I am absolutely fascinated by dog behaviour. Obviously the  serious stuff we generally read about and need help and advice on. Still learning about those kind of behaviours, but I am also curious about those little messages dogs pass on to each other by a look or some other movement!! I would like to know more and wondered if there were any good books on the subject??

A couple of things I am trying to figure out at the moment.

After a "mouth boxing" Wrestling" play session is over, my girls always have a shake, almost simultaneously. Is this to signify the end of the session or that they are ok or still friends??

When one of the dogs hears something in the garden and races out, the others follow and do that breathing in and out, slow panting sort of thing! (sorry, hard to explain) Is this to alert each other to the "danger" or to say that they are joining in?

Thats just a couple to start with. Maybe others will come up as sure others must be as interested as I am.

I always wonder about sighing as certain dogs sigh more and often asked to do something like 'on your bed ' when they are being pests and it is almost a huffy sigh for having to do something that they don't want to do but can't imagine it is !!

Yes, I know what you mean. I wonder if we can compare it to our sighs?? Seems to be for the same reason. Doing something we/they dont want to do.

Sighing in dogs can be a sign of stress or pain too. As for the shaking, mine do that to... :-) Don't know why?

Interesting, I love to figure things out too. My boy has a shake when hes finished things and I always think its a 'right I'm finished, lets have a shake out and tidy up my coat before I move onto something else!' shake but I suppose that couldnt apply to short haired coat dogs unless they all do it to get their ears and tail and bits in place and generally its just a good ol' okey cokey shake it all about shake! As for the sigh he too does it when hes huffing about something such as being told to settle down, or if hes been busy and its all just too much and hot and he plonks himself down with a huge sigh...I can really feel that sigh for him at times whether I should or shouldnt, I do!

>unless they all do it to get their ears and tail and bits in place

lol, probably but maybe there's a bit more to it? My dogs are long haired so I can understand that, but I just feel there is a message in there somewhere!!

Shaking can also be a stress reliever, but there's good stress ,as in the anticipation before a walk, and negative, as in after a "set too " with a pal, or even if they are just anxious about something they'll have a shake, try it yourself, it does work lol.
Sighing can also be a calming signal, as is glancing away, the puffing I always think of as an irate person doing a " right, THATS IT !, I'm going to tell those neighbours exactly what I think of them ! ".

id be interested in a book about this too,id love to understand more.i believe yawning can be a sign of stress,or the tongue flicking in and out?

Have a look for Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas, or Dog Language by Roger Abrantes for a more in depth read.

>.i believe yawning can be a sign of stress,or the tongue flicking in and out?

Yes, I see that a lot. I look after doggies at home when people go on holiday etc and some do feel stressed for the first hour or so. They flick the tongue in and out like you say. We have lots of cuddles and cosy chats so that they can feel more relaxed.

One of my dogs shakes his coat or scratches behind his right ear if he is nervous. I know what you mean about the shake off after a play too, my girls both do that when they are done. (and the sigh when told to go to bed!)

>Have a look for Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas, or Dog Language by Roger Abrantes for a more in depth read.

Ooooh will do. Just what I want. Thank-you.

I was watching my bc on the beach the other day and she was so excited, she ran out of the sea and up to a family that we did not know and shook right in the middle of their blanket before I could reach her!!  She then barked once at them as if to say, thank you and good night and came charging back to me so pleased with herself.  Luckily they laughed when I was apologising profusely but considering the beach was nearly empty, why did she have to shake of all places all over them??!!  And yes, my dogs all shake simultaneously after play time together.

My gsd flicks his tongue in and out when he or you give him a scratch. It looks so sweet no idea if it means anything.
Wathcinhg whispa with pup this morning playing. They were both in simialr positions on the floor looking at each other mouths wide open teeth showing making sort of talking noises. Wondered if being the younger sgh was mimicing him as a learning thing. They are both very vocal when they play

I will have to watch for the shake after play havnt noticed it yet Oh yes lots of huffing but only gsd not noticed it from the pup of pomx

This book - Canine Body Language: A Photographic Guide by Brenda Aloff is reckoned to be the bee's knees, but it's not the cheapest book in the world so it's still on my wish list!

currently on amazon at 19.90 including p +p

I was a bit disappointed with the Brenda Aloff book, it uses a lot of  poor quality photo's and I found it quite hard to see what she was describing because of it . There is another book similar to that, but I'm damned if I can find the title of it, I always meant to get it but it's expensive.
Just found my notes with the book title, it's called Canine Behaviour by Barbara Handelman, I haven't looked at it but it was recommended by Nina Boderenko, it's not as dear as I thought either £25 on Amazon.

