, try to answer your dog by showing a calming signal yourself. Your dog runs off If your dog runs off, don't take for granted that he is disobedient! It may be very likely that something stresses him so that he does not feel comfortable. Maybe your voice is strict or stressed, maybe your dog does not understand what you want, and then he finds it best to avoid a conflict with you and turns his back on you and starts sniffing. Proposals from foreign agility instructors about what to do if your dog runs off, can be found under training tips for agility. New Year's Eve If your dog is afraid of the fireworks on new year's eve, stretch yourself and yawn. Do not reassure or look at your dog - this might increase his fear. We often just want to check if our dog pays any attention to the fireworks or to something new and "dangerous". Most dogs often perceive our checking this as a confirmation that it really is dangerous, or else you would not bother to check.
No staring, they look past each other, heads slightly turned away, their bodies slightly curved
Cory - come :o)) You can calm your dog by yawning and by being relaxed It is not that difficult??