GM News - May 2024

This is the 59th edition of GM-News - please enjoy :-)

In this issue, we focus on some commonly misunderstood canine body language: lip licking, hackles (aka piloerection reflex), and tail wagging.

Until next time, thanks for being a subscriber.

Amanda, David, & Ruth
Gentle Modern School of Dog Training

Body Language

Lip-Licking
Lip-licking might be associated with the anticipation of food, but when no food is around, the lip-licking message is quite different.

"A dog will lick their lips if they are uncomfortable with or stressed about a situation where they may feel threatened." The message aims to de-escalate: "Please stop". (It's usually a big lick that takes the tongue over the nose.)
They may be confused or frustrated. In a training situation, for example, it would be a message to take a break and think about how to simplify the exercise for your dog.
Excessive or agitated licking could indicate mouth pain or nausea.

Check out Why Dogs Lick Their Lips - Even Without Food Around!

Hackles
Raised hackles (erect fur along the spine) are typically thought to be a sign of aggression, but more generally, they're a sign of arousal due to excitement, surprise, stress, or aggression. As with all canine body language, context is critical—is the dog with hackles raised playing excitedly with a much-loved playmate or conveying "back off mate" to an intimidating stranger?

Tail-Wagging
As dog trainers we often hear "But his tail was wagging!?" when a dog snapped. Tail movements convey a wide range of messages.
" The tail contributes to help define postural displays and its positions and movements are used to convey different information about the individuals’ emotional state and intentions. The tail is held high to communicate confidence, arousal, or the dog’s willingness to positively approach another individual, for example greeting and playing, while it is held stiff to express a threat or the individual’s anxiety. On the contrary, a tail held low or tucked between the limbs signals fear, anxiety, or appeasement as it contributes to decreasing the individual’s body size. Dogs wag their tails loosely from side to side to communicate friendliness or their excitability. Fast movements of the tail, instead, express different inner states according to its position; dogs communicate confidence if they hold their tail high, while a low wagging is generally associated with anxiousness, nervousness, or internal conflict." [our emphasis]
Communication in Dogs study by Marcello Siniscalchi, Serenella d’Ingeo, Michele Minunno, and Angelo Quaranta

Top Tip - Give yourself and your dog grace

Apparently, there is a First Pancake Theory, brought to my attention by Ali Abdaal, a productivity guru - I didn't know it was a theory but I do know that the first pancake of a batch I cook is invariably a poor specimen, with the following pancakes generally better.
" A bad first pancake doesn't mean a bad batch.
By keeping this in mind, you'll lower your expectations whenever you start something new and accept "not perfect" as part of the process. Rather than despairing and getting discouraged, you'll view these failures as valuable learning opportunities and keep trying.
Early attempts are essential for growth and improvement, and success often comes through perseverance and iteration."
Teaching your dog to behave in a particular way is often trickier than we hope, and I thought Ali's words applied well to dog training. Your dog won't respond perfectly, and your teaching won't be perfect—you'll get better together as you persevere and practice.

Banyule City Council is reviewing its rules/policies regarding dogs (and cats) in public places. Many of you live within Banyule and/or you take advantage of fabulous parklands and dog parks in Banyule. You may wish to contribute your ideas via Banyule's online community consultation survey.

Final date for survey responses - 12 May.

Your reward for reading to the end . . .

Ok, you might have to be a dog tragic to appreciate this ;-)
The Canine in Conversation - Dogs in Metaphor & Idiom Illustrated website by Alec MacLeod provides A Compendium of Words and Phrases Referring to Dogs:
" What does it mean to compare someone or some thing to a dog? This site explores the ways in which references to dogs are used in vernacular English, especially as they reveal social dynamics in the contemporary United States.
Terms, metaphors, and cultural references that evoke dogs are discussed individually, including history, usage, and significance."
It is surprising, given how beloved dogs are by humans, how many derogatory references include "dog".