Trainer Shares Clear Signs Dogs Give When They ‘Consent’ to Petting

Does your dog ever push you away when you are petting them? Just like people sometimes our dogs just want to be left alone. They have many ways of communicating when they approve of disapprove of being pet, and it's not always as obvious as them pushing us away.

Five by Five Canine shared a video at the beginning of May showing us what the clear signs are when your dog consents (or doesn't!) to being pet. Listen in as she explains the different ways the dog named Milo shows her that he's consenting to being pet, and when she knows that he's done with wanting more pets.

This makes a lot of sense! The signs aren't always clear if you don't know what to look for - it's amazing how dogs communicate with us. It was cool to listen to her explain how Milo's actions were his way of communicating what he wanted from her. Many of the comments Five by Five Canine received were people sharing their experiences that they have with their dogs. One comment stood out to me though because I was thinking the same thing, "Me and my dog are so much closer and more in tune with each other since I started following your page!" I have too! Understanding how dogs communicate has been a game changer!

Related: 5 Ways Humans Might Hurt a Dog's Feelings Are a Wake-Up Call For Pet Parents

Ways that Dogs Communicate

To understand what your dog is asking you for, you need to pay attention to their body language. Are they looking at you? Looking away? What are their ears doing - are they pointing at something? It's also important to watch for changes in body language in response to your actions. This all tells you if you're on the right track to finding out what your dog really wants. An example is in the video when Milo wanted to be near her but no longer wanted her to pet him - he didn't look back or nudge her hand.

You know how they say that kids will look at you with "puppy dog eyes" while begging for something they really want? Dogs use those puppy eyes too when they want something or to say they're sorry. They also use their voices to communicate as if they are trying to "talk" to you. Dogs have different barks for different things that go on...a playful one, a warning one, and an annoyed one to name a few. And of course they use their bodies; laying on their backs can show trust while laying at your feet on their bellies can show comfort or that they're being submissive.

A wagging tail can also tell you a lot. Sometimes it's fast wag showing excitement, sometimes they tuck it to show guilt or that they know they did something wrong, and sometimes it might be a slow wag if they're bored or not feeling well. These wags can all convey feelings, kind of how different smiles portray different feelings.

Once you start learning more about how dogs communicate it really brings you closer to your pup! I know that now that I've watched so many of Five by Five's videos I'm more in tune with what my dog wants or doesn't want from me. It's been eye opening!

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