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The ball rolls under the couch and your dog can’t reach it. He looks over at you, sticks his head under the couch with his tail wagging, and looks back over at you. What do you think he is saying to you?

“Get my toy!”

Most dog owners already know that their dog communicates with them, but scientists recently confirmed this, reporting that dogs use specific gestures to communicate their “wants” with humans!

Not only do dogs take commands, such as “sit” and “lie down,” with words and hand signals, but they give commands too! Dogs communicate with their bark, it’s true, but also with their body movements and gestures (or signals). The scientists reported that dogs use different gestures to coax their owners into “performing” certain commands.

The commands were:

• “Give me food/drink”
• “Open the door”
• “Get my toy/bone”
• “Scratch me!”

They discovered 19 different gestures that dogs used to get their owners to fulfill their commands. Sometimes a dog would call on several different gestures to get a single command fulfilled. This could have been due to a delay in the response from the pet owner.

The most common gesture was a head turn, where the dog turned his head from side to side, usually between a human and an apparent object of interest. This gesture was used for all the commands noted above.

Just as certain gestures were used for different commands, other gestures were used exclusively for a single, specific command (want). For example, rolling onto one side of the body and exposing the chest, stomach, and groin always meant “Scratch me!”

An interesting take away from this study is that this type of gesturing in animals (other than humans) is quite rare. It has been observed in the great apes (chimpanzees, orangutans) and some bird and fish species, but limited to one or two gestures and only with members of the same species (with the exception of apes in captivity where they have been observed to gesture with their human caretakers). To observe such “cross-species” behavior (between a dog and a human) is rarer still.

For years we have known that dogs understand the commands we give them, using signals (gestures) as well as words, but now we know for a fact that dogs use their own gestures to give us commands, and understand what they are telling us!

The human-canine bond goes back thousands of years. Over this time, dogs and humans have clearly developed the knack to understand each other’s gestures – and wants.

The next time your dog wants the door opened to go out, pay attention to the signals he sends – does he paw the door? – jump up and down at the door? – look from the door to you and back to the door again? You might be amazed at the way your dog is communicating with you to get what he wants!

You have worked hard all year and summer vacation is almost here! The big question is, are you prepared to travel with your pet this summer? Some vacations are well-suited to include your furry friend, but it is important to keep a few things in mind when preparing to travel with a pet, so your trip is memorable…in a good way! Here are a few tips to consider before you set out on your summer road trip!

• Use a pet restraint device or keep your pet in his crate while travelling.
• Always leash your pet BEFORE you stop for an exercise break. Your pet may dash out of your car as soon as the door opens.
• Make frequent exercise breaks. Dogs need to take regular walks on road trips. Stopping at busy gas stations is not ideal, so try to plan your stops at rest areas or parks where your dog can be leash-walked to stretch his legs and go to the bathroom. Build extra time into your schedule for these stops.
• If travelling with a cat, keep a small litterbox in the pet carrier. Scoop the litterbox frequently to keep everyone happy.
• Make sure your pet is adequately identified in case you become separated from him. Microchipping is a permanent way for your pet to be identified, but it’s also a good idea to have an ID tag attached to his collar that has your cell phone number on it. Be sure that the contact information – including your cell phone number – associated with the microchip is up-to-date.
• Bring enough food and water for the whole trip. Changes in diet often lead to gastrointestinal upset and an upset stomach is not fun for anyone. Taking an ample water supply with you for your pet avoids any problems with local water supplies.
• Carry the proper paper work for your pet and ensure you know the regulations for travelling across state/provincial borders. If travelling to another country, you will need to investigate the requirements of doing so. Keep a copy of your pet’s health certificate (verification that your pet will not carry infectious diseases/parasites across state lines) and bring a copy of your pet’s medical records in case of an emergency with your pet.
• Be sure to bring your pet’s routine medication(s) including flea, tick, and heartworm preventives. Check with your veterinarian about any parasites in your destination area. Ticks may not be of concern in your hometown, but your destination may be a different story. Your veterinarian can advise you of any preventives you may need.
• If your pet is prone to car sickness or stress-induced diarrhea, speak to your veterinarian ahead of time for recommendations. Your veterinarian can give you tips or prescribe medication that can help.
• Try feeding smaller, more frequent meals instead of large meals right before hitting the road.
• If you plan on long hikes with your dog, build up his stamina before you head out on holidays. Be sure to bring along a collapsible water dish, or other water dispensers and make sure you have packed plenty of water for both you and your dog. Stop frequently for water breaks. If hiking in the mountains, provide water breaks every 20-30 minutes. It is easy to become dehydrated in higher elevations. Make sure your pet is comfortable drinking from these water dispensers before you head out on your hike!
• Take time for rest. Vacations can be hectic, so schedule in some “down time” for you and your pet.
• Finally, consider if taking your pet with you is the best idea. If you plan on doing a lot of sight-seeing in museums or galleries, your pet is going to spend a lot of time alone in your hotel room. Sometimes the reality of vacationing with your pet is much different than what you envisioned! If you decide to leave you pet behind, rest assured, he will enjoy his own “vacation” at a boarding kennel or staying with a Pet Sitter.

With a little planning and preparation, you can make great memories while vacationing with your pets this summer!