What silent signals and body language do you use with your pets (dogs, cats, etc.) (teeth, rescue)

[pathrunner]

I've learned so much from my dogs, especially my rescue boy, who was horribly abused for the first year or so of his life.

I learned that he licks when approached to show that he isn't a threat.

I learned that he blinks in acknowledgment when I look his way from several feet away or across the room or lawn.

I learned that his staring at me for a long time is because he loves me (and maybe that he's amazed at how lucky he got?)

I learned all about the different kinds of tail wagging.

I learned from my alpha girl that she likes to bare her teeth and lick when she doesn't like being corrected. I bare my teeth and lick back LOL She has to be reminded who's the pack leader!

There's more but I can't think of any right now.

As for my cats (don't have one right now... sob!) I learned that a long blink is a smile. That's all I can remember right now. My latest cat died almost 6 years ago.

I'm so curious to learn what others have learned and used.

[JustMike77]

My dining room is two steps up from the living room. Those two steps are where my kitty always goes to get petted. If I'm watching TV and don't notice, she'll sit there and glare at me 'til I see her and come over to pet her.

[Mikala43]

In order to be a good pet owner I do watch and read a lot of dogs body signals so I can understand my dogs communication. Position of ears, different mouth positions when baring teeth, tail position, etc.

When he is around small children all his body posture changes, it's like he is trying to make his 100lbs smaller, he moves slower and gets very gentile.

Our dog responds better to hand cues than verbal, though I use both. We have hand signals for sit, stay and down, and a few others. Our trainer noticed that I give a lot of subconscious commands without being aware of it because I've been with my dog every day since he was 9 weeks.

[westminster88]

Originally Posted by pathrunner

As for my cats (don't have one right now... sob!) I learned that a long blink is a smile. That's all I can remember right now. My latest cat died almost 6 years ago.

I often do the slow, long blink with my cat.

[bpollen]

My white/tan JRT mix stares at me a lot. Then she stares at my brother when he comes to visit. Why? I don't know.

Sometimes she stares to get my attention. If I don't notice, she whines. The stare/whine means she wants another treat OR she wants to go outside to potty OR she's out of water OR it's time for her blood pressure pill.

I have a huge jingle bell hanging on front door. I've taught my last couple of dogs to hit it, to let me know they need to go outside. My current dog, though more intelligent than the others, will not hit it so that it jingles, usually. She merely touches & moves it just a little w/her nose. Which of course means I can't hear it.

I use hand and body signals with her, in addition to words. I hold my hand up palm towards her to mean STOP. She stops. I crouch and hold my arms out wide, to mean COME HERE. (she loves that one and comes running) I one-arm signal to follow me as I turn to walk away. I have a signal (finger to her nose then floor) to mean lie down. She may or may not do those last ones I list...depending on whether she feels like it.

[AZIggy]

I have always used sign language with all our dogs. It helped in their later lives, except 2 went blind. They adjusted. Don’t move furniture on them. All ours were 15 to 17 yrs old.