This is Part Two of last week’s discussion about what visual signals can and can’t tell us about the internal state and future behavior or our dogs. I should mention right away that I had planned to add my own comments about what we could discern from the video of Misty and the photo of Gypsy at the end of last week. Ah, then, life happened. Actually, in a good way, because I was under the weather only because of my reaction to my second Covid vaccination. My gratitude for being fully vaccinated knows no bounds, but I hesitated to say anything because hearing about other’s vaccinations when one is waiting for one’s own can be challenging. But a loyal reader said she was worried about me–so kind of her–so I thought I’d fess up. I’m great now, and will be hugging some dear friends in a little more than a week. Here’s to a world where we all can do that soon.
That said, let’s get into the topic at hand–what Misty’s expression can tell us about how she was feeling internally and if that might predict her future behavior. For those of you who missed it, here it is again:
There were lots of great comments about Misty’s expressions, including the clear examples of “Whale Eye.” Coined by Sue Sternberg, whale eye occurs when a dog’s head turns one way, but the eyes don’t, thus exposing a lot of white in the side of the eye. I’ve called it the “Horror Movie Face,” in which one tries to turn away from something too scary to watch, but can’t take their eyes off of it, because, well, it’s scary and therefore dangerous. I wrote a post about it awhile back, so you can learn more about it here.
The other clear signs of distress are Misty’s “tongue flicks” or “lip licks“. This behavior is associated with distress or anxiety–so much so that one study found a fifth of dogs lip licked when presented with a photograph of an angry person. (Just a photograph! Wow.) Lip licks are believed to be a behavior derived from the appeasement behavior of puppies, but can be seen easily when dogs are mildly stressed–for example at the vet clinic, or asked to lie down when they are nervous about the environment. I’ve found it a great way to get a read on how relaxed a dog is, or isn’t, in any environment. But of course, it’s good to know a dog’s baseline. Some dogs lip lick when mildly stressed, others only when truly terrified, and others as a puppy-like appeasement behavior when you ask if they’d like their dinner.
But there was lots more going on in the video, wasn’t there? Misty’s eyes told us a lot, and not just because of whale eye. Did you notice that she blinked several times at the beginning of the video? Blinking is believed to be an appeasement signal, as in “I come in peace.” I suspect Misty was trying to communicate something similar when first approached by the Great Dane. But once the Dane circled around Misty, she was too busy trying to keep her eye on the Dane while moving her head away.
What about her mouth? First off, we all noticed right away how tightly closed her mouth was, always a good sign of the comfort level of a dog. Any dog who closes their mouth up tight is either very intent on something (“Was that a squirrel? I think I saw a squirrel!”), or very concerned about something (“I definitely saw a dog the size of a sheep and she is right in front of my face.”). Misty is clearly in the uncomfortable category here. I should add that I’ve found an open or closed mouth to be an incredibly helpful sign of a dog’s comfort level–it’s easy to see and relatively easy to interpret.
I also found Misty’s “tooth display” especially interesting. I want to categorize it as either “offensive” (commissure, or mouth corners, pulled forward) or “defensive” (commissure pulled back toward ears), but her commissure doesn’t seem to move when she lifts the front of her lips to expose her teeth. I suspect, guessing of course, that there was little intensity in her tooth display, or perhapsn that she was torn between offense and defense. Either way, I’d say the most I can glean from it is that her commissure never moved forward, so no sign of her being on offense there. You can read more about tooth displays here if you’re interested.
And, of course, Misty’s ears are pulled back in a classic sign of discomfort or appeasement. They are, however, not flattened, as they can be when a dog is truly deeply frightened. Barbara Handelman’s book Canine Behavior: A Photo Illustrated Handbook, has great examples of ear positions, some of the best I’ve seen.
One last thing: Did you notice Misty’s whiskers when she did showed her teeth? I was interested to see if they flared forward, as they tend to do if an animal is “on offense”. Nope, as best as I can see they stay well back, a good sign that Misty was on defense, not offense.
What can we conclude? I’ll start with the obvious: Misty was frightened. But as importantly, she was 100%, or close to it, on defense. Even her tooth display, which many would call “aggressive,” had no offensive component to it that I could see. If she had been allowed freedom, I’d guess that she’d have done all she could to get away. However, and this is a big one, remember that this is the dog who attacked sheep when they faced her down but squeezing her eyes shut and leaping at their face. A reminder to us all that we can only predict so much from one situation to another. (Wish I had a video of Misty facing off sheep!)
