PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Your furry family members may be the most down-to-earth members of your household, according to Pennsylvania animal advocate Carol Erickson. Our dogs have their own ways of telling us to calm down, Erickson said, and she explains how we can understand their calming techniques.
“Dogs are very good at staying within the family. Unfortunately, people don’t understand that calming signals that the dogs direct us,’ she said.
Dogs move slowly when we’re acting panicked to encourage us to do the same, Erickson says. When tensions are high, she says, dogs slow down to try to get us to do the same.
Erickson also says it goes both ways. If a dog is stressed or panicky, people can sit down to help them relax. Dogs do the same thing to signal that they mean no harm.
Dogs may also turn their heads away from us when trying to relieve a tense situation. Erickson says it’s not a sign of disrespect, but rather a way to show us they aren’t a threat.
Slow blinking can also be your dog’s way of trying to release a stressful situation. According to Erickson, this is a way for dogs to let other dogs know that they mean no harm.
“Watch for the dogs who try to be the most diplomatic members of the household,” she said.
Olivia Dunne contributed to this article.
CBS News Philadelphia staff
