Pit Bull Walter Rescue, Dog Body Language by Patti Wood

As the National Spokesperson for Pup-peroni dog treats, as well as being a pet parent and dog lover I am always interested in stories about amazing dogs. Here is one about the rescue of a pit bull dog named Walter. Notice Walter's friendly and relaxed body language. For more insights into dog body language search for dog and people body language posts on this blog.
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/38555127#38555127

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Your Voice Communicates Emotions Through Paralanguage, Dogs Understand Our Nonverbal Cues

People and to Dogs, What is Paralanguage?
Understanding the "tone" of someone’s speech well is related to your ability to be empathetic.

The variance in pitch and rhythm of the voice called prosody (a subset of paralanguage) conveys emotion in the voice. Because dogs are unusually adept at reading human body language and paralanguage they understand what you prosody is saying. You may have experienced that when praising or chastising your dog. If you say, "bad boy." to a dog using a loving happy voice your dog will probably respond as if you have praised him, by coming in closer to you, wagging his tail and or licking your face. Just as saying "You are a great dog" in a loud, mean, strident, attacking voice may make cause your dog to retreat and or crouch low and bring down his head. The pitch and rhythm of the voice can affect how your dog responds to you.
Prosody is not only the way dogs understand and read emotions, human also understand the emotions communicated through prosidy.




Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional The Body Language Expert Web- http://www.PattiWood.netI have a new quiz on my YouTubestation. Check it out!YouTube- YouTube - bodylanguageexpert's Channel

Treat your partner like a dog to have a betther marriage.

Treat your partner like a dog to have a better marriage.
That's the advice in the following article with that title in the online version of the magazine "The Week." as the national spokesperson for Pup-peroni I agree that dogs give unconditional love, but can humans give loving communication to their spouses? Wouldn't it be great if every time we came home our sweetie ran to the door to great us and covered us with kisses? If your dog jumps when you get home and you don't like to get paw prints and your pants get down on their level. They are usually jumping in an attempt to smell your breath and identify you and find out what you have been up to. Yes, a breath check tells them that you have been eating pizza without them! If you are looking for more on greeting your two legged sweetie check out my have blogs under greeting. If you want to know the best way to greet your dog when you get home and I have a blog on that as well. If you want to read more about why it is really important to meet your spouse at the door look for my upcoming book on first impressions or my book, "Success Signals."

http://theweek.com/article/index/203772/marriage-advice-treat-your-partner-like-a-dog

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional The Body Language Expert Web- http://www.PattiWood.netI have a new quiz on my YouTubestation. Check it out!YouTube- YouTube - bodylanguageexpert's Channel

Celebrities with Their Dogs, What does the body language say?

Celebrities with Their Dogs, What does the body language say?

Look at this link for my reads of celebrities wit their dogs. http://www.peoplepets.com/photos/celebrities/what-are-these-celebrities-saying-to-their-dogs/1

Wood has been reading the smiles and hand holds of celebrity couples for years, but she recently started seeing how her expertise works with humans and their dogs. She really loves Miley Cyrus's connection to her new pup Mate. "She's doing a cradle at the bottom and all the way across the body and up to the heart," Wood says. "She's not feeling the need to hold the dog tight for security ... She has joy with sharing her puppy."
KELLAN LUTZ, KEVIN & KOLAAccording to a recent survey by Pup-Peroni, 59 percent of dog owners said they have the same personalities as their pooches. Wood says that this certainly seems true for Kellan Lutz and his two rescues, Kevin and Kola. "If you look at the pet parent's energy, he's got that very confident powerful body language, and his dogs are matching and mirroring him with their tail position," she say
OPRAH, SUNNY & LAUREN"It looks like they all went to the same hairdresser!" Wood observes. It was a big day for the family — Oprah was introducing Sunny and Lauren to her audience! "I'm always looking to see if there's a preference for one or the other, but she's got the very same kind of hand hold and is pressing them to the same part of her body." The puppies, on the other hand? Wood says they were a bit sleepy!
DANIELLE JONAS & RILEY"This puppy really feels like Danielle is the mommy," Wood says of the way Riley is licking Danielle's face. "Her hand wrapped around the head, which is exactly what mommies do when they're nursing. She's very comfortable with that mommy position with her puppy."
AMANDA SEYFRIED & FINN"This is incredibly unique," she says. "You do not see this. Amanda has come down exactly on the level of her pet, with an extreme amount of effort to do that. She's in an unusual, almost yoga-like position in order to give a nurturing kiss to her dog — and her puppy loves it."

