Soothing signal is a term coined by Norwegian dog trainer Turid Rugaas to describe the signals used by dogs to communicate with each other. According to Rugaas there are at least 30 calming signals. What signals a dog uses depends on the dog. They can use a subset of these signals. However, the signal is universal and all dogs understand all the signals even if they do not use them. Dogs are known to use this signal with humans as well.
This term has been used by other behavioral dog experts to explain dog behavior. Lili Chin's popular illustrator dog has illustrated these signals. There are several others who have illustrated these signals. Some books on dog behavior and training now use the term calming signal to describe the communication of dogs and dog-humans.
There are three main forms of communication used by dogs: hearing, sight, and smell. Auditory covers a variety of voices, such as grunts, whining, screaming, screaming, grinding teeth, growling, coughing, and barking. Visual communication is often derived from wolf behavior, displayed in the form of aggressive/fearful, or dominant/obedient actions. For example, aggressive wolves are marked with pierced ears, with their heads and tails high. A similar behavior will be shown during the aggressive visual action of domestic dogs. Oxygen communication is often used to distinguish a woman during periods of sexual arousal and increased activity. Men are able to detect this sexual period from a distance, just by the smell of urine.
Video Calming signals
Usage of signals by dog ​​
According to Rugaas, here is a list of some typical situations that dogs are naturally uncomfortable with and try to communicate their discomfort with a soothing signal.
- Someone bent over a dog
- Direct and old eye contact
- A person's face is too close to the dog's face (for example, kissing the nose)
- Someone sounds angry
- There are screams and family quarrels
- Someone goes directly to the dog
- The dog is happy with happiness and anticipation (eg, near the door, walking)
- Someone asks a dog to do something he/she does not like doing
- The training session is too long and the dog is tired
- The dog is confused
- Someone hugs a dog
- The dog feels trapped
Maps Calming signals
Example
Movies lick/tongue
Licking is a commonly used signal, especially by black dogs, dogs with lots of hair around their face, and others whose facial expressions for some reason are harder to see than dogs with lighter colors, visible eyes and long noses.
Sometimes no more than a very fast lick, the tip of the tongue is barely visible outside the mouth, and only briefly. But other dogs see it, understand it and respond.
- Lip Licking
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Sniffing the ground may look like moving your nose down quickly to the ground and back up, to stick your nose to the ground and sniff it constantly for a few minutes.
Turning off/turning head
The dog can turn its head slightly to one side, turn the head completely to the side, or turn it completely so that the back and tail are facing any soothing dog. This is one of the most commonly seen signals in dogs.
When a person approaches a dog from the front, he may turn in one of these ways. When other people or dogs appear angry, aggressive or threatening, one variation of this signal can be seen. When the dog is surprised or shocked someone, he will turn quickly. The same thing happens when someone stares or acts in a threatening way. In many cases, this signal will make other dogs calm.
- View or Mute it
Play the bow
Down with your front foot in a bent position can be an invitation to play if the dog moves his legs from side to side in a fun way. As often, the dog stood still while bowing and using a signal to calm someone. These signals often have multiple meanings and can be used in many different ways - often invitations to play are comforting signals on their own because the dog makes a potentially dangerous situation less tense and diverted with something safe.
When two dogs approach each other too suddenly, you will often see the bow playing. This is one of the easily visible signals, especially since they remain standing in the arc position for a few seconds.
Walk slowly
High speed can disrupt many dogs, and they may want to go in to try and stop the people who are running. This is partly a hunting behavior and is triggered by the sight of a human or dog running. If one goes straight to the dog, it involves a threat and a defense mechanism. An insecure dog tends to move slowly. If you want to make the dog feel more secure, then you can move more slowly.
Holds
"Freezing" is when the dog stops abruptly and stays silent, often looking out of the corner of his eye. This behavior is believed to have something to do with hunting behavior - when the prey is running, the dog attacks. Once the prey stops, the dog will also stop. We can often see this when the dog chases the cat. However, this behavior is used in several different situations. When you are angry and aggressive and seem threatening, the dog will often freeze and not move to help you calm down. Next time the dog can walk slowly, freeze, and then move slowly again. Very often a dog will stop and remain silent as one approaches. If the dog is in a conflict situation with a human or dog and can not escape, freezing may be one attempt to calm a dog or someone else.
Sit under
To sit, or a stronger signal, to sit with your back facing someone - for example the owner - has a very soothing effect. This is often seen when a dog wants to calm another approaching dog too quickly. The dog can sit with his back to the owner when he sounds too loud or angry.
Walk in curve
This signal is often used as a calming signal, and that is the main reason why dogs can react very hard to the dogs that meet when they are forced to get close. Their instinct told them it was wrong to approach someone like that. Forcing dogs to close their heads can cause them to feel anxious and defensive, and ultimately can produce aggressive behavior like barking and crashing another dog. Dogs, when given the opportunity, will walk around the bend around each other. This is what they do when they meet the rope and are free to do things their own way.
Yawn
The dog may yawn when someone bends over it, when you sound angry, when there are screams and quarrels in the family, when the dog is in the vet's office, when someone is walking directly to the dog, when the dog is happy with happiness and anticipation - door when you're going for a walk, when you ask the dog to do something that you do not want to do, when your training session is too long and the dog is tired, when you have said NO to do something you do not agree to, and in many other situations.
Other animals seem to use yawning as a signal as well. Humans can use it also to calm the dog a little stress.
"Smile"
Either by pulling the corners of the mouth up and back, or by showing the teeth as in a smile.
Wag the tail
Should the dog show signs of anxiety, calm down or anything that clearly has nothing to do with happiness, the wagging tail is not always an expression of happiness.
Urinate
Marking objects or locations with urine to claim space as their own, or just urinate on the spot.
Soft face
Makes a round and smooth face with ears close to the head to act like a puppy. ("No one will hurt a puppy" is what the dog believes.)
Fiddling
Some dogs act like puppies, jumping around and acting silly, throwing sticks, etc. If they find a frightening dog nearby. This is meant to have a calming effect.
Lying
May be seen when puppies play too rough. People can use this also by lying down if the dog is too excited.
Splitting
This is easily observed when some dogs interact with each other. When the tension rises slightly between the two dogs, a third dog may try to put his body between the two dogs. Dogs do this as they feel the tension rising among people as well. If the dog feels strained about something he sees from a distance, one can step between the dog and the disturbing view to "separate" and achieve the same result
When the dog stops giving a calming signal
According to Rugaas, the dog stopped using a calming signal in the following situations:
- If they have been penalized for using signals in the past
- If they have been attacked while using them in the past
- If stress level is too high
- Pull the rope when they signal to another dog
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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