Reading Signals

How many time have you seen your dog going though the trash and thought, "I wish I knew what was going through your head right now!" Or "Why does my cat always whip my with her tail when I try to hold her?" Our pet are giving us signals everyday. Signals as to how they are feeling, what they want from us, or sometimes what the don't want from us. Learning these signals helps us to better understand our pets so that we can better care for our pets.

What is Your Cat trying to show you?

Tail Posture	What Does it Mean
Vertical Tail	Play, Indication of Presence ("I'm here!"), Confidence in there Identity
In Motion	(If Slow/Swayed) Greeting (If whipped back and forth) Anticipation, frustration (If rigid and flicking) Offensive aggression (If not as rigid but still flicking) Defensive aggression
Horizontal	Amicable approach, neutral approach to behavioral circumstances
Concave (Arched)	Defensive behavior
Lower	Withdrawal from interaction, Increased willingness to avoid interaction
Between the legs	Fear, Submission, social and physical withdrawal.

What is your Cat Saying?

Call	Description	What Does it Mean
Murmur	Rhythmical pulsed vocalization	Social interaction, solicitation, non-threatening
Growl	Low pitched, harsh	Argumentative, combative
Squeak	Loud, High pitched	Anticipation of feeding
Shriek	Loud high pitched	pain, fear, aggression
Hiss	mouth open, teeth visible	offensively defensive (avoids frank aggression)
Spit	Sound before or after hiss	offensively defensive
Chatter	--	Anticipatory, Frustration
Purr	--	contentment, mild conflicting anxiety
Mew	High pitched, medium amplitude	Mother's interaction with kittens, Identification, encouragement
Moan	Low frequency/long duration	solicitation
Shriek	--	greeting, willingness to interact

What is your dog saying?

Signal	What does it Mean
Barking	Alerting/warning, attention seeking, location function
Growling	Warning distance increasing
Crying/Whining/Whimpering	Care Seeking
Howling	To Elicit social contact, anxiety, reassurance
Moans	Pleasure, contentment
Tail and ears up	alert, ready to participate
Elevated Forefoot/Direct gaze	Anticipation, challenge, confidence, absence of threat
Averting gaze	Fear, cowardice, absence of challenge,
Belly Presented	-If chest or inguinal area covered pet may become aggressive if persued. -If limp/neck back pet is relaxed
Tail Tucked with Belly presented	fear/submission (may also be seen with urination)
Grin	Compliance, submission
Rigid Stance, stiff torso	Confidence and intent to interact (may not be aggressive)
Tail above horizon	Confidence High Status
Tail below Horizon	Less Confidence, lower status, compliance, submission, fear
Tail Wag	Willingness to interact
Tail tip Wag, Stiff	Confidence, assertiveness, offensively interactive
Ears erect	Alert, Confidence
Ears back	Fear
Ears vertically dropped	Submission, low ranking, anxiety
Snarl/Growl with only incisors and Canines showing	Confidece, offensive aggresion
Snarl/Growl with all teeth and back of throat showing	Defensive aggression, fearful
Lowered Body	Defensive, fearful, deferential, relaxed
Licking Lips/ flicking tongue	Appeasement, solicitation of reassurance
Raising forepaw	Solicitation of attention
Paws out, front end down, rump up and tail wagging	Invitation to play
Mounting or pressing on back and shoulder of another dog	Challenge, marking, claiming
Licking at corners of another dog's or person's mouth	Anticipation, solicitation
Blowing out cheeks/lips	Anticipation, anxiety (if very fast)
Popping or snapping of upper and lower jaw	intention to comply as last resort.

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