What have I missed here? Don’t hesitate to jump in!
And now, it’s Gypsy’s turn! Here’s the photograph of her from last week (the dog in the middle):
When photographer Steve Dahlgren asked me what I thought was going on with the dog in the middle, I said I had only one real answer: “Intensity.” I couldn’t begin to predict what would happen next, except I agreed with a lot of your comments that I’d call the dogs away! (Always always best to move away yourself too!) But those eyes! Many comments mentioned that blue eyes appear more intense than brown ones, and I agree with that. But that direct stare toward the other dog made me nervous.
But did you notice the ear set? The closed mouth? The partially retracted commissure? Gypsy, like Misty, was also very much on defense, at least everything about her signaled that except her direct and intense stare. I’d say this is a great example of a dog in an ambivalent state, nervous but with the potential of some kind of more assertive behavior.
Gypsy’s owner Ben, who kindly gave me permission to use these photographs, told me that they obtained Gypsy from a rescue when she was an adolescent, and that she is “cautious” around other dogs at first. If a dog postures her with a playbow, she happily plays along. But if a dog trots up straight into her, she “gives the response in the photo.”
Here is another photo taken soon after the one above, in which Gypsy continues her defensive posturing, this time 100%, with flattened ears, retracted lips and body tilted away from the other dog. I’m happy to say that, reportedly, everything ended up well after these photos.
Well, that was fun! As I mentioned earlier, Barbara Handelman’s book is a fantastic resource for learning about subtle signals of internal states and predicted behavior. Even better, oh boy, there’s a fantastic book coming out sometime this year from Kynos publishers in Germany with 1,300 photographs of canine postures and expressions. I reviewed it and can not wait for it to be released here. They are working on the translation now. (German readers: Seen it yet? Comments?)
Your turn again! Anything I talked about you didn’t notice? Any disagreements with my interpretation? Did you see something I missed? Can’t wait to hear.
MEANWHILE, back on the farm: I got to visit the Ladies of Leisure this weekend, now well integrated into their new flock. You can see how relaxed they are–Dexter the Llama and Lady Godiva, lying down on the right, are chewing their cud, which animals only do when they are at ease.
Dexter the llama is, by all accounts, smitten by the sheep. He lost his partner llama recently, and attached himself to the Ladies in no time at all. I am not sure there is a more photogenic animal than a llama. I could have taken photos of him all day.
And I was fascinated by his feet. Which really are feet, because llamas stand on two toes with long nails, not hooves.
I had a fun excursion into llama land on Wikipedia after meeting Dexter. You may know that llamas, as well as donkeys, are often used to protect sheep from coyotes. The Ladies now live with three donkeys and a llama who adores them, so I think they’re good.
The girls still on the farm got sheared this weekend. You can see the difference in the photo below, taken during the process. I was busy when the shearer was here, and neglected to annoint the girls with perfume to avoid any aggression once they are let out, shorn and no longer smelling like themselves. I figured that, in the time-honored tradition of busy people, it’ll “be fine” this time. Yeah, no. I went to check on them once they were let out of the barn, only to find Snow White busy trying to kill Spot. I’m barely exaggerating. She backed up a good 20+ feet, and rammed into her with as much force as she could manage. Our very own National Geographic special in our backyard. It was so dramatic that another ewe was trotting around bleating like a lost lamb, occasionally attempting to help her friend Spot, but being beaten off by Snow White aka the Evil Witch. I ran into the house and grabbed some room deoderizer in a rush. Maggie rounded the girls back into the barn for me, I carefully sprayed their heads so that they all smelled the same, and all aggression stopped instantly. Sort of a miracle really. If only we could use that on people…
Now that the sheep are shorn, it’s supposed to snow 3-5 inches today, ending with freezing rain. Of course it is! I say that literally, because, hey, it’s March in Wisconsin. No worries, I’ll put the girls in the barn and they’ll be just fine.
This volunteer mini Iris (Iris reticulata perhaps? suggests friend Donna), came up in a place I’d never planted any. There is a small patch on the other side of the house . . . how did this sweet, tiny thing make it over here? Buried and forgotten by a small mammal? That’s my only guess.
And finally, with apologies to the dogs this week, here’s a photo of Polly lounging in the sun. That’s not gonna happen for awhile anymore, but the snow/ice will melt soon, and the hardy bulbs like Snowdrops and Iris will be fine if it’s snow, not too happy if it’s ice. But, again, it’s March, so we get what we get.
