Effective communication with your dog is about more than just using your voice; it also involves your body language, emotions and precise timing.

What is Communication?

Communication can be broadly defined as the conveying of information between two parties. Studies show that the majority of human communication is non verbal, also known as body language, however we also speech, gestures and writing to communicate with one another.

Dogs, however, communicate predominantly using body language and vocalisations, including barks, growls and whining, to express their emotions. The position of the ears, and tail, eye and mouth movements and whether the hair on the back of the neck is lying flat or is erect can signal a myriad of canine emotions including calm, anxious, afraid and aggressive. The world of canine body language is very complex as combinations of different signals can mean different things. For this reason it is advised that dog owners learn about basic dog body language.

How to Communicate Effectively With Your Dog

To communicate effectively with your dog it is important to understand your dog’s body language and be aware of your actions and how your dog responds to you. Feedback is critical to effective communication between you and your dog. Being aware of your body language, the pitch and volume of your voice and the timing of your communication are also important.

Dogs are learning all the time, not just when we’re actively training them. They learn to behave in ways that are rewarding for them, whether we consider the behaviour appropriate or not. For example, some learn to linger in the kitchen when we’re cooking because food might be dropped on the floor. Whereas other dogs learn that jumping up on people results in attention, even if we are telling them to get down.

Effective communication should be clear, consistent and well timed. A relationship based on trust and mutual understanding will promote a close bond with your dog.