Decoding Dog Language: 5 Calming Signals Every Hong Kong Dog Owner Should Know

Quick answer: Calming signals are a natural way dogs communicate with each other, including over 36 signals such as averting the eyes, turning away, lip licking, and yawning. But note: deliberately mimicking calming signals has limited effect—Dai Gengji bluntly says, "You're really foolish!" What dogs need is a calm leader, not a master mimic.

Have you ever tried yawning and blinking at your dog, hoping it would calm down, only to find it becoming more tense? Many dog owners misunderstand the true use of "calming signals." Renowned Taiwanese animal behaviour expert Dai Gengji points out that deliberately performing calming signals at dogs can actually teach them to become dependent and avoidant. Today, let's dive into the world of dog language and become a good owner who truly understands "dog speak"!

What Are Calming Signals?

Calming signals are a natural way dogs communicate with each other, with over 36 different signals in total. When a dog feels tense, uneasy, or wants to defuse conflict, it automatically sends these signals to express its emotions.

Common calming signals include:

• Averting eyes / turning head away: meaning "I mean no harm"
• Turning back: defusing tension
• Freezing / moving slowly: reducing the sense of threat
• Lifting a front paw / praying posture: inviting interaction
• Lip licking / yawning / blinking: self-soothing
• Sniffing the ground / sitting / lying down: showing submission or relaxation
• Shaking the body: releasing stress

Dai Gengji reminds us that these signals are how dogs communicate with other dogs. If a dog has never interacted with other dogs during its socialisation period, it may never learn how to communicate with them. But this isn't a bad thing, because what dogs really need to live with is humans, not other dogs.

Calming Signals Quick Reference Table

5 Dog Behaviour Signals You Must Know

1. Ears Can Talk

A dog's ear position directly reflects its emotional state:

• Ears up and forward: focused, curious, may have found something interesting
• Ears flattened back: afraid, submissive, or trying to appease
• Ears slightly turning: picking up various sounds in the environment, staying alert

2. Tail Wagging Isn't Just Happiness

Many people think a wagging tail means happiness, but it's not that simple:

• High and fast wagging: excited, but not necessarily friendly (could be a challenge)
• Natural, relaxed wagging: truly happy, friendly
• Tail tucked between the legs: fear, extreme unease
• Slow wagging: hesitant, thinking

3. The Secret of Eye Contact

• Direct stare: a challenge to other dogs, but may be a sign of trust with the owner
• Averting gaze: "I mean no harm" or "I feel stressed"
• Showing the whites of the eyes (whale eye): extremely tense, needs immediate environmental improvement

4. Lip Licking and Yawning

These two signals are often misunderstood as "the dog is tired" or "the dog is hungry," but they are often signs of stress. Dai Gengji points out that when you yawn at a dog, the dog may be thinking, "Why does this person keep doing weird things?" rather than "Ah, he wants me to calm down."

5. Body Posture

• Relaxed body, lying on its side: complete trust in the environment
• Stiff body, leaning forward: alert, may be preparing to attack or defend
• Sneezing / scratching: self-soothing behaviour, indicating it is processing stress

3 Common Mistakes Owners Make

Mistake 1: Over-comforting

In Teach You to Effectively Solve 100 Behaviour Problems in Dogs, Dai Gengji mentions that many owners, when their dog is afraid (e.g., of thunder), immediately rush over and hug it to "comfort" it. But from the dog's perspective, the owner's panic actually reinforces its fear. Dogs refer to their owner's behaviour to decide their own reaction—if the owner acts nervous, the dog will think, "This really is terrifying."

Mistake 2: Deliberately Performing Calming Signals

Yawning and blinking at your dog for half an hour, hoping it will calm down? Dai Gengji bluntly says: "You're really foolish!" Overusing calming signals only teaches the dog to "cling and not leave" and "not need to learn," because it knows the owner will oblige.

Mistake 3: Ignoring Socialisation

The Complete Guide to Raising a Dog for the First Time points out that a dog's socialisation period (3-14 weeks after birth) is the most critical learning stage in its life. If it has no contact with other people and dogs during this time, it is likely to develop fear and behaviour problems later. But socialisation doesn't mean forcing the dog to face everything; it should be gradual, starting with the simplest experiences.

The Right Approach: Be a Calm Leader

Dai Gengji suggests that when facing a dog's unease, the most correct approach is:

1. Stay calm, act as if nothing is wrong: Don't make a fuss; face the situation with your dog in a normal manner.
2. Praise good behaviour in a timely manner: When the dog shows bravery or cooperation, immediately give positive encouragement.
3. Proceed step by step: Don't give too much stimulation at once; start with the simplest environment.
4. Build positive associations: For example, use recordings to practise thunder desensitisation while pairing with fun activities, so the dog builds the pattern "thunder = whole family is happy."

Further Reading

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PetChill's Reminder

Understanding your dog's language is a must for every responsible dog owner. Remember, what dogs need is not overprotection but a calm, trustworthy leader. When you learn to communicate with your dog in the right way, your bond will surely become even closer!

To learn more about dog behaviour and care, stay tuned for PetChill's latest articles!

This article is compiled from breed consensus and clinical care guidelines; individual dogs vary greatly. For health issues, please consult a registered veterinarian first.