His dog has what are called 'airplane ears.' That's a very distinct posture, that's when they have conflicted emotional states," Wood says, but she also considers that Noah might have been thrown off by the paparazzi that day. "But the pet parent has that nice shift towards his dog. 'I'm here, everything's okay, I'm paying attention to you, we're connected.' He's there to protect his dog."
BRADLEY COOPER & CHARLOTTE "I love that he's come down on the level of his puppy," Wood says. Charlotte's head is down, but her legs are relaxed. "She's saying 'You're the king, you're my daddy.' He's so happy to see his puppy. 'It's about us. It's not about the photo.'"




Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional
The Body Language Expert
Web- http://www.PattiWood.net
I have a new quiz on my YouTubestation. Check it out!
YouTube- YouTube - bodylanguageexpert's Channel

How Can You Learn To Read Your Dog's Body Language? Meaning of Tail Wag.

How to understand what your dog is saying- Get a baseline for what is normal body language for your dog. If your dog is normally laid back and he suddenly goes bonzo crazy you know something is up. The research shows that 74 percent or Pup-peroni pet parents feel their dog’s body language let them know how their pet is feeling.
If you know what a person's normal responses are you can tell when something is wrong. Think about a Mom's trouble radar for her kids. The mom of a Teenager knows there is something up because she knows what her child's normal behavior looks and sounds like. If you want to know how to read your dogs tail notice it when your dog is calm. To know your dog wagging tail means he is anxious, excited or happy get a baseline. To figure out what tail movements show your dog is really happy an excited hold a treat in front of your dog and watch his tail. Tail wags have variations between breeds but for most dogs a happy tail is relaxed not tucked under and moves in a circular motion or wide wag. Most dogs tails go up high and stiff to show dominance and confidence and most tails lower and or curl under in submission.


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional
The Body Language Expert
Web- http://www.PattiWood.net
I have a new quiz on my YouTubestation. Check it out!
YouTube- YouTube - bodylanguageexpert's Channel

What does a muzzel nuzzel or muzzel nudge by a dog mean?

What does a dog mean by a muzzle nuzzle? A nose nudge can mean “Notice Me", or "Can I have a treat.”
Origin of the dogs muzzle nudge – Puppies nudge their moms faces to get the food from her mouth.
I am like the more than a 1/3 of Pup-peroni surveyed pet parents who feel they have had an entire conversation without saying a word.
My dog Bo comes curls up on a pillow in my office all day. At 4:30 he comes and sits by my desk and looks up at me asking, "Can I have a snack before dinner Mom?" If I keep working till his dinner time at 5:00 he muzzle nudges my hands to say, “It’s dinner time now Mom.”
Your dog may nudge with his nose to be fed, to show affection to get attention.
I have other blogs on this topic as well as more other dog and people body language facts.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional
The Body Language Expert
Web- http://www.PattiWood.net
I have a new quiz on my YouTubestation. Check it out!
YouTube- YouTube - bodylanguageexpert's Channel

Do Dogs Understand Us? Can You Have a Conversation with a Dog?

Dogs Can Understand Human Body Language and if you really look you can read a dog's behavior..

You come through the door and shout “Sparky, I am home" and hear him bark lightly.

Sparky comes running to you. His head held high.

You bend down and say, "I missed you so much.” and begin to pet him.

Sparky tail is wagging. The tail is down and relaxed and swinging broadly. Even his hips are swinging!

“I missed you Sparky." "Did you miss me?” You say, as you scruff and pet Sparky.

Sparky brings his nose up to your face and sniffs you. He gives you a muzzle nuzzle and licks your face.

How many times have you had an entire conversation with your dog? We talk on and on thinking of course, that our dogs understands every word we say.

There is so much communication that a dog can understand. How many of us feel we have had an entire “conversation” with our dogs without saying a word?

