{"id":2986,"date":"2019-03-04T22:36:14","date_gmt":"2019-03-05T03:36:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/?p=2986"},"modified":"2019-03-04T22:36:43","modified_gmt":"2019-03-05T03:36:43","slug":"pets-body-language","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/pets-body-language\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Read Your Pet\u2019s Body Language"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"pets<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

You may think little Chomsky can bark out a few recognizable phrases, or that your cat talks to you, but most of us must rely on pet body language to understand them. Dogs, cats, and other companion animals don\u2019t have the luxury of communicating in our language, so it is crucial to understand theirs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pets also use body language to communicate with other animals. They signal feelings like affection, fear, aggression, and so on in order to bond<\/a>, avoid conflict, and establish territory. How can you read your pet\u2019s body language for better understanding? We\u2019re here to help decipher this important form of communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Basic Pet Body Language<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re probably familiar with ears perking up when the dinner bowl comes out<\/a>, or wags of the tail when you come in the door from a long day at work. Everyone loves to see a happy pup or kit, and these signals form a basic understanding between four- and two-legged friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But there are body language postures than can trip us up because they may not be associated with one single emotion or signal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Elusive Wag and Other Mixed Messages<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An exposed stomach means your pet is relaxed, right? How about yawning? These behaviors in your pet may indicate relaxation, but they are also signs of stress and fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some signals from pets that are often mistaken:<\/p>\n\n\n\n