What is your pet trying to say?
By Gina Spadafori
June 20, 2007
Occasional Pet Connection blogger Kim Campbell Thornton, the MSNBC.com pet-care columnist, writes today about the body language of our pets:
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could talk, like Dr. Doolittle, to the animals? Of course it would, but take heart: We actually can talk with them, in a manner of speaking. Human vocabulary may elude our pets, but they all communicate in consistent ways. By learning to read their tails, ears, fur and vocalizations, we can become fluent in such foreign tongues as Siamese and Persian, Pekingese and Bernese.
[...]
Ears, for instance, are full of attitude. Both dogs and cats prick their ears up or forward to show interest and lay them back when they’re fearful.
Have you ever stroked a cat, only to have it suddenly strike at you with claws or teeth? If you had been paying closer attention, you might have noticed a fixed stare, flattened ears, flailing tail, fur standing on end or skin rippling beneath your hand.
Those are all signs that the cat is probably being overstimulated, says Marilyn Krieger, a certified cat behavior consultant from Redwood City, Calif. She says too many people don’t recognize signals that a cat is about to bite or scratch.
Not everything we think we know about animal body language is correct. Some 20 years ago, a popular belief was the idea that people needed to communicate with dogs using wolf-pack behavior such as scruff shakes and “alpha rolls” — holding the dog on its back and staring at it.
Interesting stuff. But I swear Kim writes so she can use pictures of her pets with her articles. So I’ll play along: That’s Twyla, pictured.
GREETINGS…
I’m not sure where I should stick this comment, so, it’s - here!
A few weeks ago, many of us were going on about CPR classes. How many of us actually signed up? I post this as a reminder for those of you who let it slip between the cracks of busy lives. My class, in Ohio, is on Sep. 19th, 2 hrs., $25.00, includes textbook. In fact, 6 people are the minimum. If my friend and I hadn’t signed up, there wouldn’t be a class, til maybe next year. So, hurry up and call, and you may not only be helping out your own animals, but, another family and their animals, as well!
BLESSED BE.
WOLFIN )O(
Comment by WOLFIN — June 20, 2007 @ 7:42 am
Pets are wired differently physically but their is a metaphysical element in their consciousness. This “realm” of pet consciousness is the next frontier.
Your Pets behavior is a reflection of yourself in the meantime.
Comment by Steve — June 20, 2007 @ 8:39 am
With dogs, it’s useful to learn about their “Calming Signals” - how they use them with one another and how we - in turn - can use some of them to help allay discomfort and defuse tense situations. Here’s a short article on the work of Turid Rugaas, a Norwegian ethologist best known for her work in deciphering canine “Calming Signals”:
http://www.shirleychong.com/ke.....alming.txt
Turid’s work is also available as a book and a companion video - both well worth the time! (Available from such places as SitStay or Dogwise).
Comment by The OTHER Pat — June 20, 2007 @ 11:02 am
Ah yes the signs! Probably because we (correctly?) relate tail wagging with a “happy” or content dog, there often is confusion that wagging tails in cats mean the same thing. oops!
I’m not sure if this varies considerably among cats but the tail flick (or rapidly moving tail, as noted above) definitely means the cat is not happy or is anxious about something and could strike out or hiss at any time. I’ve also noticed in my cats a more relaxed and slow-moving tail when they are relaxed and just hanging out and *not* poised to strike. As with people, body language in animals can tell us a lot!
Thanks for the posting.
Comment by sandy — June 20, 2007 @ 12:10 pm
mment by sandy — June 20, 2007 @ 12:10 pm
“Probably because we (correctly?) relate tail wagging with a “happy” or content dog”
Not necessarily:
http://www.peteducation.com/ar.....cleid=1158
Comment by The OTHER Pat — June 20, 2007 @ 3:41 pm
It’s funny how my little cat communicates with me. When I am in the house she is always with me - follows me wherever I go in the house. When I am relaxing reading or watching TV she sits in a chair right beside me or in my lap. When she is in “her chair” sometimes she sits up and just stares at me. The minute I look at her she will look over at her bowl(s). That means either she is hungry or thirsty - so I go and check the bowls to make sure there is food and water. Another thing she does is when she wants to get in my lap she (when sitting in her chair beside me) will take her foot and put it on my arm. That means “I want to curl up in your lap”. When she wants to play ball (I throw, she retrieves) she will raise herself up (while on the floor) and touch my leg - that means get the ball and throw it. It has gotten so I can read her like a book and she does the same with me. It’s not so much what I say but the tone I use in my voice. For example, she hates the vacuum with a passion and runs and hides when I turn it on - so now I usually let her know before I vacuum. Just the tone in my voice by saying “I’m going to run the vacuum” and just like that she runs out into the garage. After I finish I tell her “it’s ok” and she comes right back in the house. So animals DO communicate with you, you just have to know how to read what they want.
Comment by Lois C. — June 22, 2007 @ 8:14 am
My little girl dog Angie that is ill now rests mostly in a small living room curled up on several blankets - she says quite a lot - mostly by her plaintive looks - she knows she’s ill. When I spray her spine with rose essence, she closes her eyes and smiles – as if she likes it.
I massage her back and neck and she doesn’t move away. Her energy seems very calm now except when I’m fixing her dinner – then she can be quite demanding. She does communicate with me – but right now I hope she understands what I’m trying to tell her – that I love her and hope the Chemo doesn’t hurt her. I hope she knows that I’m sorry for her pain and for what she is going through and for what she has to face in the future.
I hope she understands when I lay next to her and kiss her cheek that I love her. I just hope she knows how much she is loved and will be missed.
Comment by Linda — June 22, 2007 @ 10:27 am
She knows, Linda. She knows.
Comment by The OTHER Pat — June 22, 2007 @ 6:27 pm
Linda sending Reiki energy to Angie.
Comment by VJ — June 22, 2007 @ 8:42 pm