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“Watch and learn, sit back and observe your pet's behaviors,” a veterinary behaviorist says. “Everyone is an individual.”
“Watch and learn, sit back and observe your pet’s behaviors,” a veterinary behaviorist says. “Everyone is an individual.”
Jessica Peralta, 2017
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Beyond “sit,” “stay” and “walk,” the average dog can understand more than 165 words, and as technology advances and animal research improves, humans and pets may soon be able to communicate even more fluently.

Around the globe, scientists and researchers are working to bridge the divide between animal and human communication. At North Carolina State University, an engineering team is developing a “smart harness” for dogs that uses vibrations to send commands. A researcher at Georgia Tech designed computerized vests for service dogs that release audio messages when its mechanical levers are pulled. For example, if the dog’s owner has a seizure, the dog could use the vest to ask a passer-by for help.

In some clinical trials in the United Kingdom, dogs were able to successfully detect cancer and other illnesses in humans.

In Cambodia, rats are being used to sniff out landmines and proving to be more effective than metal detectors.

Some animals, like cats, also develop a specific language with their owners. A 2003 study by Cornell researchers found that cats use different meows to elicit certain responses from their owners. The study also revealed that cats only meow to humans, not to each other.

“We may communicate with our pets more than we’re aware of, with our body biochemistry, facial expression and even our body’s posture,” said O.C. veterinary behaviorist Stefanie Schwartz.

As many animal lovers know, pets can identify when their owners are upset, happy or playful. According to Schwartz, owners can learn the same trick by simply paying attention.

“One very interesting behavior (in) dogs is tail wagging,” said Irith Trietsch Bloom, owner of The Sophisticated Dog pet training in Los Angeles.

She says dogs often wag their tails to express happiness but sometimes a wag means the dog is agitated, afraid or aggressive, so it’s important to look at the whole dog, not only the tail.

If just the tip of your cat’s tail is moving, she’s probably interested in something happening nearby, Bloom said. If your cat’s entire tail is swishing around rapidly, she may be agitated or angry.

Understanding how to soothe an anxious animal starts with identifying the problem.

If your dog is stressed, he may yawn when he’s not tired, lick his lips when there’s no food present and refuse eye contact, said Certified Professional Dog Trainer Kate Connell, owner of Calmer Canines in Costa Mesa.

“Just as with dogs, you need to look at your cat’s body language in context,” Bloom said. “If your cat’s fur is bristling and his body is arched, he’s probably feeling agitated no matter what his ears and tail are doing.”

According to Connell, many canine stress signals are normal behaviors in an abnormal context, such as itching and scratching when there are no fleas or allergies. “Stress releases histamines, which makes the dog itchy,” she said.

A dog lying on his back, showing you his belly, may mean one of two things, Connell said. He may be nervous and behaving submissively toward a perceived threat, especially if he lies very still, avoids eye contact and/or urinates. Or he may be feeling safe and willing to expose his vulnerable belly, especially if he wiggles himself and wags his tail.

“Watch and learn, sit back and observe your pet’s behaviors,” Schwartz said. “There are behaviors typical of species, but everyone is an individual, too.”