Dog COMMUNICATION using smell

Dogs mark what they consider their territory by using their personal smell. Olfatively reading the information contained in the urine left by other dogs is probably for them as it is for us to read the newspaper in the morning. These olfative signs are full of information about the sex, health state, social status and even the hormonal situation of the dogs in the neighborhood.

 Dogs can even detect the fear other animals are experiencing through the sense of smell. It is said that when a dog is scared, it liberates certain chemical substances called pheromones, aimed to alert the others about the danger. Maybe that is the reason why lots of dogs are terrified of going to the veterinarian even when they have never had any negative experiences at the clinic. It is probable that a highly developed sense of smell let them know how many dogs are or have been, until not very long ago, at the park and if they know them or not. reflective dog collar

VISUAL COMMUNICATION

When they are in sight, the olfative signs give the way to the gesture language. The majority of dogs, if they are not seized to a lead and can freely move, take some time to introduce themselves to the dogs they don't know. At first, they will be like paralyzed just looking at each other. Later on, they will slowly and precociously approach each other, frequently taking a detour instead of directly approaching the other, which can be seen as an attempt of aggression. When the dogs are close, they will normally smell each other, first on the face and head and finally on the genital area, a lot is understood from the olfative information.

 After this, one of the may walk away, or maybe the two of them at the same time, and raise a paw to urinate, taking the introduction to the end. It is also possible for them to invite each other to play by shaking the front paws in the air, lying down on their front paws while the rear paws remain in their normal position or barking. Even when it may seem they are actually fighting while playing, they normally understand and respect the social rules while doing it and it is very strange for them to bite or challenge each other with real hostility.

 The dog's brain, as in the majority of mammals, is able to think, learn and remember. While the brain controls the learning process, emotions and conduct; the cerebellum controls the muscles. The cerebral body is connected to the peripheral nervous system, that goes through the whole body. Some chemical substances called neurotransmitters, are in charge of transmitting the information to the inner part of the brain. These chemical messages are regulated and conditioned by many factors in which the hormonal state of the dog and even its diet are included.