Just because a gun dog can’t speak doesn’t mean he’s not saying anything. That’s why observant handlers are always watching their dogs. Sure, they are monitoring their performance of the given command, but they’re also looking for insight as to how the dog feels. Reading their body language is key for elevating their performance levels, and here are some things pro trainers look for when they cut loose their string.
Chris Akin, Webb Footed Kennels, Jonesboro, Arkansas, says that anyone can read a dog, especially because they’re a lot like reading a teenager. The Eukanuba pro trainer says, “Dogs are like teenagers, and their body language tells it all. Walk down the hall in a high school and you’ll see a guy standing straight up with his chest puffed out. He’s confident, bold, and may even be a little cocky. Another student that averts eye contact and walks with shoulders slumped down probably is feeling somewhat insecure. If you can walk into a room and read people, then you can do the same with dogs.”
Chris Akin (Photo courtesy of Eukanuba Sporting Dog)
Akin says forward means go and backward means no. “Any time you see forward movement in a dog, you know that he’s feeling confident, happy, and ready to go to work,” he said. “I look at tails, eyes, ears, and shoulders. High tails, bright eyes, and forward ears tell me a dog’s ready to go. But I key in on the shoulders. If a dog’s shoulders are slightly forward, we’re good. If they’re really far forward, then I’ve got an arrogant dog. That cocky dog is going to have a big run, but he’s gonna test you every step of the way. By watching him you know you’ve got to throttle him back to keep him focused and on track.”
Backward position can be one of two things, says Akin. “A dog with ears pinned back can be scared just as a tail tucked under his body can show he lacks confidence. Training should be to focus on getting them into a better place where they’re having fun and enjoying their work. But I always question how they’re feeling, too. I watch them during feeding time to gauge volume and speed in which they eat. We’re constantly watching water intake, and we look at a dog’s gum line to make sure they’re light pink, which is an indication of proper hydration. Dogs with lighter or darker gums might not be getting enough nutrition, and if there is any sign of unusual behavior, we’ll take a temperature. If the dog’s temperature is out of line, then we’ll head to the vet. Something is wrong, and it’s always better to catch it earlier than later.”
And if a dog is licking his lips when you give a command? “He’s submitting and is obedient,” Akin says. “If he doesn’t, then you probably are going to have to focus on bringing him under control.”
Robert Milner
Robert Milner, owner of Duckhill Kennels in Somerville, Tennessee, says that while dogs frequently communicate vocally, they really are visual communicators. “One way to read a dog is to listen to his voice,” he said. “Dogs use their voice for different purposes. If they’re howling, then they’re advertising their territory. Higher- or lower-pitched barks delivered regularly and consistently are used to show if they are alarmed, bored, or feeling protective. Barking easily can be a greeting, too. Each dog uses their bark slightly differently, so watch to see when and how a dog vocalizes. It’ll offer insight into his mood.”
But the eyes are the windows to the soul. “Dogs use their eyes to cue in on an owner or handler’s body language,” he said. “Their eyes will show if they are attentive, bored, playful, scared, or happy. A focused look shows they’re ready to work, a furtive sideways glance shows they’re nervous or scared. A glance with a tilted head shows they’re confused but interested. A sullen glance may mean they’re worn out or not happy with what they’re doing. Spend some time looking at your dog’s eyes, for they’ll tell you when to train, for how long to train, or if you should hold off.”
Ken Kalil of Kalil’s Upstate Outfitters in Lake Placid, New York, focuses his attention on a dog’s eyes, tongue, and mouth. “I always start a session or a hunt by looking at my dog’s eyes,” he said. “Dogs that have bright, alert eyes are ready to work. It’s okay if their head is moving and their eyes are scanning back and forth because that usually means they’re trying to figure out something. That careful surveillance is purposeful, which is different from a bored dog that’s just looking around. What that dog might be studying is how to navigate terrain when running a mark or making a note of where multiple ducks are in the water.”
Ken Kalil (Photo courtesy of Eukanuba Sporting Dog)
After watching their eyes, Kalil next looks at their mouths. “If a dog is swimming and licking at the water, then they’re either nervous or are being pushed too hard,” says Kalil. “Lapping at the water also may indicate that they’re confused about what the handler is asking them to do. Oftentimes that’s the result of a handler giving a dog too many commands, especially if those commands are different. If a handler says, ‘Come,’ and follows it up with, ‘Come here,’ and then, ‘Come over here,’ the dog gets confused. While I’m looking at a dog’s lips, I’ll also look at his mouth. If a dog’s mouth is closed and he’s breathing slowly, then you’re looking at a focused dog that’s ready to roll. A dog like that will cue you for what’s next. Say I’m running multiples; when a dog returns with a duck or a bumper, I’ll ask him to give it to me and to sit. He’ll breathe with his mouth open because he just got done working. But when his mouth closes, I know he’s ready to be released, and that’s when I’ll send him on the next retrieve.”
Kalil advises handlers to be cautious when reading dog’s behavior in certain environmental conditions. “If it’s really windy, a dog might need an extra second or three to respond to your command,” he said. “If you’re calling or whistling into the wind, your sounds are muffled. The same holds true when dogs are running hard in shallow water. In those instances, give your dog a little extra time to respond before making a correction. Overhandling a dog is never a good thing.”
Ashly Kite, Moss Bend Retrievers, Grimesland, North Carolina, says, “When I get to a dog’s kennel door and see him scratching to get out, I pay attention. I’ll open the cage door, and if he’s pushing his way out, I pay even more attention. I’ll collar him up and put him on the ground, and if he sits and looks at me for a command, I know we’re going to have a big run. His focus is more on me and going to work than anything else. That behavior has been consistent with every dog that has been part of my few hundred upper-level wins.”
Brad Arington (Photo courtesy of Eukanuba Sporting Dog)
Brad Arington of Mossy Pond Retrievers in Patterson, Georgia, is a Eukanuba pro trainer who says, “Learning a dog’s signs is one of the hardest things to do. It’s a gift that some trainers have and others don’t. But with some work, everyone can get better at it, and that’s the important part. Bright eyes, high tails, alert ears are simple signs that a dog feels good, is happy, and is looking forward to going to work. Dogs with dull eyes, tucked tail, and pinned ears are saying there is something wrong. Overall, those are good indications of a dog’s attitude, but remember that every dog is different. If a dog’s tail is naturally straight, then that is when they are alert and content. What handlers should look for is when that position changes and goes either up or down. That’s when they’re trying to tell you something. All dogs have nuances, and the more dogs you work, the more you learn. Work with your buddy’s dogs, watch dogs at a hunt test or at a field trial, and you’ll see. The more dogs you study, the faster you’ll learn and can pick up on what they’re telling you.”
Paying attention to a dog’s eyes, ears, mouth, tail, and body posture helps handlers read them correctly. Watch how they move, how they interact with the environment and other dogs, and you’ll understand what they’re saying. Nonverbal communication doesn’t mean no one is talking. It just means we need to listen with our eyes.
