Resources on Canine Body Language & Communication

Resources on Canine Body Language & Communication

By Don Hanson, PCBC-A, BFRAP

< Updated 12JUL23>

Most of us bring a dog into our lives to be companions and friends. Friendship comes with trust; however, to establish trust, we must first be able to communicate with our dog. That means we need to learn our dog’s language. Much of a dog’s communication is done silently with their entire body, unlike humans, who primarily communicate with our mouths and ears. Below are my favorite books and online resources to help you communicate with your dog.

Recommended Resources

Articles on Don’s Blog

( https://forcefreepets.com/blog/ )

Book Review – A Kids’ Comprehensive Guide to Speaking Dog! by Niki Tudge – https://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2018/01/10/book-review-a-kids-comprehensive-guide-to-speaking-dog-by-niki-tudge/ 

Book Review – On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas – https://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2018/01/10/book-review-on-talking-terms-with-dogs-calming-signals-by-turid-rugaas/

Book Review – The Other End of the Leash, by Patricia McConnell, PhD – https://blog.greenacreskennel.com/2002/12/29/book-review-the-other-end-of-the-leash-by-patricia-mcconnell-phd/

Books

·         A Kids’ Comprehensive Guide to Speaking Dog: A fun, interactive, educational resource to help the whole family understand canine communication, Niki J. Tudge, Joanne Tudge (October 4, 2017), ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0999262092, ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0999262092

·         Doggie Language – A Dog Lovers Guide to Understanding Your Best Friend, Lili Chin, Summersdale; Illustrated edition (October 6, 2020), ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1787837017, ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1787837017

·         How to Greet a Dog and What to Avoid, Sophia Yin, DVM, CattleDog Publishing (September 25, 2011)

·         On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals, Turid Rugaas, Direct Book Service; 2nd edition (December 14, 2005), ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1929242360, ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1929242368

·         The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs, Ballantine Books; Reprint edition (January 1, 2003), ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 034544678X, ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1863253208

Online Resources

Articles

A Dog’s Communication System – Pets and Their People, March 30, 2022 – https://petsandtheirpeople.education/canine-social-behavior-your-dogs-communication-system/

Do Dogs Learn More Quickly from Verbal or Visual Signals? – Psychology Today, October 16, 2018 – https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/201810/do-dogs-learn-more-quickly-verbal-or-visual-signals

Dogs really can smell your fear, and then they get scared too – NewScientist, October 19, 2017https://www.newscientist.com/article/2150956-dogs-really-can-smell-your-fear-and-then-they-get-scared-too/

Smile! Your dog’s brain will light up in response, Science, March 2018 – https://www.science.org/content/article/smile-your-dog-s-brain-will-light-response

The Data Says “Don’t Hug the Dog!” Psychology Today, April 13, 2016 – https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/201604/the-data-says-dont-hug-the-dog

What Do You Know About Canine Communication? – Pets and Their People, March 16, 2022 – https://petsandtheirpeople.education/what-do-you-know-about-canine-communication/

Posters & Graphics

Bekindrescue.com

·         Where to pet your dog graphic – https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0536/1126/6208/files/309021184_512530147373205_4825248449283197775_n.png

Dr. Sophia Yin – https://cattledogpublishing.com/poster-download/

·         Body Language of Fear in Dogs

·         How Kids SHOULD Interact with Dogs

·         How Kids SHOULD NOT Interact with Dogs

·         How to Greet a Dog (and What to Avoid)

Mighty Dog Graphics

·         The 3-second meet and greet graphic from Mighty Dog Graphics – https://www.facebook.com/mightydoggraphics/photos/pb.100064488174466.-2207520000./1431858283608350/?type=3

The Sophisticated Dog

·         Ways Dogs Show You That They Want Space graphic – https://www.facebook.com/TheSophisticatedDog/photos/pb.100057722677378.-2207520000./10158679102787409/?type=3

Videos

How Would You Like It? – San Diego Humane Society – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G775ppK3VEM

 

Websites

iSpeakDog.org – http://www.ispeakdog.org/

Silent Conversations – https://www.silentconversations.com/