ball when a dog touches it bounces around

Because they are often closer to eye-level with the dog, they'll look him in the eye, which could be perceived as a threat. She also warns that this could be an especially dangerous situation with kids. 'When you notice these sort of reduced-size postures, your dog might be trying to get away from a situation,' says Dr. He's curled up and his ears are flat or his tail is tucked in.

the dog is forced to escalate and provide behaviors that people do understand,' says Dr. If these cues go unnoticed, and the perceived threat remains, the situation can deteriorate, and '. Other often overlooked stress signs might include a raised paw, a furrowed brow, and a refusal to look at the source of his frustration (perhaps another dog, some kids, or possibly even you). Play icon The triangle icon that indicates to play 'Aggressive behaviors like barking, growling, baring of teeth, snapping, and biting are obvious, but they're the end product of stress gone undetected.' John Ciribassi, a veterinarian at Chicagoland Veterinary Behavior Consultants and co-editor of the book Decoding Your Dog. 'Most people only realize there's an issue when more overt behaviors are displayed,' says Dr.

These seemingly innocent behaviors are actually early indicators that your dog is uncomfortable or stressed in his current situation. He licks his lips or yawns - but he's not hungry or tired. 'Animals, on the other hand, are the opposite.' Bridge the communication gap with your dog by keeping a keen eye out for these telling behaviors. Bonnie Beaver, a veterinary professor at Texas A&M University, and executive director of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. 'People are verbal, and not really great observers,' says Dr. Thankfully, though, some very smart pup pros and veterinarians have dedicated their lives to helping us decode what every sniff, paw, tail wag, and head-turn really means. It can be tough to know what your dog wants sometimes - they don't speak English and we, of course, don't speak bark.

Ball when a dog touches it bounces around