Good Monday morning. I'm sure that you all noticed that I've been absent? I was busy with wedding festivities and family visiting over the last couple of weeks. But now it's back to life as usual.
First let me tell you all that Elsa is doing well physically after her attack. I am following up further on the attack and details and it waits to be seen if she will suffer from emotional fallout; I'm thinking most likely.
This brings me to today's topic of discussion, reading body language. Dogs are amazing at reading body language; of course there are levels of understanding but most are experts. There are some who can read it but ignore much of the meaning and then there are a few who just don't get it. As for humans reading body language? We are HORRIBLE. Take for instance the act of stepping off of a path or reining a dog in; this should tell the passers by that we do not want to interact. But even when we give off all of the clear "do not come near me" signs; the humans still continue to approach.
There are those who walk their dogs on the end of an extended extension leash; the ones who take up a 10-15 foot circle around them. Do they rein in their dog as others approach? Nope. You not only have to step off of the path; having to deal with their lack of space consideration but also their dog leaping at the end of the leash. When you move away they often throw the "what's wrong with you?" look. Let's face it, most humans have lost their ability to read body language. When we send clear signals that are completely ignored, it forces us to use words. The use of body language can completely remove the need to "get into it." Remove the interaction before hand and a problem never arises. But we just don't get it.
As an intense watcher of canine body language; I am also a human body language watcher. It comes with the territory and is fascinating. I have begun to read people as much as dogs by watching. It truly is amazing to see how much we can read just by really watching. But many humans have thrown the whole body language thing out the window. They don't watch their dog and they definitely don't watch other humans. They rely solely on words, ignoring clear signals given.
Body language is a bits and pieces act. You can look at the big picture or dissect it to pieces. It is in these pieces that you will find the information. Small cues that give off so much information. Humans are very easy to read; even given the fact that we can lie and do so. If you watch carefully you can even see the truth and a lie via body language. Humans can try to hide but much of who we are, is held within our movements. Movements of extremities, eyes and posture.
If we all focused on better communications there would be far less issues to deal with after the fact.
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