Here’s hoping that what you get this week is all good.
Nancy says
Have I told you lately that I love your posts? No matter what you write about I learn a lot. Love the information about llamas and poor Spot being battered by Snow White. Yeah, it would be great if a spray of room deodorizer could neutralize aggression. Someone should work on that….
Wanda Jacobsen says
Had no idea one would need room deodorizer after shearing. How in the world do the people with a LARGE flock manage the ‘after a shear aggression’?? A spray of room deodorizer would consume many cans of spray! Learn something from every post, Patricia.
Patty Boyles Somade says
When your dog is starting to display those lip licking signs..for whatever reason…what should be your immediate reaction be? I know (I think) not to comfort her and thereby Unintentionally reinforcing the behavior but I need a in the moment plan if that is appropriate
s says
I so enjoy your blog, and this time was fascinated by the air freshener aggression link. Who would have guessed! My shoulders are sore from digging out after Denver’s blizzard this weekend, but enough melted yesterday that the crocuses nestled in the tiny corner between the flagstone walkway and the brick of the house re-appeared, barely the worse for wear.
Laura says
Thanks for this thoughtful post. I’m curious whether you think “whale eye” can be associated with emotions other than fear. My dog Opie is an adolescent rescue who fears men, and I have certainly seen her do a classic “whale eye” when frightened. But she also pulls a similar expression in situations when she’s not afraid. In fact, she often keeps her line of sight on me and turns her head away, but with her eyes and mouth relaxed. I’ve noticed that she does it when she desperately wants something and isn’t sure if she’s going to get it. I see it most often when I’m putting on my coat and shoes and she’s praying for a sign that she’s coming outside with me. Maybe she just can’t look straight on at something that overwhelms her, whether positively or negatively? I would love to show you a picture and see what you think.
Laurie says
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Misty’s and Gypsy’s expressions, especially picking out the “defensive” clues. What is the name of the book in German you referenced? I love seeing your new blog posts pop up in my email, I know it’s going to be interesting, informative and have beautiful photos!
Trisha says
Awww, thanks Nancy!
Trisha says
Good question Wanda. The answer, I’m pretty sure, is that they wouldn’t. There is no way they would have time, and there probably would be less need. Who’s who in a tiny flock of nine is a far cry from who’s who in a flock of 100, 200, 500.
Trisha says
Good question Patty, about what to do if you see your dog lip licking. The answer, sigh, is “It depends.” You might not need to do a thing beyond noting that it happened and telling yourself to pay attention to it in the future. Is there a pattern? Is there something you thought your dog loved that might not be true (hugging comes to mind). However, if I saw someone looming over my dog, with a clear intention of putting their face right to my dog’s and I saw my dog lip licking, I would call them away instantly to get them out of the situation. Make sense?
Trisha says
I indeed heard that Denver got slammed, s! We only got 3 inches here, and it’ll melt fast. Not even having the driveway plowed. Gotta love those crocuses!
Trisha says
Ah, Laura, wonderful point. I wonder if you’re talking about what I call “side eye”? I actually posted a photo of Skip doing it last week, and I know just what you mean. Are you on Facebook? If so, you can show me a photo of your dog doing it on the post that will come out in a few hours today (Tuesday the 16th). Maybe we should have devoted to side eyes!
Liz Walton says
What is the title and who is the author of the German Kynos book you mentioned?
I’d love to have a look 😉
Anne Johnson says
I am concerned with the licking of lips as well. My Tank does it repeatedly and in various situations. Even after he has taken my hand and flipped it with his snout with the intent that I pet him. I do wonder with him if he is tasting his environment? I am attempting to video his actions to share with Dr. London. He is a stressful guy for sure!
Shivani says
I adopted my first dog right before Thanksgiving (Auggie). He turned 1 year in December. He was passed around 3 times and then landed in the shelter, all within his first 11 months. From what the shelter knows, he spent his first year confined, either in crates or in a small room like a bathroom. I didn’t quite know what I was getting into, and I immediately began a crash course in dog training by reading every book I could find by you, Jean Donaldson, Karen Pryor, and so on. And we signed up for basic obedience class. He (and I) have come a long way, and we have so much more to work on.
Auggie does what Laura described. I had read about whale eye, so at first I thought he was in an almost constant state of intense fear. But he seems to do it even when he’s relaxed or having fun.
I’m so grateful for your books and the knowledge you have made so easily available. I don’t know what I would have done without all of that information. Auggie is AMAZING and I’m madly in love.