What about the conversation at the beginning of this post? What was the dog saying? Check the next post to find out.
Many of you that follow my blog or have heard me speak on body language know about Bo the wonder dog, my funny wonderful dancing dog. Most of my body language workshop audience members have heard about how Bo reacted my fall down the stairs years ago. My new book has stories about the fist impressions Bo and I make on our daily walks. Bo also checks out any clients that come to our offices and shares his sniffs ,barks and first impressions with me. I have a special love for furry pet kids. I am fascinated by the special communication we have with our dogs. I have written about the similarities and differences in human and dog body language. I would love to hear your stories about special moments when you have communicated and bonded with your dog.
As the national spokesperson for Pup-peroni, I will be excited to share more with you about dog human interactions. I will be sharing posts about what your dog is saying with his body language and what he reads in yours. I will reading photos of celebrities with their dogs and what they are saying to each other. In two weeks I will be starting a national media tour.

Patti Wood is a body language expert
and the new national spokesperson for Pup-peroni.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional
The Body Language Expert
Web- http://www.PattiWood.net
I have a new quiz on my YouTubestation. Check it out!
YouTube- YouTube - bodylanguageexpert's Channel

How to read your dog's body language. Greeting Your Dog.

A nonverbal analysis of dog human interaction
Would you like to be able to read your dog’s body language? Would you like to communicate with your dog more effectively and know all the secrets of dogs greeting? Here is a dog body language test followed by the answers.
How many times have you had an entire conversation with your dog? We talk on and on thinking of course, that our dog understands every word we say.
There is so much communication that a dog can understand. How many of us feel we have had an entire “conversation” with our dogs without saying a word? I love the greeting dance when you come through the door to your dog at the end of the day. Here is a greeting between a Sparky the dog and you the pet parent. This is followed by a nonverbal, “bark, by wag" analysis of what you and Sparky are truly communicating.

You come through the door and shout “Sparky, I am home" and hear him bark two sharp short bark in high pitch.

Sparky comes running to you. His head held high, his mouth open his tongues hanging out.

You bend down and say, "I missed you so much.” and begin to pet him.

Sparky tail is wagging. The tail is down and relaxed and swinging broadly, but his hips don’t move!

“I missed you Sparky." "Did you miss me?” You say, as you scruff and pet Sparky.

Sparky brings his nose up to your face and sniffs you. He gives you muzzle nuzzle and licks your face.
What have you and your dog said in your greeting dance?

What do you think you are Sparky were saying?
Here is a nonverbal interpretation of the dog and pet parent interaction.

You come through the door and shout “Sparky, I am home" and hear him bark two sharp short bark in high pitch.
These are good barks, saying, “Hello, I see you!” two nice short barks is good, one high bark means, "You surprised me." (If it was one low bark it would mean “back off." If your dog gives a low barks with marked pauses in between, “This may be an intruder I am sending out a warning.”

Sparky comes running to you. His head held high, his mouth open his tongues hanging out. Head high is confident, but combined with open relaxed mouth with the tongue out it says, “I feel good, I am relaxed and happy to see you.” I didn’t meantion Sparkys ears in the test. They may be up and rotated forward in expectation then relax when he sees you.

You bend down and say, "I missed you so much.” and begin to pet him. It would be better if you actually crouched down on his level and let him come to you as bending down and going forward and reaching out can be seen as aggressive and or scary for some dogs. However, Sparky knows you are friendly as he responds to you nicely.

Sparky tail is wagging. The tail is down and relaxed and swinging broadly, but his hips don’t move! (Wags vary by bread and dog personality. You need to check your dog for his happy norm you can wave a treat at him and see what his tail does to know what his tail does in happy mode.)
Many dogs have a relaxed broadly swinging tail to show happiness. Some dogs have an “excited happy’ wag that differs from their relaxed or contented happy tail. They may make fast little circles wags with their tail. Laboratory research suggests that positive feeling make your dogs tail wag more to the right and negative feeling make it wag more towards the left. If Sparky's hips go down, he is showing he respects you. Low hips with a tail wag are a more submissive wag. That’s not bad. The dog is just letting you know you are in charge. Dogs with docked tails may swing their hips to communicate happiness or excitement.

“I missed you Sparky." "Did you miss me?” You say, as you scruff and pet Sparky.
You’re using his name in a positive emotional setting of greeting which makes him feel recognized and want to come when his name is called.