Generally speaking, shaking is a de-stressor - literally shaking off the stress - and tongue-flicking is a calming signal (a way for the dog to calm itself down and those around it also).

But as with everything language-y it is very context specific!

> I was a bit disappointed with the Brenda Aloff book, it uses a lot of  poor quality photo's and I found it quite hard to see what she was describing because of it .

I've heard the 2004 edition is better than the 1998 - could that be why? The photos didn't look too bad on the amazon 'Look Inside' thingy. I have a birthday looming so I may Drop Hints.... lol

I wonder if the expensive book you mention is the Roger Abrantes one?

There is also Sarah Kalnajs - The Language of Dogs
and I believe this is also released as a DVD seminar, more information:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LNth0SrYHg

It possibly is MsTemeraire, my books pretty old, I've just had a glance through it again, and I also think some of the dogs used weren't a great choice because of their colouring, I'd guess the photo's weren't done professionally ( understandable given the subject ). The other book is this one [urhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/Canine-Behavior-Photo-Illustrated-Handbook/dp/0976511827l=][/url] .

thanks for the book ideas,will have a look for them.

heheh!I think they just love to embarrass us!

> Generally speaking, shaking is a de-stressor - literally shaking off the stress

this is interesting- when training my FCR, if for instance i give a "STAY" command, she almost always (from a sit) stands up and shakes (full body shake as described above) any suggestions ?

> The other book is this one Canine Behavior Photo Illustrated Handbook.

Thanks Celli - that does look a lot better (if more expensive!). By the way the Sarah Kalnajs one is 2 x DVDs, not a book. My ebay watch list is growing! (I don't do Amazon as they don't do PayPal without a card).

Lol, mine too !, I wish I'd never looked at this thread !

Just rummaging around looking at all your links.  Have a look at this one - talk about expensive!!

Jings, crivins, and help ma bob !!! best put that one on the "wish list " lol.

Oooh this is so exciting. Thank-you everyone with book names, ideas etc. Pleased the thread has been of interest. Will wait to see which book most think is the best and then wait till Christmas lol

£500,000????????????? lol

I believe dogs shake to prevent a situation from escalating into a confrontation so the dog who shakes on the stay might be feeling stressed, also to signal the end of a play session and simply to shake the stress out,same as we do when stressed. Most of the timewe are unaware of doing it though. Although we are supposed to do as part of a warm up routine before strenous exercise,whatever that is!!! And it just feels good at times!

This is interesting..Now I have a book on this very subject but...have lent it to a friend and cant remember what its called ..someone bought it for me when I was in hospital a while ago and I found it fascinating as it had a lot of pictures with each movement to help explain the meaning .

Oooh as soon as you remember, please post. It may be one of the others mentioned?

Got a copy I bought new about 16-17 yrs ago....cover price is £12.99 :-O

how to speak dog by Stanley Coren

Oh right, thank-you. Think I have heard of that one. Will check it out.

I've got that don't rate it,turid rugaas is much better.

A book worth considering is "The Other End of the Leash" by Patricia McConnell. The blurb on the back cover says, "....humans and dogs are two entirely different species, each shaped by its individual evolutionary heritage.... Since we each speak a different native tongue, lots gets lost in the translation. This guide...demonstrates how even the slightest change in our voices and in the ways we stand can help dogs undrefstand what we want." Also, "....McConnell reveals...a new perspective on our relationship with dogs - sharing insights on how 'man's best friend' might interpret our behaviour, as well as essential advice on how to interact with our four-legged friends in ways that bring out the best in them."  It also explains why dogs shake themselves, pant, lick their lips, stick their tongue out, etc.

Sounds perfect. Thank-you.

I find that shaking is often to shake off stress and arousal. My boy is aggressive when greeting, but once he's shaken, I can take him off lead and walk away knowing he'll be easy as pie.

That panting is another arousal, in my opinion; mine also do that, it's very exciting for them when there's something to alert me to, lol!