Judy Rivard says
Is there a difference between whale eye and side eye? My Rotties show the whites of their eyes. An example – my extremely social Rottie girl, Greta, when laying down with her head on the floor, will cut her eyes to me while not moving her head.
Trisha says
Liz, the book is: Emotionen, Hunden sehen lernen, Katja Krauß und Gabi Mauebei
Gayla says
I didn’t know that about sheep right after shearing!
I didn’t know that’s what a llama’s feet look like!!
And, even after all these years, I didn’t know to watch for whisker direction!!! Sigh…
HFR says
Dog body language is my favorite thing, so thank you so much for this! Like everyone said, every one of your posts is a wonderful learning experience all its own.
I think so many times with dogs it’s context also. Ears back with closed mouth is one thing. Ears back with a wiggle butt and army crawling is another. A whale eye with ears back and stiff body is different than a side eye with a relaxed body.
My weird dog cannot stand being sniffed by another dog. Whereas most dogs will bend around to sniff the dog who’s sniffing them. He completely freezes and after a few seconds will whip around and “nail” the other dog. Furiously nipping them down to the ground and usually making them cry out in fear. Altho he has yet to hurt another dog, it’s only a matter of time. Of course, I don’t put him in that position anymore. He used to go to daycare and dog parks. No more. If the dogs ignore him, he’s fine, but that usually doesn’t happen with dogs. Freezing to me is the scariest of all dog body language. It rarely ends well.
I love llamas altho I have to say alpacas are more my size. I went to an alpaca farm once. Oh my, nothing cuter than a baby alpaca. And their hair is so soft. They are my favorite socks. 🙂
Trisha says
HFR: So lucky your dog has you! And alpacas? Oh yes, only one thing better: Guanacos.
Tamar Toister says
We have a greyhound we adopted from Hemopet. He had lived the first four years of his life in a crate and was poorly socialized. When I pet him, he does a thing where he kind of licks his lips but with his mouth shut. I’ve concluded it’s submissive conduct and that he actually likes being petted….
Uschi Veith says
I have never left a comment before, even though I have been reading this blog for years. First, thank you, Trisha, for writing it. It is always a pleasure reading it and I really appreciate the trouble you take with us readers. But now that your mentioned that fantastic German book, I’d like to get the authors and the title right.
„Emotionen bei Hunden sehen lernen“ von Katja Krauß und Gabi Maue.
The title can be translated to something like: “Learning to see emotions in dogs”. I live in Germany and one of the authors, Gabi Maue, is my neighbor. Her book is featuring a photo of our Irish Wolfhound Ollie, so she allowed us to have a peek at the book in November. It is really compulsive and lovingly made over a period of ten years.
HFR says
Oh my! Never heard of them before. Their eyes!!! And baby ones are called chulengos. Can’t get cuter than that.
Diane says
I’m glad all turned out well with Gypsy, et all. The second picture you posted also would be worth a review! What happened to the Golden? Called away, or just let the situation go.
Interesting about the goat behavior. Being a city/suburban person I had no idea what you were talking about with perfuming. I had to read it again. Pretty cool
Trisha says
Thank you so much Uschi! I was hoping to hear from some readers in Germany, I love that you clarified the title.
Michaela says
thank you so much for your very interesting and informative blogs. i have a three year old german/kroation sheppard-dogo mix (sammy) and i love him dearly. he is a rescue and i adoptet him when he was 10 month old. already than he showed discomfort when he gets approached by strangers, he grwols or barks at the people. i grew up with dogs and there was not a day in my life without a dog by my side but so far i was never confrontet with this kind of behavior before. he is the reason i found your website, we are on a journey of learning since we are companions. to make it short – thank you so much for sharing your profound knowledge with us and for your great books!!
warmest greetings from switzerland
Trisha says
Michaela: It makes my heart sing to hear from Switzerland!
Cat Boarding says
Hello! Thank you for such informative and really useful content, I have emphasized a lot for myself. It would be ideal to have a translator from dogs, then we would have fewer problems with our four-legged friends. It seems to me that we already subconsciously know the emotions of a dog by the expression of its muzzle, But of course, it is not always possible to correctly decipher the visual signals of dogs, given that some signals can mean different things. It would also be interesting to read about the same visual signals but from cats.
KB says
I am very late to this party but I wanted to thank you for this post and the previous one. I appreciated being able to watch stress signals in action and read the interpretation of them. Thank you!