Sparky brings his nose up to your face and sniffs you. He gives you muzzle nuzzle and licks your face. Dogs, “see” with their noses, greet, and give a handshake by sniffing and the muzzle nudge can be an affectionate doggy hug. (It can also mean I need to go outside now! Muzzle nudges and face licking are behaviors that are a can be affection or a desire to be fed.

How many times have you had an entire conversation with your dog? We talk on and on thinking of course, that our dog understands every word we say.

There is so much communication that a dog can understand. How many of us feel we have had an entire “conversation” with our dogs without saying a word?
Here are tips for training dogs not to jump on guests or dogs that bark too much when guests come through the door.
The door is the mouth of the cave and your dog may feel the need to defend the house or be chief greeter and attack guests.
If you have a new puppy or you are training your dog not to jump, wait to fully acknowledge and pet him until you are a few feet from the door at your “greeting station.” If he is a jumper and you can stand not loving on him, wait until he sits to pet him. Reward him for what you consider good behavior and ignore him if he is doing something you consider wrong. When your dog behaves immediately give him rewards be it praise, treats, scuffing or good belly rub. For some being, good means your dog stays down and doesn’t bark in a way that might scare guests so when though I say his name and my voice lovingly greets him once I enter the house I wait till he sits to touch him. However, as soon as his little rear hits the floor he gets, “Good Boy” praising. Then I come down to his level and he gets lots of scruffing and pets, and he comes in to sniff, and muzzle nudge. Goodness, I love the greeting dance.


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional
The Body Language Expert
Web- http://www.PattiWood.net
I have a new quiz on my YouTubestation. Check it out!
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When is a dog's wagging tail not a happy sign?

When is a dog's wagging tail not a happy sign?

Tails and their wags just like a human mouth and smile can show a range of moods from happy to anxious. Broad tail wags combined with a relaxed muzzle and lips show friendliness. A fast tight tail wag with rear end down of the dog down shows anxiety. When a dog is laying on his back he is not always signally scratch my belly.
Just like kid giggling kid in a tickle fight yells “uncle!
you win”, when your puppy lays on their back with their tummy exposed and gives a fast little wag, your dog is saying "I am submissive." "You win."

In most breeds, when a dog is walking and holds his tail high he is showing dominance. Some research on dog body language even shows wag side difference's for different emotions. When your dog is really happy the tail goes more to the right and if your dog is fearful and anxious the tail wags more to the left. Do a baseline test for your dog to see if you see a wag difference. It is really interesting to me as a body language expert because a dogs tail shows emotions in a similar way that a humans gestures show emotions and people have a right side left side preference. Fear and anxiety more to the left. To read more about about right hand bad left hand good gesturing type in Gestures on this blog.



Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional
The Body Language Expert
Web- http://www.PattiWood.net
I have a new quiz on my YouTubestation. Check it out!
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Why Do Dogs Mirror Human Body Language?

Why do dogs mirror our body language. Just like humans match and mirror people they like and are comfortable with dogs mirror human body language when they like their human and feel comfortable.
In a national survey of over 1,100 pet parents, almost half (41 percent)of pet parents surveyed said that their furry friend is more likely to “notice” they’ve had a bad day than their best human friend.
Just like humans match and mirrorwhat you do shows they understand, dogs take on our behavior to show they understand. Dogs are the only species that actually follow the lead of another speicies. Dogs are the only species that match and mirror a different species. They follow us to show their understanding and love.


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional
The Body Language Expert
Web- http://www.PattiWood.net
I have a new quiz on my YouTubestation. Check it out!
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More on Should You Make Eye-Contact With Your Dog?

Humans naturally make eye contact to show affiliation affection and agreement. I love to look at my dog Bo. By looking at your dog in safe and comfortable times you can train your dog that gently loving brief eye contact from you has a new meaning. It means, "I love you."
Dogs are unusually sensitive to human body language. When you do make eye-contact, a dog may still avert his gaze. Just remember it is not a lack of love and caring he is just showing you that he sees you as the alpha pet parent. Don’t take it personally as a signal, they don’t love you.

