Talk to the dogs!

They might not have the vocal capacity to talk to humans but we can still communicate with our beloved pooches in a variety of ways. Dogs communicate through body language, but sometimes we misunderstand what our beloved pet is trying to communicate to us. My friend and dog lover, Shawn Ulmsted, shares these basic techniques to help us understand what our dog is telling us. Here are some ways to decipher "dog speak."

Your dog is trying to communicate play and fun when his front paws are out in front and his rear end is up in the air.

Beware of a dog whose ears are forward and erect, the tail standing straight up and flagging, the lips are drawn back and showing the teeth, the body is tense and upright with the hackles raised. This is a very dangerous body posture; if you see a dog displaying this type of body posture do not do anything to provoke the dog.

A dog that is fearful is hunched lower with his ears pinned back. His lips are drawn back and he is often showing his teeth. The tail is often tucked between his legs. This is also a dog that has the potential to bite, but would rather run than fight. Do not do anything to provoke or block this dog's escape.

A friendly posture is when a dog's ears are perked up and her eyes are friendly and her mouth is relaxed. The dog's body is relaxed and upright, the tail is often wagging and a little lower than the dog. If you don't know the dog, it is still a good idea not to approach.

When a dog is stressed the dog will yawn and pant a lot. The body is often tense. If you are training your dog and you see these signs, this is a good time to back off a little and take some rest.