Animal Sign: Dogs
Dog owners commonly talk to their dogs. Stanley Coren, Canadian psychologist, said that the canines "can understand 160-200 words, signs and signals, and produce about a quarter of those gestures themselves." (Edmonton Journal, June 21, 2002). Not only they teach dogs how to communicate but they also learn how to read and understand their own furry friends.
Owners' Communication Mediums
Since animals and humans use different parts of their bodies to communicate thoughts and emotions.
There are different ways of teaching and communicating with dogs. Although many owners, animal scientists and researchers usually use Sign Languages already developed by Deaf people to communicate with animals, the owners can modify some of the signs and signals. For example, dog owners might prefer, using "clap" movement to indicate "good" while others may prefer "thumb-up" signal to indicate "good".
Dogs' Communication Mediums
"Dogs read the state of the world through their noses, and they write their messages to other dogs in urine. A particular dog's urine contains a lot of information about that dog. It smells different depending upon the dog's age and health; whether it is male or female, or a female in heat; and even depending upon the dog's emotional state. For a dog, sniffing a fire hydrant or a tree along a route popular with other dogs is a means of keeping abreast of current events. That tree is really a large newspaper containing the latest news items in the dog world, and perhaps even installments of classic canine literature." -- Stanley Coren, "What do Dogs Know?"
Beside the most strength of communication by scents, dogs rely on intuition for "knowledge" such as detecting an earthquake before its occurence. They express their emotions and needs through gestures like waggling, licking and other body language.
Connection through Communication
There was a time when people thought there was no possibility of communication with their babies until the babies begin to speak after a year of birth. The world changed when research not long time ago discovered the benefits and needs that communication with babies in signs long before they can begin to vocally speak. Things can be paradoxical and full of surprises in life.
The reasons for communication with dogs in signs are various. The loving owners might enjoy doing it with their dogs for a sense of connection and love. They could entertain their tricks to delightful guests. An owner mentioned that using signs made a difference in her dog's behaviour. Or above all, explore and discover new things.
Ameslan
ASL and Ameslan are interchangeable for American Sign Language.
Auslan
Australian Sign Language
