how to talk to your Dog:  learning ways to communicate with your shih tzu

BY MOLLY | EVERYTHINGSHIHTZU.COM

Arf arf arf! Ruff ruff! Bark! Did you understand all that? Probably not, but your dog would if it could read.

Don’t worry, though. Since you can’t bark, it doesn’t mean it’s impossible to communicate with your dog.

In truth, your dog’s favorite form of communication is through nonverbal cues and rewards.  So, if you want to be able to talk to your dog, you should master these two systems.

And yes, your dog does love to bark and barking means something too, but we’ll look at that after the more essential forms of communication.

How to talk to your dog with non-verbal cues

Learning nonverbal cues doesn’t mean you can’t speak to your dog.  What it does mean is learning how to understand the nonverbal cues your dog uses with you.

For example, if your Shih Tzu wants to show he's relaxed around you or submissive, he will turn on his back and expose his belly. 

Or, if he is uneasy about something, you may notice him pacing or cowering.

A dog’s eye contact is an important component of nonverbal communication.

Humans appreciate eye contact with one another, but dogs will actually avert their eyes from you as a sign of respect.

This does not mean every time your dog looks at you that he's being disrespectful.  He may be trying to focus or be playful!

Pay attention to narrowed eyes or prolonged staring.

Narrowed eyes may suggest the dog is feeling aggressive.  Prolonged staring can be a sign of dominance or a challenge.

You’ve probably seen your dog give this look whenever he's guarding a toy from you while playing with it!

My dog gives me a stare down every time we play with his rope toy.

His challenges are no more than playing, but he loves to look me in the eyes and prop his paws on his toy to let me know who he thinks is boss!

Another nonverbal cue is your dog’s tail.

Reading your dog’s tail is a key factor in how to speak dog.

This is more complex than the common assumption that a dog is happy if he is wagging his tail.

For example, a tail that is wagging in its natural position -- a teacup handle position in Shih Tzu -- shows they are happy or content.  But, raised and stiff tail wags can be a sign of aggression.

Learning to understand the difference in these tail wags is important to understanding your dog.

How to talk dog with a system of reward

At some point or another, we have all admired somebody's smart dog.  This dog listens and behaves well because of good communication from his human.  This pet parent has unlocked how to speak dog and can communicate exactly what they expect from their furry friend.

Communicating well with your dog as a pet parent means using reward to reinforce good behavior.

Reward a dog’s good behavior with attention, affection, and treats.

In fact, when your dog rolls on his belly, as mentioned before, it is a reward in their mind to receive a belly rub. 

My dog has been spoiled with this kind of reward reinforcement.  We can hardly sit on the couch without him jumping onto it with us and rolling on his back!

When training your dog or trying to communicate something you want from him, walk it through what you expect and apply the reward after. 

A dog's memories are very effective at retaining rewards, so associating certain actions with a reward cultivates good behavior. 

The opposite of rewarding good behavior is punishing poor behavior.

Unfortunately, many people think that punishing a dog for misbehavior is effective.  Instead, this results in repeated mistakes and a stressful relationship for both dog and human.

Dogs’ memories do not process punishment well.

They can react in the moment and put on a look of guilt when they see you are mad about them tearing up the trash.  But, when you are not around they will go back to doing it again because they find it rewarding, whereas they will not recall anger or punishment.

In short, if an pet parent does not reinforce a dog’s system of reward, the dog is bound to -- as we would call it -- misbehave in looking for reward somehow else.

Understanding barks as part of how to talk dog

Dogs love barking. Sometimes, a bit too much!

Despite what we may sometimes feel, a dog does not bark for no reason.  A dog will bark in reaction to something or if he is trying to tell you something he feels is important.

You should learn the difference between types of barks so you can understand what your dog wants.  Keep the following examples in mind for unlocking the language of bark and mastering how to speak dog:

• A brief, high-pitched bark may be a sign of need. Dogs use a bark like this when they need you to let them outside to go potty or when they are thirsty and their water bowl is empty.
  
• Rapid, high-pitched barks are usually a sign of playfulness.  If you are not in the same room as your dog and you hear this bark, you may want to get up and go join the fun!
  
• Low, gruff and gravely barks are a sign of aggression.  This is what you hear when your dog perceives a threat, and you should investigate to see what is instigating your dog.  Sometimes, it’s nothing more than a squirrel.
  
• Quick, mid-pitched barks are usually what you hear when you come home from work or school.  This is the bark associated with excitement and joy.  If you hear this, it means your dog is happy to see you!
  
• A high pitched yelp is a sign of pain or fear.   When you hear a yelp, you should check on your dog because it may be hurt.
  

Speaking dog requires patience

Learning how to talk dog requires patience.

Associating commands with reward takes time, but your dog will learn.  Understanding all of your dog’s nonverbal cues is a learning curve for owners but will lead to a more rich relationship with your dog.

We don’t call dogs man’s best friend for no reason.

With a little time and effort, you’ll find yourself talking dog with your best friend in no time!