Karen recommends looking at multiple body parts on a dog to spot signs of distress. And consider context as well. "For example, a 'wagging' tail can be from a highly agitated and upset dog if the tail is held tense, high, and thrashing about. So, you'd look at the situation and the dog's head, body, eye, mouth, and ear movements, too. Dogs are excellent communicators -- we just have to learn their language!"
But do dogs have a sense of humor, too? They seem to delight in stealing our socks, shoes, and other belongings, but do they do it on purpose and with the intent to make us laugh? The animal behaviorist says it's possible dogs might steal your socks for different reasons each time they do it.
"However, they do enjoy their own idea of fun, so maybe they just like socks, or maybe they like the idea of us joining in a game," she admits. "Humans generally don't react when a dog takes their own toy, but when it's something [of theirs], suddenly, it looks to the dog as if 'everyone wants to play.'"
If there's one thing Karen would like owners to know, it's that not one dog deserves physical punishment. She says we, as owners, must learn the language of the dog. "I'd like people to stop saying dogs are 'dominant' or 'spiteful' and then punishing them, shouting, and smacking them when it's us humans that have got their language wrong. Dogs are really intelligent creatures. If we really care about dogs, we learn how to communicate gently and safely."
