How So Your Dog Behaves Summary
How to Behave So Your Dog Behaves Chapter 4
Dr. Sophia Yin does a great job explaining the logic and reasoning behind why a dog acts the way it does (Yin, 2004). Her book is full of pictures and drawings that show in detail what she is talking about. Chapter four of her book is about learning to understand and read the body language of a dog. She teaches that through careful analysis and observation, a person can learn to quickly pick up on slight signals that communicate how a dog will respond to a situation.
For as long as humans have lived with dogs it is surprising how few people really understand or know how to read their body language. Common myths are that if a dog’s tail is wagging it is friendly, or if a dog’s ears naturally stand up it is more aggressive. While some of the logic may be true you cannot base all of its temperament on one feature. Dogs come in different body shapes and sizes. Some have short curly tails, some have long straight tails, and others have no tails. If a person were to analyze a dog only by its tail the results would not be very accurate or consistent. Fortunately there …show more content…
Direct eye contact is rewarded in human society, but in the dog world it is aggressive and threatening. Another common mistake is bending over a dog to pet it. This is a dominant gesture and can make the dog feel uncomfortable or threatened. Reaching out towards a dog you do not know in a grabbing motion is also a mistake, make sure to calmly reach out with your palms up and allow them to smell you first. As a whole humans like hugs, likewise the majority of dogs prefer not to be hugged. We sometimes feel like we are showing how much we love them by hugging them, but we really are annoying and/or threatening them. By knowing how to use your body language you can better communicate with your dog (Miller,
Dr. Sophia Yin does a great job explaining the logic and reasoning behind why a dog acts the way it does (Yin, 2004). Her book is full of pictures and drawings that show in detail what she is talking about. Chapter four of her book is about learning to understand and read the body language of a dog. She teaches that through careful analysis and observation, a person can learn to quickly pick up on slight signals that communicate how a dog will respond to a situation.
For as long as humans have lived with dogs it is surprising how few people really understand or know how to read their body language. Common myths are that if a dog’s tail is wagging it is friendly, or if a dog’s ears naturally stand up it is more aggressive. While some of the logic may be true you cannot base all of its temperament on one feature. Dogs come in different body shapes and sizes. Some have short curly tails, some have long straight tails, and others have no tails. If a person were to analyze a dog only by its tail the results would not be very accurate or consistent. Fortunately there …show more content…
Direct eye contact is rewarded in human society, but in the dog world it is aggressive and threatening. Another common mistake is bending over a dog to pet it. This is a dominant gesture and can make the dog feel uncomfortable or threatened. Reaching out towards a dog you do not know in a grabbing motion is also a mistake, make sure to calmly reach out with your palms up and allow them to smell you first. As a whole humans like hugs, likewise the majority of dogs prefer not to be hugged. We sometimes feel like we are showing how much we love them by hugging them, but we really are annoying and/or threatening them. By knowing how to use your body language you can better communicate with your dog (Miller,