10/31/2025
“Our dogs are ALWAYS communicating, whether we are understanding and responding to them intentionally or not.
A common occurrence in our household is that at the end of the day,
Penny will come sit or stand in front of me and simply stare at me.
Most often, this is when I am on my phone or computer and busy doing something.
It’s then my job to determine what it is she is asking for.
In order to communicate clearly, I propose or ask 1 thing at a time, most often starting with the simplest thing: pets on her chest.
If she moves away, looks away, shows ‘whale eye,’ curves her body away,
this is a clear indication of:
“No thanks. That’s not what I’m looking for.”
I might then offer a treat, usually asking for a very simple behavior first to earn it. “Kisses? Good girl.” and I’ll offer a treat. Which she will always eat, but if she then quickly returns to continue her stare, I then need to ask myself:
“Have all her needs been met today?
she has water?
Has she eaten?
Has she had adequate enrichment and exercise?
Is her bed is clean and available to her.... ...wait, what time is it?”
That last bit is almost ALWAYS the reason for Penny’s deadpan stare in the evenings.
If it is anywhere around 8PM, she is nearly always asking for 1 of two things:
to do a puzzle or to go outside to p*e so she can go to bed and not be disrupted.
Because I have paid attention to her schedule, preferences, and communication over the years, I am better able to understand and problem solve what she needs when her communication may be a little confusing.”
- read more in our blog:
Dog Communication Breakdown:
What are they asking for?