When we go to bed at night, I give my dog Bo a treat from the treat jar in the Master Bedroom. Bo will look at me and I look at him in this little love dance as he waits for his treat. Once in bed, Bo is invited up for another treat. If I look at him to long as I say goodnight he will avert his gaze. If I wasn't familiar with dog behavior I know I would think, “Bo doesn’t’ love me.” Now I know, that when he looks away, he is just telling me he knows I am in charge and he can be the baby dog. And he can happily curl up close at foot of the bed

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional
The Body Language Expert
Web- http://www.PattiWood.net
I have a new quiz on my YouTubestation. Check it out!
YouTube- YouTube - bodylanguageexpert's Channel

Should You Make Eye Contact With Your Dog?

Should You Make Eye Contact With Your Dog?

Humans naturally make eye contact with other humans to show affiliation, affection and agreement. In dog-human interaction, eye contact is not always so positive. Making eye contact with your dog can cause problems. You may wish to send a positive message but your dog may not "see" it that way. In domesticated dogs, so much of their behavior depends on the dog’s breed, or their personality as well as the relationship they have with you. Most dog behaviorist will tell you that dogs don't like lingering eye contact. In fact, dogs often view direct head on lingering bold stares as a threat. When a dog meets another dog who stares the dog interprets the doggie body language as, "I challenge you to a duel.”
Starring at your dog too long, even if you are looking with love, can be interpreted by the dog as, "I starring a you dog because I am a threat."

Is just looking at your dog a lot OK? It depends on your relationship. Because I read so many photos of dogs with their humans I have noticed that their our some dogs that respond warmly to a look from their pet parent. As a pet parent myself I know that we can a loving look with our special pooches. How your feel when you look is important. When dogs are stressed they look at the pack leader for instructions on how to proceed. If you look at your dog too much when you are uncomfortable or stressed and or you are not feeling "in charge" your dog can interpret your stress cues and think your eye contact indicates a need for assistance, "What should I do next top dog."“I am looking at you because you are the leader and I am your subordinate human." and if you do it frequently your dog can get a big head thinking all your checking in means he is in charge and he can u can do whatever he wants.
Taking the lead and making correct eye contact with your dog is critical when entering and leaving through doors wit your dog. When you are going through a door you should take the lead and look toward the door, not at the dog, so it is clear you are leading the way. If you look at the dog the dog then the door your dog may think he is supposed to take the lead.

In dog a world, followers watch and make eye contact.

Remember a dog can interpret your eye contact with them as a sign of submission. “Oh, my human is looking at me." "My human needs my help, so I must be the alpha dog around here.” Some animal behaviorist think giving your dog too much eye contact can make your dog loose respect for you and the dog may “act out” like a teenager who disrespects their parents or substitute teacher. You may be familiar with dog TV shows like “It’s Me or the Dog.” In that show, dogs are often holding their families hostage to their whims. Again, if you look at a dog too much when you are stressed or to please the dog, the dog thinks he is in charge and can do whatever he wants.
From a human body language perspective, you may be able to think about it this way, powerful people don't need to make eye contact and watch. They just move forward. They know they are doing the right thing.
Dogs can interpret human eye contact as signaling, “I am looking at you because I need you to be the leader, I can’t take care of you.” If you have a dog that is not an alpha leader too much human eye contact can be stressful. Dogs don’t really want to be in charge. Dogs want their pet parent to take care of them. If a dog thinks, you need him to check for danger, lead the way and all those other Parent jobs it makes them uncomfortable. Take charge. It is the way to be nice to your dog.Stress is very contagious. Your stress effects them and make their lives more stressful and ultimately is communicated t you through their aggressiveness or whining and your life gets more stressed.

There are some kinds of human eye contact that mimics this power dance of “Who is in charge who is the follower.”. In human conversations, create an eye dance. The listener make more eye contact than the speaker and the lower status person be it a subordinate listening to his boss, a good child listening to a parent or a women listening to a man will make more eye contact, as they check in to know what to do than the speaker. In human conversation, that role can shift back and forth in a conversation. In dog-human interactions, dogs learn the role and may keep playing it out.
There are more blogs on this topic.
More information on other blogs.


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional
The Body Language Expert
Web- http://www.PattiWood.net
I have a new quiz on my YouTubestation. Check it out!
YouTube- YouTube - bodylanguageexpert's Channel

How Dogs View Human Eye Contact. How Can You Tell If Your Dog is Giving You Soft Eyes.

In this photo, the pet parent is giving her dog human loving attention. When you and your dog are relaxed, bonding and connecting your can look loving and briefly like the pet parent in this photo.

