Dogs often have body positions that are difficult to understand, but contain a lot of information about the animal. Did you know that certain positions and attitudes convey the feeling, feeling, or desire of an animal?
The ears of dogs and cats are very mobile due to their muscles and, in some situations, acquire different positions. These positions, as well as the rest of the body, are called body language and it is through it that we can perceive what the animal is experiencing.
- With this peritoAnimal article.
- We’ll explain what the movements of the dog’s ears mean and what feelings may be associated with them.
- If you want to know more about the meaning of dog positions and ears.
- Read this article.
A certain position of the ears, gaze, head, body and tail can help to understand the animals, as if they were talking and communicating with the guardians. Although they don’t speak our language, their body languages are so different and unique to a given situation that you can understand what’s going on.
Fear, aggression, desire to play, euphoria, sadness or pain are some examples that can be perceived simply by the position of the dog’s ears and the rest of the body. Although sounds (such as barking or grunting) are often associated, it is body language that indicates what is on the animals’ heads. For example, a dog that barks or growls may want to play or, conversely, try to take a position to warn you of the pre-attack. That’s when you wonder how to distinguish between one situation and another.
To answer your questions, be sure to read the following topics. We’ll make a list of feelings and their signs. The ears are an important basis for this interpretation, however we cannot ignore the other signs given by the dog. For this reason, we will explain the position of the whole body of each situation.
Of course, this feature is easier to see on a dog with a raised ear than on a dog with a long, drooping ear, however, the more you know your dog and after reading this article you will start to notice that even with a drooping ear. ear have different positions.
And how important is ear movement to listening dogs? The ears are important and essential to listen to our pets, with approximately 18 muscles responsible for their movements and a strong hearing capacity, they can hear the sound miles away and reposition the ears to better capture the sound.
A relaxed dog that does not feel threatened has
Attention! Even if the dog shows these signs and seems calm, a sudden movement or approach can suddenly change this condition. If you approach the animal, remember to face it and gradually.
An animal alerts, attentive to what is happening around it and interested in environmental stimuli. In this case, we have:
Neste ponto, não podemos deixar de referir que é importante saber a anatomia de cada cachorro, pois um cão de raça Shiba Inu, tem sempre as suas orelhas voltadas para a frente e não significa que esteja sempre em alerta. Por isso, é muito importante conciliar todos os outros fatores e posturas para entender o animal.
This is usually the easiest signal to notice, as a euphoric or happy animal is in a non-confrontational position.
Puppies, imitate the dogs around them, simulate fights, bite their ears, roll, etc. Adults, on the other hand, take a characteristic position that we all know:
A frightened or stressed animal may have a body position
Animals subject to other animals or persons:
Some submissive dogs have the so-called mimic smile, a kind of smile, similar to ours. This signal can be confused with an indication of aggression, but again, we reinforce the importance of analyzing this and all other signs of the animal. This signal is observed in dog-human interactions, but not between dogs.
An aggressive dog shows signs such as
We will see aggression as a pyramid, at the base of messages and subtle signals (such as looking to one side, salivation, looking) and the top is the attack. The transition from simple signs to the attack itself can slowly increase, in which the animal will add stronger warning signs (such as grunts) or, conversely, move directly to the top of the ladder and attack. An animal that performs this type of attack is a more unpredictable and dangerous animal than an animal that slowly intensifies attack warnings.
Puppies, like those of the German shepherd race, are born with bent and drooping ears and, as they grow, the ears rise and fall. When they reach puberty, their ears go up and up. However, some animals have cartilage ruptures and reach puberty without one or two ears standing. If one ear stretches and the other will not, you will have a dog with your right ear and your ear drooping. Depending on the cause of cartilage weakness, this problem can be solved. However, if it is not reversible, it is only an aesthetic problem that does not affect the life of the animal.
If you ask “why does my dog have a drooping ear?”, this may be one of the causes, if it is an adult dog:
To understand the cause and what treatment is most appropriate, you should consult the trusted veterinarian so that he or she can make a correct diagnosis.
If you want to read articles similar to Dog’s Ear: meaning each movement, we recommend that you visit our Basic Education section.