We can convey our feelings in words, but are you sure you can understand what your pet is feeling? Are you sure you are capable of understanding your pet’s gestures?

We’ve found that many dog owners have a tricky time guessing what their puppies

are trying to tell them. Here are some interesting things we came across on our visit to KAT.

Do you know how to hold your pet in your arms? Indeed, the majority of you don’t. Do not hold your dog by his/her ears or legs. Dogs feel discomfort and agony. Your doggy is going to feel secure when you hold it with one hand on its chest and the other near its stomach.

Are you visiting a friend’s house, but aren’t familiar with the canine there? No problem, we’ll help you. Sometimes even when the dog is wagging its tail, it’s hard to know what’s going on in his/her head. The best possible way to know the dog is to go and stand boldly, then steadily kneel down touch the dog under his chin with your fist; since there are very few chances that dog will bite you on the back of your hand when bunched into a fist. Your friend’s pup is going to feel at home with you now.

If you go near an unknown dog, the dog actually is afraid of you. They are fond of playing with us but being unable to use its hands/feet, they play with their mouth. No wonder people think it is trying to bite them!

However, dogs can get angry. If a dog is asleep, the most awful thing you can do is to wake him/her up.

The six possible affectionate gestures are:

• Petting the chest, especially with males

• Petting the base of the tail — provides pleasant feelings

• Petting under the jaw, softly and with the tips of your fingers

• Rubbing its ears and pet behind them

• Pat softly and pet the back

• Put your hand on the back or belly and keep it there for a while

Do not pat on the dog’s neck or grab its tail. This annoys the dog. If you raise your hand, the dog will feel that you are about to hit it and get scared. So, to defend itself, it will try to bite.

Dogs can live without food but not water.

Dogs, like wolves and jackals, used to exist in large groups where there was a leader. Dogs recognise leadership in a group and will either distinguish you as their leader or not. When you have dogs at home, you should know that you are the leader.

They show their emotions through body language. Signs like running towards you by wagging its tail with tongue hanging out represents that it wants to play with you. But if you are not in the mood just try ignoring, and it will go away. But if you try to shoo them or raise your hand, they will feel you are in a playful mood so they keep running around you and try pulling you to play with them.

The best way to tell a dog’s mood is through its ears, specially if the dog’s ears are naturally in an upward position. But even dogs like a Spaniel or a Basset, that have droopy ears, can express themselves with their ears. Here are a few examples:

• Stiff ears indicate awareness, paying close attention and self-confidence.

• When the ears go forward or to the side, it means it is getting in position for a fight or paying very close attention to something.

• When the ears go backwards or are straightened out, it indicates the dog is insecure.