Just for Kids: How Your Dog Communicates

Do you ever wish your dog could talk to you? Wouldn't you like to know what he's thinking sometimes? Well, your dog "talks" to you all the time. If you pay attention, you may be able to "hear" him. Although he may not speak, your dog communicates in different ways. He does it mostly through barking, wagging his tail, and the position of his body.

These are some of the things your dog can let you know:

• Want to play with me?
• I'm so glad you are home.

One thing for sure is that he's grinning. His bark is high pitched and his tail is wagging. He looks really happy to see you.

• Something is wrong.
• I'm so sad.

Your dog can look really sad. He lies down and puts his sad face between his paws. Sometimes he looks at you with big sad eyes. If he's really sad, he may whine. Then you need to give him some attention fast.

• I love you.
• He limps. Maybe your dog hurt the pads of his feet. Or maybe his body hurts. Or maybe it's something else.
• He shakes his head. There might be something wrong with his ears.
• He licks or paws at his body.
• He doesn't want to eat.
• He doesn't want to play.

If you notice anything different about your dog, tell your parents. He may need to see the veterinarian.