Before hitting the dog park, brush up on canine expressions

Spring really begins, for many people, the moment they unlatch the gate at one of the many area dog parks.

Seeing winter-weary pets dash giddily into open space to sniff new friends can be exhilarating for all involved. That's if the outing ends with a happily exhausted dog. But sometimes things go horribly wrong, as employees of animal emergency clinics will attest.

Madison-area animal behaviorist Patricia McConnell, who specializes in treating aggression in dogs, says many dog owners -- no matter how much they love their pets -- are clueless when it comes to understanding canine body language. And without knowing how to read the expressions and postures of their own and other dogs, they may not be able to intervene before trouble erupts.

"You should never take a dog to a dog park unless you are certain the dog would come to you instantly when called," she said. "They could go right through a fence, or eat a dead bird or get caught up in a dog fight even if they didn't start it."

Then, there are dogs who don't belong in dog parks because they don't enjoy it. "Some find it nerve-wracking," McConnell said. "And there are some who don't play well with others, maybe they're a bit of a bully -- mounting or pushing other dogs down. Or they might be social nerds who think everybody loves them and run right up into the face of other dogs and overwhelm them and just don't get it. Dogs are like kids, playing nicely one minute and then all of a sudden it gets ugly."

Sometimes it's the people in the dog parks who are the social nerds. "How would you like it if you were walking down State Street and some stranger grabbed your head and started kissing you?" McConnell said. "Put yourself in the dog's place: familiar versus unfamiliar. People shouldn't loom over strange dogs and start petting them because it makes them anxious. I never pet a dog unless it comes up to me. I stop three or four feet away, and I always pet them underneath their head."

Dog etiquette is different from human good manners, she adds. While people consider it rude if other humans don't look them in the eye, polite dogs avoid looking directly into another dog's eyes, and greet them by circling and making sideways lateral approaches.

Facial expressions, though, are remarkably similar between both species, according to McConnell. Pretend you're taking a Ham Acting 101 class and practice emoting in the mirror: happiness, nervousness, fear, anger, worry, sadness, concentration. When your dog looks like that, you'll have a better idea what's on their mind.

Another useful acting technique is knowing how to make a graceful exit. "If you are worried about a situation your dog is in, don't loom, stare and freeze because that adds to the anxiety of the situation." McConnell said. "Just say, 'OK guys, let's go away.' If you just turn and start going, they'll probably be right behind you."

TRANSLATING DOGS

Warning signs: Barking levels get lower or higher; movements get jerkier or more intense; dogs stiffen or are in unnatural positions; mouths are closed and pushed forward and brows are furrowed; eyes are round and cold (think of a person's chillingly false smile, when teeth are exposed but eyes are wide and hard); a dog with dilated pupils is staring directly into the eyes of a human or another dog with a closed mouth; whites of the eyes are showing with a closed mouth; forward tongue flicks signal anxiety (they're different than the sideways lip-smacking when dogs see food); growling.

Happy dog signs: "Play bows" (front paws and torso down, rear end up, and moving side to side) invite people or other animals to play; tails that wags the whole body; mouths open and relaxed, with full faces; squinty eyes

Source: Patricia B. McConnell, Ph.D., is the author of For The Love of a Dog: Understanding Emotion in You and Your Best Friend; The Other End of the Leash, and other books and DVDs. Her Web site is: www.patriciamcconnell.com.

Reference: http://77square.com

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