Club members learning what our dogs are saying.
Lorraine Wilson
Wouldn’t it be great if our dogs could just tell us what they’re thinking? As Happy Tails Dog Club members learned at the Sept. 12 meeting, they already do—we just have to learn their language!
Guest speaker Brandon Cox from Canine Dimensions entertained and educated members with his presentation, “What Are Our Dogs Trying to Tell Us?” He explained that our four-legged friends are constantly communicating through their body language.
The secret is to watch the whole dog. Posture, ears, eyes, and mouth can all provide important clues about whether a dog is happy and relaxed or feeling nervous, stressed, fearful, or uncomfortable. Knowing how to spot these signals can be especially valuable when meeting a dog you don’t know.
For anyone wanting to become even more fluent in “dog,” Brandon recommended Dog Language: An Encyclopedia of Canine Behavior by Roger Abrantes and the video series The Language of Dogs by Sarah Kalnajs.
The morning gave Happy Tails members plenty to think about—and perhaps a reason to look at their own pups a little differently. After all, our dogs may not speak English, but they certainly have a lot to say!
The Happy Tails Dog Club meets on the second Saturday of each month at 10:30 a.m. in Room 103 of the CATC Building. Membership is only $10 per household annually, and we always welcome fellow dog lovers to come join the fun. After all, there is always room for a few more wagging tails—and the people who love them!