How Your Body Language Secretly Affects Dogs

Humans and dogs have different communication instincts. Direct eye contact, viewed as confident by humans, can be confrontational to dogs.

Eye Contact

Dogs understand more than just words - tone and body language matter. Enthusiasm vs anger can impact their comprehension of commands.

Vocal Language

Humans and dogs communicate differently. Facing a dog head-on can trigger nervousness. Turning your body slightly sideways and crouching can help.

Body Position

Avoid petting unfamiliar dogs on their head or face, as it can be stressful or threatening. Instead, pet them on their back or chest to show affection.

Petting

Dogs respond to body language speed; sudden, fast movements may startle them. Slow, calm movements with no direct eye contact work better.

Speed of Movement

Dogs react differently to human body language. Dogs may sense human rage and get anxious, yet they can cheer up unhappy people.

Mood

Dogs can feel anxious or guilty in the presence of tense body language. This is because such behavior can be intimidating to them.

Tense body language

Exciting behavior displayed by humans can be extremely stimulating to dogs, leading to excitement as well. Dogs may mirror their owner's emotions.

Exciting behavior

Dogs are sensitive to their owners' emotions and can detect sadness, but they may not understand the reason behind it, which can cause confusion.

Sadness

When a human is angry or upset, their body tends to become tense, which can be intimidating to dogs, causing anxious or guilty behavior.

Anxious Behavior

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