On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals

By Turid Rugaas

Description from Author’s website:  Norwegian dog trainer and behaviorist Turid Rugaas is a noted expert in canine body language, notably “calming signals,” which are signals dogs use to avoid conflict, invite play, and communicate a wide range of information to other dogs and people.

• Learn to identify situations that are stressful to your dog so that you can resolve or avoid them.
• Rehabilitate a dog that has lost her ability to read or give calming signals.
• Become a keen observer of canine behavior at home, in the community, and among dogs to get better behavior and build a solid relationship.
• This new edition has outstanding photographs with captions interpreting what you observe

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Which dogs have these signals? Wolves have them. Dogs have inherited them. All of the various breeds all over the world have them, no matter what size, color, or shape they are. They all have them. It is a truly universal language and a wonderful one because it means we can communicate with dogs wherever we meet them. 

Just imagine being able to travel the world, and everywhere you go, you can speak your native tongue, and everybody else understands because they all speak the same language. How marvelous would that be? I have been to the USA, Japan, England and many other countries and I have seen it with my own eyes. Dogs speak the same language all over the world.

Dogs and wolves have strong instincts for conflict solving, communications and cooperation. Their repertoire also includes threatening signals, and when we are dealing with dogs, we have a choice of how to behave: we can be calming, friendly or reassuring, or we can be threatening. Whatever we choose will have consequences for our relationship with the dog.

TURID RUGAAS