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Pets use lots of signals to communicate, but you have to learn to speak their language, explains behaviourist vet Marjan van Hagen. She teaches, consults and works at the Behaviour Clinic.

You can learn a lot about a pet by closely observing its behaviour, Van Hagen explains. "Animals communicate with you through signals like facial expressions, body language and sounds."

Wagging tail

"You can tell a lot from body language. For example, a dog flicking the tip of its tongue in and out of its mouth is feeling anxious. Dogs tend to wag their tails because they're excited, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're feeling happy. That's why it's so important to accurately interpret their signals."

Greeting or threat

In addition to body language, animals also use sounds to communicate. "The tone and rhythm of barking sounds varies. Some dog owners can distinguish as many as eight different barks. Dogs use a high-pitched bark as a greeting and a short, sharp one when they're excited. They'll use a deep bark or even a growl if they see an intruder."

Some dog owners can distinguish as many as eight different barks.

A repertoire of cat noises

Cats also use body language and sounds to express their needs. "Cats have a repertoire of up to 21 different sounds. They actually give off extremely subtle signals through their facial expression and body language, which can be easy to miss. That's why you really need to look out for behavioural changes in cats."

Deep-seated needs

“Behaviour is complex and can be influenced by lots of factors, including hereditary predispositions. Breeds vary in terms of their temperament and abilities. It all depends on the purpose for which the dogs were bred, such as herding, hunting or keeping watch. Our dogs still have a deep-seated need to express those behaviours and tend to fall back on them in tense situations. Every animal also has its own unique personality. Some might be eager to explore new things, while others have more of a wait and see attitude. You need to let dogs make their own choices. For example, if another dog is approaching, your dog should have the opportunity to sniff it, play, walk around it and avoid contact or retreat."

"Heredity also seems to play a role in the development of behavioural problems. For example, dogs that were bred to work can become restless if their daily exercise is limited to short walks. The same applies to cats with the urge to explore their environment and hunt. If they're denied that opportunity, they might pounce at their owner, who could then interpret their behaviour as aggression."

You never get bored observing animal behaviour.

Rewarding work

At the Behaviour Clinic, every case is unique. "If we get an animal with behavioural problems, we identify all the contributing factors in order to establish a behavioural diagnosis. That could include hereditary factors, early life experiences, rearing and environment. Every individual is interesting in its own right. In most cases, we can make a real difference for the animals and their owners. Although we might not always be able to fix the unwanted behaviour, we can help the owners understand why their animal is doing what it's doing and teach them the best way to respond. We work with the owners to explore potential adjustments to the animal's living environment, care routine and training. It's a unique field and the work is really rewarding.

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