It is obvious by the upward tilt of the dogs head and the raised nose and his “soft eyes” that he dog has learned that his pet parents eye contact and head hold mean, "Mommy loves me. " I hope that he got this loving interaction after he has did something good, like brought her a toy, made his bed washed the dishes!

Pay attention to your dog when he is good. Your dog loves to get your attention. Just like a human child, your dog will do things to be noticed. Here is what is important. He will do something and then watch your body language to see how you respond.
If you notice him and make eye contact when he is doing something bad, chewing a slipper, getting on the sofa, then guess what he may do that very same thing. Your look, your attention is rewarding. Read the post on dog’s interpretation of eye contact to learn all the different interpretation your dog can have from your look.

“Soft eyes” The dogs eyes are partially closed sometimes squinty. You really have t look the whole dog to see if a dog has “soft eyes” Look at the dog’s posture, facial expression and eye position to make sure the dog is relaxed and non-threatening. Softness can be read in a slight squint, the rest of the facial features relaxed, the lips long and the commeasure back and the ears neutral (neutral is different for different dogs but one tell for softness is that the ears are not back pressed against the head or spread out and tense like antenna.



Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional
The Body Language Expert
Web- http://www.PattiWood.net
I have a new quiz on my YouTubestation. Check it out!
YouTube- YouTube - bodylanguageexpert's Channel

Should You Hug Your Dog? Reading Dog and Human Body Language. Do Dogs Like it When You Hug Them?

Dog and Human Body Language. Do Dogs Like it When You Hug Them?

If you can view this sideways photo, you will find me on the floor with m dog Bo. It was taken of us several years ago when Bo was one of two. This photo really shows how much I love my dog. I love him so much I have my one arm wrapped around his neck and may I am holding his hindquarters with my other hand and arm. I also have my head tilted towards him in love and my heart is pressed up against him. Bo is cradling up against me. However, I notice his tail is down. He is big frightened of the photographer and the flashes from the camera. His body is toward me and his head is relaxed into me so it is clear he is seeking comfort from me and is not trying to get away. However, reading my dog's body language, I bet the combination of a too human like hug that to a dog feels too confining and the big ole camera and crowd in my kitchen is not helping. Dogs don't typically like to be hugged. I know, if you have a wonderful dog like my dog Bo you really want to hug on him. Don’t take it personally, if your dog tries to escape your loving embrace. Most dogs don’t like the restriction as it keeps them from “fleeing” mode that is a dogs normal response to stress. Think about it in human terms. You wouldn’t like it if someone came a held your feet when you were stressed, would you? I am a big hugger and I am so blessed that over the years Bo has not only adapted to my hugs but seeks them. Most dogs don’t mind a pat or a very brief full hug but you need to know your dog and watch them closely to understand if they are hug tolerant. Dogs can fear or love hugs.

I enjoy watching TV shows that play videos of kids and babies and dogs. It is cute when dogs allow babies and kids to hug them. However, there is that part of me that wants to teach everyone you don't hug dogs you don’t know. Hugs are not the accepted greeting ritual. Instead, approach strange dogs by putting out your hand so they can sniff it. If the dog feels safe and friendly he will let you know by staying in place to say, “Your OK!” but not freezing in place in fear which says in dog body language, “I am too scared to move.” In another show of the acceptance may be presenting the side of his body to say, “I won’t be aggressive by coming at you head on I will give you my side so you can pet me now.”



As the national spokesperson for Pup-Peroni, I am studying the similarities and differences between human body language and dog behavior.






Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional
The Body Language Expert
Web- http://www.PattiWood.net
I have a new quiz on my YouTubestation. Check it out!
YouTube- YouTube - bodylanguageexpert's Channel

Martin Sheen, How Men Carry Babies

Look at the way Martin Sheen carries his baby. I think it is so fun how often men carry babies like a sack of groceries. I have been reading photos of celebrities with their dogs for the campaign I am doing for Pup-peroni. I have a few photos where the guys carry their dogs in the same way, just like a bag or groceries. Here Martin does have his child a bit more on his hip, that is one of the ways women carry children, which makes good use of women's larger hips.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional
The Body Language Expert
Web- http://www.PattiWood.net
I have a new quiz on my YouTubestation. Check it out!
YouTube- YouTube - bodylanguageexpert's Channel

