How Well Can you read Canine Body Language?

**DrKym** · 03-02-2007, 08:15 PM

Great link
I got them all, but I can see why some newbies may get pic 2 wrong.

Also the reason many dogs are accused of it, when in reality it is nothing of the sort

Thanks for posting that, and congrats onXena and her acclimation to your loving!

**3GSDMom** · 03-02-2007, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by Dr.Goodnow

Great link
I got them all, but I can see why some newbies may get pic 2 wrong.

I don't consider myself a newbie, but could you PM me more info on the second image? 18 years of living with dogs and I've never thought to associate that with friendlyness.

Though I dont see that expression as a threat either. So it was clear that the dogs intentions were not that of aggression.

**borzoimom** · 03-02-2007, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by Travis_gsd27

I don't consider myself a newbie, but could you PM me more info on the second image? 18 years of living with dogs and I've never thought to associate that with friendlyness.

Though I dont see that expression as a threat either. So it was clear that the dogs intentions were not that of aggression.

The ears are actually in a submissive or greeting position and the face is not stressed.

**K9soul** · 03-02-2007, 08:31 PM

I see why #2 causes hesitation. I think it'd be much easier to tell if they used pictures of real dogs and/or showed the whole body. The dog doesn't look fearful or aggressive, but Tasha often cocks her ears back a bit like that if she's a little unsure about something. Her greeting is more like #3, ears all the way back, except with the mouth open and face relaxed.

**cali** · 03-02-2007, 08:54 PM

Her greeting is more like #3, ears all the way back, except with the mouth open and face relaxed

same with Happy, greeting ears are completly back, but face is relaxed. Misty has 2 greeting ears, either fully pricked or all the way back, depending. Ripleys greeting ears are completly back, Leck has floppy ears but they are perked forward in greeting, Perkys are completly perked in greeting, as are Blairs. not a one of my 6 dogs puts their ears partway back in happy greeting.

**lizbud** · 03-02-2007, 09:19 PM

I got them all right.

It is a little hard to read expression from a
drawing, but generally they were good enough to judge.

**3muttsandaboston** · 03-02-2007, 09:27 PM

Lucy makes the face on number 2 sometimes when she is happy. I got them all right.

**Crikit** · 03-02-2007, 11:09 PM

I got them all right but then again I have seen this before when I assisted in k9 communication classes at work.

**pitc9** · 03-03-2007, 06:51 AM

#2 almost looks more like submission.
BUT.... if you added a wagging TAIL to #2, then we all would have gotten it right!

They should have used full body pictures in all of them.

**Husky15** · 03-03-2007, 08:11 AM

I got all but number two correct.

I can kinda see why they would call it "I'm friendly" but at the same time it looks more submissive or scared...

**3GSDMom** · 03-03-2007, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by pitc9

#2 almost looks more like submission.
BUT.... if you added a wagging TAIL to #2, then we all would have gotten it right!

No doubt

**Sophist** · 03-03-2007, 06:45 PM

I got a perfect score!

I got #2 because it is the exact look Keisha has when meeting a smaller dog who is unsure of her... when you see it in person, it says "I'm big, but I won't eat you! Please play with me!" perfectly

.