Dog Sign Language...

[Anubis's Parent]

Does anyone else have a Rotti that makes a certain gesture to tell you what it wants?

Example:

I find it amazing that whenever Anubis needs to go to the bathroom outside he'll walk up to one of us and lie his head on our lap and then gesture towards the door and place his head back on our lap again. We usually say "You have to go to the bathroom. Don't You?" and as soon as we say that he sits at the door and waits to go out because his message was clearly understood by us.

I was just wondering if anyone else gets these clearly understood messages from their dogs.

Thanks.

James

[ptremaine]

Yes, our dog has a variety of behaviors which are her methods of communication:

Head shake with flopping ears - means she's up now and is ready to go outside. We ask, 'want to go outside?' and she runs right to the door.

Nose Poke in Arm & Intense Stare w/tail wagging - means she sees something outside in the yard and wants out there OR it means that I'm overdue for my walk, it's 10 a.m. and you'd better get going - the 2nd interpretation can also be puncuated by a single loud bark, with tail/butt wagging furiously. Will keep nose poking and staring with ears completely pricked until you give her what she wants.

Standing at your side as you watch TV - means she wants to lay on the sofa with you, hopefully to be snuggled and tickled at the same time. Also works this one in the AM when she wants to get into the bed and be snuggled/cuddled/tickled.

Waves - that's a new one, since she was taught to wave "hello". Now she waves, either standing or sitting, to get a goody treat. Spontaneous goody treat begging is what it really means. And it works! :D

Butt in air with intense tail wagging - PLAY WITH ME!! NOW!!!

And more........

Most dogs develop a few things they do a lot, but this dog of ours now is adding a few new moves every few weeks. She's very very bright and will get pushy until I get a touch louder :D in my command delivery. Then she instantly submits. :)

PT

[moondog]

Luna communicates very well without making a sound. My favorites are when she tells me the tennis ball really is under the sofa and when she's a total monkey and wants to play chase.

When a toy is somewhere she can't get it, she will lie down alert, still and quiet within "eyeshot" of it and look at me. I've learned that she never, ever lies about it. When I ask her "Where is it?", she doesn't move anything but her eyes. She'll dart her glance to where it is and then quickly look back at me. If I can't find it and ask her again, she does the same thing and every single time the toy is right where she told me it was!

When she's feeling like a rascal and wants to play, she'll go get her toy of choice, come back to the doorway of the room I'm in and peek halfway around the corner with the biggest monkey in her eye you ever saw, hoping that I'll get up off my duff and give chase. And I do! :D

[no1mason]

It’s funny you bring it up. I had just lost my dog and was worried she was so special she could never be replaced. Here a few things that might get you thinking.

Jenna would know things without repetitiveness. We have no schedule and she doesn’t wear a watch. She would ask me to go to park for a walk, by picking up a toy and looking in the direction. If she was thirsty and I was drinking something she would lick her lips or push her bowl. When she was finished Jenna’s ears would curl.

If I asked her do something and didn’t want to she would give me her paw and lend back. If she did something bad her ears would go down and bring me to the crime of day. The down low with butt in the air means watch out I’m ready to play.

The longer you are with them the more they learn to communicate

[moondog]

Hi no1mason, :) , Welcome to the Forums!

You are so right, the longer we have with them the better they learn how to communicate, the better we learn to understand what they're saying, the closer we become, and the harder it is to say goodbye.

Jenna went to the bridge just two days ago? I'm so sorry you had to say goodbye to such a good friend. I was able to fix your link and saw your album, it is beautiful and what a pretty girl Jenna was! I love the photo of her sleeping with her frog and the lovely grey on her muzzle. :)

Try adding your link again, it was only because the closing of the tag was in the middle of the address that it didn't come out right.

[Carina43]

no1mason, so sorry for your very recent loss. You'll never be able to replace your lovely girl, each dog has their own unique little doggie personality...welcome to the forums and speedy healing. I always figured if there's a reason at all dogs don't live that long, it's so we can have more of them in our lives. :)

And definitely, if you spend a lot of time with your dogs, they learn to communicate (and understand) extremely well. I use the same words & phrases pretty consistently, and they read my body language as much as my words, I think.

Mick has finally managed to make it clear to Cooper that scratching on a door is not the preferred way to ask to go in or out. So now Cooper will sit and bark at the door instead - I'm not sure that's any better!

[Beckysmom]

I also want to tell No1Mason that I am sorry for the loss of your Jenna.

On the thread question, yes, dog's certainly communicate in sign language. My golden had the exact same sign for I need to go out as your rottie does.