this post was submitted on 18 Mar 2025
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Explain Like I'm Five

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Why does Dog and Human language differ on what shaking head means? (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 11 hours ago by allo@sh.itjust.works to c/explainlikeimfive@lemmy.world
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Dogs even not trained by other dogs shake their entire body (like shaking head but entire body) as one of the common ways to express 'im comfortable, good, everything is ok'. When I communicate to my dogs in their language, I often think when doing a shake for 'yes its ok', that this is one of the unusual areas where dog communication and human communication is nearly opposite and I'm curious why. Why does a human shaking their head mean No while a dog doing a similar shake, but of their whole body, translate not explicitly but very closely to Yes?

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[โ€“] Kolanaki@pawb.social 2 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

I don't really see it as odd or different, because I understand that it's not exactly a "yes" but a general sign of excitement. Haven't you ever been so excited/happy that you just vibrate? ๐Ÿคท๐Ÿปโ€โ™‚๏ธ

[โ€“] allo@sh.itjust.works 1 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago)

true. of course im only speaking of my own dogs and those i've met. if not removing water or dirt from coat, it is done when: a friend comes by, after getting a treat, sometimes if they know a treat is coming, a song they like plays, someone treats them nicely, they just had a good experience, they like what i or someone else does, they are reassuring after a scuffle or something questionable that 'everything is fine'... I agree it isn't exactly a yes. It definitely feels closer to a yes than a no tho. I would say it isnt a Yes so much as a confirmation of good.