How Dogs Comfort Us. A Story of dog body language

Years ago I broke my wrist and my dog Bo was so wonderfully comforting.
I was walking around for six weeks with my wrist in cast and and my arm in a sling. Bo was really worried about me. I knew he was reading my body language and he could tell I was in pain. Each and every time I would sit down on the couch Bo would come up and lie down across my feet saying nonverbally, "I don't want you to hurt youself again" and "Rest Mommy you are moving to much and working to hard." It was so comforting. In those first few weeks when I was in such pain it meant so much. He also did another body langauge gesture that he had never done before. When I was in pain streached out on the couch or in bed Bo would take his body and lay across my legs so there was no way I could get up without asking his to move and he would look at me and check on me occasionally to make sure I was ok. It was so sweet.


As the national spokesperson for Pup-peroni, I have lots of blog posts with insights into human body language and the cues your dog gives you in dog and human interactions. Check the posts about what your dog is saying with his body language and what he reads in yours under "dog and human body language."
Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional
The Body Language Expert
Web- http://www.PattiWood.net
I have a new quiz on my YouTubestation. Check it out!
YouTube- YouTube - bodylanguageexpert's Channel

Muzzel Nudge, Dog Body Language.

Muzzle Nudge. A dog gives a muzzle nudge by taking his nose and nudging the face of their pet owner. They do this in greeting and or to show friendliness, I prefer to friendly rather than submissive. Think of the dog using his nose the way a human child may come up and use his hand to touch his mom to say. "Hi there, could I have your attention."

Alternatively, dogs use the muzzle nudge to say, “I’m hungry” Bo the wonder dog does a muzzle nudge to be fed and muzzle nudges my hand to ask me to pet him. If I stop, petting and Bo want more he lets me know. Bo nudges me again, sometimes going a step further and actually placing his nose under my palm and tossing the palm up towards his head or back to let me know where he thinks my hand should be.
Imagine a dog with a great soft-eyed loving look coming up right now and giving your a muzzle nudge.
Look for another one of my blog posts for the origin of the muzzle nudge.


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional
The Body Language Expert
Web- http://www.PattiWood.net
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The "play bow" is dog body language for "Wanna Play?"

Play Bow. Dogs love to play and they have a wonderful way of asking others if they would like to play called a "play bow." How do Animal Behaviorists describe a "play bow?” When a dog once to play with another dog or a human he approached then bows down to the other dog or human with the front half of his body. (Dogs typically approach new dogs at their sides rather than head on so, if they bow head on to another dog or to a human the bow makes the approach nonaggressive.)
In a play bow, a dog stretches out the front of his body and his front leg go out and forward and flat to the ground, typically up to the dogs “elbows” Lowering the front of his body shows is a submissive gesture. Most dogs leave their hindquarters, (rear ends) up and give a relaxed mouth smile as they “play bow.” They may even wag their tales. All these behaviors combine into to “I am up for fun.” “Let’s play” Sometimes it is a request to “Play war” or “Play wrestle.” Remember the lowered body says it is play not real battle. The dog says “I won’t really hurt you. “I up for fun and I am not going to attack.” In a "play bow”, the dog stretches the front of his body out and down and places his paws our flat and relaxed. Sometimes a dog will actually come up to a dog or human and bow and pat his paws on the ground in an exuberant movement and then step back or look towards the spot in which they want to play or the toy they want you to play with them. Human pet parents can respond their dogs play blow and bound with their dogs by getting down on the ground and imitating the play bow with the front of your body down and patting your hands on the floor a few times. You can even associate with a word like "Play" as you pat so your dog can learn the word play. I both initiate play with my dog Bo by patting my easily flat on the floor or patting them down in front of me on the coffee table. If my dog Bo the wonder dog initiates play with me with a play bow, I say the word "play" and we begin to play.
Watch dogs in a dog park go up to other dogs and give them the play bow and their new friends respond with a play bow and then watch them run off together it is wonderful.

As the national spokesperson for Pup-Peroni, I am studying the similarities and differences between human body language and dog body language (or what animal behaviorist call dog behavior.)




Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional
The Body Language Expert
Web- http://www.PattiWood.net
I have a new quiz on my YouTubestation. Check it out!
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The Play Bow

Play Bow. Dogs love to play and they have a wonderful way of asking others if they would like to play called a "play bow." How do Animal Behaviorists describe a "play bow??” When a dog once to play with another dog or a human he approached then bows down to the other dog or human with the front half of his body. (Dogs typically approach new dogs at their sides rather than head on so, if they bow head on to another dog or to a human the bow makes the approach nonaggressive.)
In a play bow, a dog stretches out the front of his body and his front leg go out and forward and flat to the ground, typically up to the dogs “elbows” Lowering the front of his body shows is a submissive gesture. Most dogs leave their hindquarters, (rear ends) up and give a relaxed mouth smile as they “play bow.” They may even wag their tales. All these behaviors combine into to “I am up for fun.” “Let’s play” Sometimes it is a request to “Play war” or “Play wrestle.” Remember the lowered body says it is play not real battle. The dog says “I won’t really hurt you. “I up for fun and I am not going to attack.” In a "play bow”, the dog stretches the front of his body out and down and places his paws our flat and relaxed. Sometimes a dog will actually come up to a dog or human and bow and pat his paws on the ground in an exuberant movement and then step back or look towards the spot in which they want to play or the toy they want you to play with them. Human pet parents can respond their dogs play blow and bound with their dogs by getting down on the ground and imitating the play bow with the front of your body down and patting your hands on the floor a few times. You can even associate with a word like "Play" as you pat so your dog can learn the word play. I both initiate play with my dog Bo by patting my easily flat on the floor or patting them down in front of me on the coffee table. If my dog Bo the wonder dog initiates play with me with a play bow, I say the word "play" and we begin to play.
Watch dogs in a dog park go up to other dogs and give them the play bow and their new friends respond with a play bow and then watch them run off together it is wonderful.

As the national spokesperson for Pup-Peroni, I am studying the similarities and differences between human body language and dog behavior.


One of the wasy you can learn to read your dogs mood is by noticing how he looks when he is happy and playing. Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional
The Body Language Expert
Web- http://www.PattiWood.net
I have a new quiz on my YouTubestation. Check it out!
YouTube- YouTube - bodylanguageexpert's Channel

Dog and Human Greeting Behavior and The Muzzle Nudge

Dog and Human Greeting Behavior
How do dogs greet humans and is it the same or different from how they greet other dogs?
I have been fascinated with greeting behavior and nonverbal communication since I took my first body language class in college. I was so excited when I was asked to be the spokesperson for Pup-Peroni and talk about human body language as people interact with their dogs I was so excited. So many aspects of human greeting behavior and dog-greeting behavior are similar.

In this post your will learn some of the engaging behaviors that dogs use as they meet and greet other dogs and humans.
When a dog seeks attention or affection and joins humans and or dogs for interaction, he does several things that are similar to human body language. Dog behaviorist call these bids for attention and affection acting in an “affliative” manner.
Just like humans who get closer to each other to greet dogs also decrease distance with various behaviors. One of the most obvious things that dogs can do to decrease the distance is bring their ears and or nose forward. Remember, a dog’s sense of smell is extremely acute and better than their sense of vision. A dog my bring his may bring his nose forward to smell you. The smell is like a human handshake for dog. He reaches out his nose to check you out, just like you shake someone’s hand or give a high five to check out a stranger. Dog's may also put up a paw in what looks like a human handshake. It's a natural behavior to show submission. My dog Bo only took one lesson and several Pup-Peroni treats to "learn" how to shake hands with me.

A dog that is feeling affectionate or seeks warm attention may give you a muzzle nudge or muzzle nuzzle. In a muzzle nudge, a dog may bring his nose up to nudge your face, your hand or your leg. I think of it as a doggie hug that is warmer than a doggie handshake sniff.

The muzzles nudge or muzzles nuzzle stems from redirected behavior from a dog's puppyhood feeding rituals in the wild. Many dog behaviorist consider genetically the muzzle nudge genetically encoded. Wolves and other wild canine mothers hunt for food and bring it back the puppies chewed up inside their mouths. Puppies nudge their dog mom’s mouth and nose to get their mom to give them this food. It reminds me of kids bugging their mom for treats



Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional
The Body Language Expert
Web- http://www.PattiWood.net
I have a new quiz on my YouTubestation. Check it out!
YouTube- YouTube - bodylanguageexpert's Channel