Animal Behavior: What is My Dog Saying?

Written by C. Bailey-Lloyd/Lady Camelot


Animal Behavior: What is My Dog Saying? by C. Bailey-Lloyd

Dogs are quite amiable creatures. Much like our human counterparts, their speech is often amplified by their body movements and facial expressions. If you haven't done so yet, carefully study your dog's eyes. Watch his eyebrow motions. Often times, we don't hear them speaking because we're too busy not paying attention to their eye motions. When your dog is facing you and his eyes shift suddenly back and forth, he's telling you that he wants something. Whether it's, "...hey, Mom - let's play,", "...come follow me, I want to show you something," or "...I need to go pee;" well - that's up torepparttar individual animal himself.

Sometimes, dogs will look at you fromrepparttar 126123 corner of their eye, will loudly yawn and fall torepparttar 126124 ground. This is an obvious sign that they're bored and they want attention. Your attention.

Some dogs are rather bold with their sign language and will literally come up to you and place their paw on your leg, arm or hand. She'll either gently tap you or downright pounce on you. When she taps you - again - watch her eye movements. Are her eyes focused in one particular direction? Mayberepparttar 126125 door,repparttar 126126 empty water bowel orrepparttar 126127 dog food bag? Or after she taps you, does she pressrepparttar 126128 side of her body against you? If she does, she wants to be stroked and loved. If she pounces on you with her paws, this is usually a sense of urgency. This usually means she wants to play rough or she needs to go outside and inspectrepparttar 126129 premises.

One of my favorite communication signals from dogs is when they lie on their backs, usually with forearms bent atrepparttar 126130 joints. This isrepparttar 126131 common "white flag" signal. What does "white flag" signal mean? Well, when dogs play with other dogs, this is their way of saying to one another, "...okay, I give up - you win, you'rerepparttar 126132 leader..." But when they lie on their backs for you, it's even more telling. This means that they are submitting. You arerepparttar 126133 master and they willingly acknoweldge this to you. In general, when dogs lie with their backs toward you, this means that they are quite content and totally comfortable in their surroundings.

Don't be fooled byrepparttar 126134 wagging tail. Generally, dogs will wag their tails when excitable. But it's how they wag their tails that tells us exactly what they're feeling. When a dog wags his tail, along with his entire body, he's usually happy and excited. When a dog wags only his tail with short, fast strokes, this can sometimes show a sign of aggression or fear. When dogs meet other dogs forrepparttar 126135 first time, you will notice this short, fast-stroke tail wag as well. This can either mean that they are unsure ofrepparttar 126136 other animal, or that they're going to become aggressive. Either way, be watchful of this "tail-tell" sign.

Is Dysthymic Disorder a Second-Rate Depression?

Written by Michael G. Rayel, MD


Dysthymic Disorder, used to be called Dysthymia, is a low-grade and yet chronic depression characterized by feelings of sadness or depression associated with lack of interest to do things and some physical symptoms such as lack of energy, sleep, and concentration.

Psychological symptoms such as feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and worthlessness can also occur. In addition, some patients harbor thoughts of death and feelings of emptiness.

This is a type of clinical depression that is supposed to be “milder” than Major Depressive Disorder (MDD – used to be called Major Depression) becauserepparttar symptoms don’t necessarily happen everyday. Unlike patients who suffer from MDD, Dysthymic patients are not bed-bound, still able to work, and does not appear to be sick. But most of these individuals complain that they haven’t felt “normal” or “happy” for a long time.

Moreover, Dysthymic Disorder is manifested by lack of drive and motivation. Hence, relatives and friends tend to misinterpret their mood and behavior. Some patients endurerepparttar 126122 stigma of being considered “lazy” or not “motivated enough” to do worthwhile goals.

As time passes by, patients with this disorder have difficulty functioning. But because they still appear normal,repparttar 126123 illness is not recognized and patients don’t get treated early. A lot of times, they are not referred to a psychiatrist.

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