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: Understanding your dog
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One of the reasons why dogs make such good pets is the remarkable way they communicate with people. Your dog sees people, especially you, as an extension of its own canine family and is quick to interpret your mood and intentions.
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In fact understanding how your dog communicates can make living with one a lot easier, especially when it comes to training. Dogs communicate through a series of signals including a variety of facial expressions, body postures, noises and scents. By reading these body signals you should be able to work out who is 'top dog' in any confrontation or situation.
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Body language
 A dog that is feeling confident or aggressive will try to convey the impression of being a larger, more powerful animal by standing tall with its ears and tail erect. It might thrust its chest forward and may raise the hairs around the neck and along its back (its hackles). It may also wave its tail slowly and growl.
A submissive dog will try to appear small and puppy-like because adult dogs will only chastise puppies - not attack them. The approach to a more dominant individual is likely to be from the side, crouching low with the tail held low and wagging enthusiastically. Some dogs try to lick the feet and face of the dominant dog or even roll on to its back.
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Watch the tail
 Perhaps the most common behavioural characteristic in dogs is tail wagging. Most people recognise that loose, free tail wagging is indicative of pleasure and a general friendliness. Exaggerated tail wagging, which extends to the entire rump, may be seen in subordinate dogs as well as those dogs with very short tails.
However, the tail is also an indicator for other emotions. A tail waved slowly and stiffly, in line with the back, expresses anger, a tail clamped low over the hindquarters is a sign the dog is afraid or anxious, and nervous dogs may stiffly wag their drooping tails as a sign of appeasement.
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It's all in the look
 The facial expressions of your dog will also tell you a lot about its mood too, whether it is anxious, excited, frightened or playful.
The ears are pricked when it is alert or listening intently, but are held back or flattened on to the head when expressing pleasure, submission or fear. To read its mood correctly, watch the eyes. Your dog's eyes will be wide open if it is angry but will appear narrow or half closed eyes when showing pleasure or submission.
Eye signals are an important part of communicating with your dog and allow you to assert your authority. In the wild, the pack leader can maintain control simply by staring at a subordinate dog. In most cases, the two animals will stare at each other until one challenges the other or until one lowers its head and turns away.
Stern eye contact can be a good way of disciplining your dog and reminding it who the boss is. However, aggressive or nervous tendencies can be unpredictable in these situations so it is best to avoid a staring 'showdown'.
On the other hand, regular, gentle eye contact between you and your pal is reassuring for your dog and will go a long way towards reinforcing your relationship.
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