Canine Communication can be confusing! In fact, the biggest part of my job as a trainer is mostly translation between the species. See if you’ve ever muttered one of these common misguided beliefs:

Myth #1 “A dog with a wagging tail is friendly.”

Not always. So please don’t rely on this as an indication that a dog will be happy to meet you. Tail movements are one of the important ways dogs communicate with each other (which is a great reason not to dock tails… pups without tails are more likely to get into dog fights due to miscommunication.) Tail movement nuances can be difficult for us humans to pick up on: Is the tail wagging vigorously? Wagging slowly? Wagging high or low? Wagging to the left or right? Wagging towards you or leaning away? Slight variations of the wag can mean different things.

Myth #2 “My dog loves it when I hug him!”

Primates (like humans, chimps, and gorillas) are very pro-hug, but hugging does not naturally occur between canines as an expression of affection. Over time, our own dogs come to realize that when we hug them, we are trying to be affectionate… so they usually adjust to our “strange human behavior,” knowing it’s well-intentioned. Dogs may tolerate our hugs, but when someone they don’t know well tries it (like, say, a visiting grandchild)… or when a human sibling transforms into a super-enthusiastic octopus… it can become overwhelmingly uncomfortable and irritating. If you see your dog squirming to escape, step up and help her out (before she feels an urge to protect herself another way.)