The head is one of the leading communication tools a dog will use to let other dogs know what it's thinking and feeling. The head consists of several body parts and each one is used in conjunction with the others to send the memo about its intentions: the position of the head, what the eyes are doing, the position of the ears, what the dog's mouth is doing. In a wonderful book by one on my favorite authors, How to Speak Dog, Stanley Coren gives it to us step-by-step. When we learn to put it all together, we can understand what our dogs are telling us.
The mouth of a dog gives plenty of information on how the dog may be feeling. It can tell you if the dog is angry or fearful, if something is interesting, or "Hey, I am totally relaxed." A relaxed dog will have relaxed facial muscles with the mouth slightly open. Just the simple act of closing that mouth or a slight change in the head position and the dog is telling us it is interested in something else and evaluating the situation.
If the lip curls or the lips pull back and the teeth and/or gums are exposed, that is a clear warning sign to all involved. People will tell me: "I did not see any signs. He just bit me." But there is usually a progression of signs that is missed by most people - but they won't be missed by another dog. You will have a slight lip curl, meaning "I am annoyed" or "Will you just leave me alone?" Then you will have the lip curl to show you more of the teeth and some wrinkling of the nose and muzzle area, with the mouth partly open. This means one thing: Back off or I will bite! When we get to the gums and teeth and the stare and growl, if you have not yet backed off, it's usually too late.
Even with all of the signs of the mouth, we need to understand the position of the head. Is it forward, is the dog looking away, is the head up with a direct stare? The head gives us just a few of the complexities of dog language, and they all have to be assessed quickly when you are working with a dog that has behavior issues.
On top of that, you take in the position of the body and what the dog's fur is doing. Is the dog leaning forward or back? What is the tail doing? What is the position of the ears, and what are those eyes telling me? You generally have a few seconds to get the message.
I'll deal with the dog's ears and eyes in another article, but here are a few other indicators to look for with the mouth.
Yawning. Yes, your dog may be tired and would love to take a nap. But a yawn in canine language says a few other things. A dog under stress will yawn; an anxious dog will yawn. It also is language to another dog: "I am not a threat." It is a calming signal to another dog. Humans can learn to give calming signals to dogs.
Licking. Dog licking is actually a very complex communication behavior, and each situation must be interpreted individually. A fearful or stressed dog may lick its own lips, for example.
A dog licking a person can be affection from your best friend. But licking can also communicate dominance, state of mind, and the intentions of the dog.
Remember the calming signal of the yawn; licking can also be that same type of signal, sending those same intentions. Puppies lick to say, "Hey, I am a good kiddo. I am friendly and happy." As they get older, it shows they are also no threat.
There is a shirt that says, "My dog kissed me on the mouth and I liked it." Who am I to argue?
Jean Regenwether has worked with animals in shelters and rescues since 1970, specializes in basic and intermediate dog training, and offers home-based training. She can be reached at greyhnd@iowatelecom.net.
