Why language matters when it comes to talking about our dogs

Why language matters when it comes to talking about our dogs
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When it comes to how we talk about our dog’s language matters, language is a powerful tool and can even be used as a weapon to hurt others.

The tone of voice that we use and the way in which we speak to and about others matter, language has a lot of inflection, in which we and many other species rely upon, with human interaction as to the tone to add to the body language of the person speaking.

Dog’s rely on social cues, gestures and language, just as much as we do from other individuals, just like us, dog’s can also interpret if language or gestures are being used in a kind and gentle way or in aversive way. This was first noted by Skinner, 1953. Once we establish a learning experience and history with a stimulus such as a gesture, we then form an experience of how we will react to this stimulus or gesture in the future.

Pointing, waving hands, arms, throwing a ball, holding out a treat, reaching for the treat jar, a dog barking lunging, growling or play bowing, these are all communications and gestures that the dog becomes reliant on to try and predict the future experiences that they have with humans and other dogs.

Dog’s particularly have a sensitivity to human gestures, which humans lack with one another.

Just as we do in language contexts, dog’s need context when learning human social cues and gestures, especially when forming social attachments and bonds to humans within their living conditions and environments.

It has also been found that dog’s are able to learn better when visually seeing an object or gesture as opposed to an invisible one, which is why games and tasks such as “do what i do” are so successful, dog’s not only seek to understand from our verbal language but also seek from our body language, no matter how tiny the inflection and whether or not we are aware of our body moving, or indicating towards a source, such as in scentwork.

Dog’s are also sensitive to our attentional states and are more likely to perform a behaviour we don’t want such as worktop surfing when our gaze is averted, as this is an opportunistic behaviour and we do not have our gaze on the worktop, nor the dog, so the dog seeks this opportunity with no verbal cues to stop them to take the opportunity to take the food.

Scientists have concluded that “dog’s have their own theory of mind”

Many studies have been done, to reach these conclusions, to the extent where even fox kits as well as puppies who have had minimal contact with humans, learn from the social cues and gestures of the humans during the brief contact, as well as learning to study the gaze of the human to learn about the humans communications.
We all known that when speaking to dog’s inflection of tone matters, many of us dog professional stress using tonal inflections, such as a jolly or happy voice when speaking to dogs, especially in times of distress for the dog, such as being emotionally challenged to help the dog to feel calmer and soothed by us.

We also make a point of explaining that guardians should not be using hand gestures, stern or cross voices, in situations, so as not to frighten the dog, of course during training sessions, hand gestures maybe used in place of a verbal cue depending on the context of training.

By changing something as simple as language when speaking to or talking about our dog’s we can change our attitudes and internalised beliefs and ideologies about dog’s, showing them more empathy, understanding, kindness and above all love.
When we speak harshly, negative beliefs and ideologies develop, this is simply how language and thought processes work.

Considering our dog as a member of the family and not an outside being who is allowed to share our home and follow our rules, can greatly change perceptions and the relationship, both for us and the dog. Enhancing the welfare and the love that we have for our dog’s and ensuring that they have the best lives possible!

Changing one thing as simple as our language, truly can change the welfare for our dog’s!

References

Skinner B.F. Science and human behaviour. New York: Free Press; 1953

Brauer J, Kaminski J, Riedel J, Call J, Tomasello M. Making inferences about the location of hidden food: Social dog, causal ape. Journal of Comparative Psychology. 2006;120:38–47.

Fukuzawa M, Mills D.S, Cooper J.J. More than just a word: Non-semantic command variables affect obedience in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris). Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2005;91:129–141.

Gagnon S, Doré F.Y. Search behaviour in various breeds of adult dogs : Object permanence and olfactory cues. Journal of Comparative Psychology. 1992;106((Canis familiaris)):58–68.

Brauer J, Call J, Tomasello M. Visual perspective taking in dogs (Canis familiaris) in the presence of barriers. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2004;88:99–317.

Brauer J, Call J, Tomasello M. Visual perspective taking in dogs (Canis familiaris) in the presence of barriers. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2004;88:99–317.

Hare B, Plyusnina I, Ignacio N, Schepina O, Stepika A, Wrangham R, et al. Social cognitive evolution in captive foxes is a correlated by-product of experimental domestication. Current Biology. 2005;15:226–230.

​Image description:

On the left hand side a photo of a wheelchair user, with their assistance dog, who is a wolfdog, there is a pink and yellow summer mesh assistance dog vest on the wolfdog. Against a white brick wall, on a wooden deck with beach plants behind.

Why language matters when speaking to and about your dog - on a turquoise background the text is in black.

Language matters in white large text and the subtitle in white - Language really can change our attitude towards our dog.

A dark mint green box to the right with black text reads - Don't say "command" - say "cue"

When we say "we command our dogs" we take away autonomy, choice and see them as lesser than ourselves.

To the far right a darker blue text box with the text in black reads - Don't say "pack"
- say "family"

Use of the language of terms such as pack is outdated, modern terms use the term "family" when including the dog to foster the understanding that dogs are family.
A lighter blue text box to the right under the above box with black text reads -Don't say "owner" - say "guardian"

When we say "owner" we take away the individuality of the dog. We have seen in the past how dog's have been seen as lesser within the family unit. Dog's were not viewed as family members and so dog's welfare was severely impacted.
When we bring a dog or any animal into our lives, as we replace their previously learned secure attachment, we then become a guardian as we will be forming a secure attachment with them. This is because a dog seeks a secure attachment as a need.

To the right of this box a text box in red with black text reads -Don't say "stubborn"
- say "my dog doesn't understand "

When we use language such as "stubborn" we are not accepting any responsibility for our dog's learning process, our lack of skills and the dog simply not understanding the cues given.

When dog's don't understand it is important that we change our approach and adapt our cues to help the dog to learn.

A dark yellow text box to the bottom centre with black text reads -Don't say "reactive" - say "emotionally challenged"

Many words or terms coined come from good places, they come from a place to replace a word which is harmful within a description. Reactive too has become one of those words, as reactive doesn't address the individual's emotions and doesn't help them in their individual needs being met. Emotionally or environmentally challenged meets the individual's needs as an individual.

muttsnmischief.com at the bottom in white text.