Decoding Animal Language: Understanding Your Pet’s Behavior

Ever experienced that moment when your pet seemed to be extremely uneasy and you can’t understand why? You’d wish some inventor could develop that certain device attached to the dog in the movie so pets can just speak to you in English. 

What if I tell you all that needs is observation and practice so you could decode and understand your furry buddy’s behavior? In this article, we’ll dig in to what could possibly be the message behind common peculiar actions of your house dog and cat.

Animal Language : Dog Speak

• Sniffs over an area before urinating – Some dogs can be very territorial, to the extent that they wouldn’t allow anyone else to use their excreting spot. As a converse, other dogs will respect such established territory upon sensing that it is already owned. This tracking ability relies on a dog’s sense of smell, thus your pet’s habit of sniffing all around his desired spot before doing his business.
• Licks your face – With their friendly and loyal attribute, dogs will seek varied means to grab your attention. Apparently, that includes spreading their saliva all over your face. It’s also a form of establishing dominance and telling other dogs “back off, this human is mine!” Licking its owner’s face can be a dog’s adorable way of declaring its chartered territory.
• Walks in circles before lying down – This could be traced back to ancient wild dogs’ habit of flattening grass through walking on it. For dogs, this is an instinctive habit that makes them assured about the comfort and safety their resting area.

Animal Language : Cat Speak

• Swishes its tail – Did you know that observing how your cat positions its tail can help you guess what it feels? If its tail is held straight and upright, it manifests happiness. When it is tucked in between the cat’s legs, it can be linked to fear. Swishing its tail in a slow manner shows annoyance, while a fast tail movement can be an attempt to look intimidating.
• Rolls over and lies on its back – While you may treat this as a mere act of cuteness from your cat, it’s actually your pet’s way of showing its trust towards you. Considering the wild, exposing an animal’s belly is a sign of vulnerability. A cat rolling over and lying on its back then sends the notion that it is comfortable around you. Apart from being a manifestation of submissiveness, it could also be your cat’s way of gaining attention. Perhaps it’s telling you that it wants a nice belly rub?
• Meows excessively – Depending on its pitch and frequency, your cat’s habitual meow-ing can reveal its current emotions. When it is low and hollow, it can be attributed to discontentment and sadness. In contrary, high-pitched meows implies delightedness. Moreover, repeated meows can be your cat’s way of saying “notice me, human!” As a matter of fact, studies showed that most of cats’ meowing habits are targeted towards their human owners rather than towards their fellow felines.