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Turid Rugaas, who coined the term “calming signals”, has spent most of her life studying dogs and their body language. Calming signals are the canine Language of Peace. Ethologists were aware that wolves and dogs use certain signals to stop conflict in progress, but Turid Rugaas, with colleagues, discovered that they also use the signals to prevent conflict from developing in the first place.

Dogs use the signals any time they meet a new situation, a new animal, or even an old friend. The calming signals work like polite greetings, putting other animals at ease.

Basic facts about calming signals

All dogs are born with the capability for using calming signals. They develop their skills while with their littermates and dam. Turid says that by the time puppies are six or seven weeks old, they are already experts with signals.

Their learning does depend on the breeder allowing the puppies to be together and with their dam, and supporting the dogs by providing appropriate care and environments.

Common questions about calming signals

Question: When a dog gives off calming signals, does that mean the dog is stressed?

Answer: Sometimes it does. Typically dogs give off calming signals when they reach a certain, fairly low, level of stress. At other times, though, dogs use them as polite greetings. They do this to keep everyone, including themselves, friendly and comfortable.

Question: If I yawn at my dog, or lick my lips, will my dog think I’m stressed, or become afraid because she thinks I am worried about something?

Answer: Turid says, no, dogs don’t think we are stressed or worried if we use the signals. I’ve noticed that, on the contrary, they usually respond with their own preferred signals. That shows us they are understanding us. We can see them becoming more, not less, comfortable with us.

Question: What can I do to help my dog be less timid and afraid?

Answer: Helpful stress-reducing games for dogs include anything that dogs naturally do when they are feeling fairly relaxed, but very much interested in the world they live in. Playing with their favourite toys, engaging in some fun tricks they already know (targeting is a good trick to teach), anything that involves using their noses or exploring is especially wonderful for dogs, or simply having a snooze. In addition having rituals, routines, and cues greatly helps in reducing stress.

Question: What’s the difference between calming signals and signs of stress?

Answer: Calming signals are deliberate communication with other dogs, or sometimes, from the dog to itself. Signs of stress are often involuntary physiological responses, such as such as losing hair or dander, trembling, drooling, sweating from the paws, panting a lot, etc.

Question: I can’t see the signals. How can I learn to see them?

Answer: The easiest way to learn is to go and watch dogs when they are together. I suggest leaving your dog(s) at home, so you aren’t distracted with caretaking.

When dogs are under stress and pressure, such as at sports events, they will use the signals. But for the very best training in seeing what dogs can and will do with the signals, try going where they have plenty of space to move around in, and their humans aren’t constantly interrupting them. Watch the dances dogs do, using the signals, when running free and comfortable with each other. When they have the space, without crowding, it can be beautiful, and so very, very skilled to watch.

When you go observing, pick one or two signals at a time to look for. It’s too easy to miss some because we try to see all of them at once. You could decide, “I’m going to watch for head turning today, and lip-licking tomorrow.”

Question: Why can I see other dogs using the signals, but I can’t see my own dog using them?

Answer: It’s always harder to see the signals in our own dogs. We tend to make up stories about our dogs, and that makes it difficult for us to stand back and observe as though we didn’t know our own dogs. Also, we are so used to seeing what our dogs are doing that we might not notice the signals until somebody else comes along and points them out. That’s what life is like when we live very closely with other animals.

Question: Sometimes, another dog, instead of respecting the signals my dog is giving by returning them, or by leaving my dog alone, rushes up and is in my dogs space! What is going on here?

Answer: Adolescent dogs, like adolescent humans, may ignore social communication, and explore the world they live in with exuberance. These dogs might pester other dogs, or try to play too roughly.

Question: Aren’t calming signals gestures of appeasement?

Answer: Many people have said that and continue to say it. Humans who think in terms of power struggle, of winning and losing, commonly make this error in classification. Dogs actively and deliberately use the signals to assure a friendly venue in the first place, so nothing bad happens. In these instances it’s preventive, not appeasing, action.

Dogs do this during any change of location or environment, during comings and goings. They lay the groundwork for safety and pleasure. And yes, they can use the signals to appease as well.

Question: When I ask my dog to do something, he tries to bother me by doing everything as slowly as possible. Or he looks away, and even turns his back, ignoring me completely. Is he stubborn? Isn’t he disobedient?

Answer: Dogs watch us, their human caretakers, with precision and accuracy. They often know us better than we know ourselves. If we are tense or anxious, they do all in their power to calm us. One of the common signals is to move slowly. Another is to look away, a third is to turn the back to the anxious creature.

Recommended reading:

On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals - Turid Rugaas

For the Love of a Dog: Understanding Emotion in You and Your Best Friend - Patricia McConnell