As Can Do Canines volunteers, we get to host and work with amazing dogs. Because of their genetics and the care they receive, they are some of the easiest, gentlest and most resilient dogs you will ever meet!
However, we have to remember that the human world is inherently stressful for ALL dogs, even our incredible Can Do Canines.
Here’s why:
Imagine you are staying with a host family in a foreign country. Their home is cozy, the food is amazing, and they welcome you in with open arms. However, your hosts don’t speak your primary language. During your time together you generally figure things out and everyone has a great time. But when you run into difficulties or there’s conflict, some things will inevitably get “lost in translation” despite the very best of intentions all around.
We are not fluent in our dogs’ primary language. We provide excellent care and unconditional love, but we WILL miss things that they are trying to tell us, especially since we work with dogs that can show their stress in more subtle ways than a typical pet dog.
Gratefully, dogs use their bodies to tell us exactly what they are feeling, and this clear (if subtle) communication is really good news for those of us who love them and want to understand them more.
To shed some light on a canine’s perspective, our family’s pet dog Career Change Quest has written some articles he would like to share. Quest is uniquely qualified as a teacher: he is very tolerant and loving, but confidently sets gentle boundaries with hapless humans.
Whether you are super new to Can Do Canines, or are super experienced, we hope you can learn something new!
My name is Question Mark Schlenk, but most people call me Quest. I am a “Career-Changed” Can Do Canine, which means that although I am the very best of dogs, the world makes me very itchy and thus I cannot be an assistance dog.
I turned five on July 4th and was inspired to share some of what I’ve gleaned over my years spent with humans. I went with a “Buzzfeed”-style article, which seems to be how you humans explain small bits of information to each other in a light-hearted way.
Five Things I Do That Don’t Mean What You Think
1) Yawning doesn’t mean I’m tired.
Ok. This one is understandably tricky for ya’ll. In human language yawning suggests being tired or bored. Sometimes your dog will yawn and then fall into a deep sleep, but I bet most yawns you see happen when your dog is ramped up… So, what gives?
A dog’s yawn is often a clue that they are having to cope with an internal conflict of some sort, and that they’d benefit from your help resolving the situation.
For example, I am A Very Good Boy, so when my mom puts me in a “park” under her waiting room chair at the veterinarian’s office I am usually happy to comply. She pays with cookies, after all. However, the last time we went I let out a big, dramatic yawn. The yawn let her know something was amiss, and looking around she spotted a dog who was staring at me (VERY RUDE!) while his human was paying their bill. Mom could see that the room was getting crowded with stressy dogs, so she decided we could stroll over to a quieter area.
Could I have stayed in my spot and survived? Sure. But because Mom picked up on my cue and there was something she could do to ease the tension, she went for it. Over time those seemingly small things really add up for my well-being.
2) Showing you my belly doesn’t always mean I want pets.
Listen. I understand that I am gorgeous. Admire me to your heart’s content. But if we’re hanging out and I roll over, under most circumstances, I am not looking for a belly rub.
In the dog world, rolling onto our side or back and lifting up a rear leg while exposing our bellies is kind of like “tapping out.” Like, when two humans are talking and it’s getting a bit intense. Not unfriendly. Just intense. Human #1 says, with his hands up, “Dude, I’m cool. Are you cool?” And Human #2 backs up a bit, also shows his hands, and assures Human #1, “Yep. I’m cool.” Crisis averted. Nothing to see here.
Now imagine the same scenario, but instead of Human #2 responding to Human #1’s cues by backing off, he exclaims to Human #1, “Oh, look at your sweet belly!” and starts rubbing said belly vigorously. Then he starts humming a song and uses Human #1’s hands like an orchestra conductor.
LOLZ
But for real, that’s kind of what’s going on with us. So the next time you’re with a dog, and they roll over onto their back, give them some space so they can choose what comes next. Trust me. If they REALLY want belly rubs, they will hunt you down and make it abundantly clear. We’ll talk more about that another time.
3) Tail wagging doesn’t always mean I’m happy.
Oof. This one is big. So ya’ll use your hands to signal and gesture to one another, right? Now imagine that I decide that every time you move your hands it means you’re happy. How often would I be correct? 30% of the time? 50%? 80%? Who knows, but let’s just say that tail wags come in all varieties, and you have to assess some other clues before you can get an accurate read on what’s going on in my head.
4) Sitting still and “behaving” doesn’t always mean I’m OK.
You’ve probably noticed that Can Do Canines makes intentional choices about what kind of puppies are born into the program. I can also tell you that no matter how much training the yappy rat of a dog next door gets (let’s call him Bud), he’ll likely never be able to walk calmly in a Target. If Bud’s got an opinion, you’re going to hear about it one way or another. And honestly? That’s not Bud’s fault. His ancestors were created to scare possums out of sewers during the Black Plague or some such.
But what about me? I’m not an assistance dog, but I was born to be one. Because we’ve kept up with our training, Mom can bring me to pet-friendly places and I’ll (often) behave like my working comrades. If she wants to take a picture of me next to a giant fish statue in a busy rest stop near Lake Mille Lacs, I’ll hold a solid “sit-stay” at the end of my leash like I’m told. But that doesn’t mean I want to or that it’s comfortable. Luckily she continues to learn more about my language so if I’m showing stress or conflict she’ll settle for an “us-ie” (a selfie, but of us!) so I can be near her and the cookies.
5) Bringing you something doesn't always mean I want you to throw it or tug it.
A silly one to wrap us up, but for real: Can someone please tell my Dad that just because I have a toy in my mouth when I ask him for butt scratches it doesn’t mean I want to play fetch or tug? By diving through his legs I am clearly communicating my need for a butt scratch. I am also a retriever, which means I want all the things in my mouth at all times. There is no need to delay the scratches by sending me on a fool’s errand to get the toy back in order to continue the scratches. If I drop the toy at your feet and glance at you expectantly, then feel free to throw it.
If any of this brings up more questions or if you want clarification, reach out to your Puppy Program folks. They’ll do their best to help you out.
Thanks for reading. See you next time!
Quest
Contact Us
Location
