Came across an interesting bit about Huskies and communication in the book Inside of a Dog by Alexandra Harowitz, p. 114

"Research looking at the range and rate of signals used by ten physically dissimilar breeds found just this [that more modified breeds are capable of communicating less through body language]. Comparing the behavior of dogs from the Cavalier King Charles spaniel to the French bulldog to the Siberian husky, there was a clear relationship between the breed appearance and the number of signals they used. Those animals that had been most changed physically in domestication from wolves--the King Charles, at the extreme--sent the fewest signals. These pedomorphic or neotenous dogs, who retain more features of juvenile members of canid species into adulthood, look least like adult wolves. The huskies, which have the most wolflike features and are genetically closer to Canis lupus, do the most wolflike signals."

Pretty cool information. We all know how vocal and communicative they are but I bet we aren't even aware of half the things they are telling us through their body language. It is so interesting (unfortunate?) to think that physical characteristics of some breeds inhibit and restrict their ability to communicate in dog language. There a good paragraph or two about communicating through tails and how dogs like pugs or boxers can't quite say as much as a husky or lab.

Cheers.

That's cool It makes sense, I just never thought about it. I wonder, do they still have the natural ability interpret the signals they can't give? I wonder how much their comprehension is impaired. Since they learn from a young age behaviors and manners through communication with their mom and litter mates..obviously they can't recieve a signal they arent getting. But take a dog from one side of the world and put it with a dog from the other, and they can still communicate so part of it is undoubtedly inate. Anyway, it's not like they'll only ever meet their breed during their critial period, so I guess it doesn't matter much. Thanks for sharing! And poor King Charles spaniels, I sure they have so much to say.

I love this info. Thanks for sharing! I definitely feel like my huskies communicate with each other, and me, more than other breeds I've had.

I'm sure their reception of the signals isn't impaired because they can't use them themselves. I just imagine a very excited, wiggly, K C spaniel screaming "I have so much to saaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy!!!" and then a Husky just going, "what are you saying? Freak."

Perhaps these dogs with less communicative capacity appear more confusing, less interesting, more......subdued than say a Husky?

Food for thought for sure.

5woofs wrote:

I love this info. Thanks for sharing! I definitely feel like my huskies communicate with each other, and me, more than other breeds I've had.

I would love to sit and watch your pack playing for hours and see how they communicate both verbally and non-verbally. Must be fun and interesting.

Aw thanks! It is! Oh I love it. I love how they (Timber especially) will taunt and tease each other. I especially love when Timber stands stiff with her face on their face, or on their back, rigid, waiting for them to react. Haha I could watch them all day.

I have a couple short videos of them playing. They always play hard when I don't have my camera handy though, ha.

https://youtu.be/ygUZvJR9B80
https://youtu.be/KMvgn9CONT0

The 2nd one Timber gives River a kiss at the end

Dog communication has always interested me. I work at a dog kennel and have to say that the tail is one of the greatest assets to understanding a dog. Approaching a dog without a tail is always trickier for me and my coworkers. We have to check their posture and position. So many dogs give little to no warning before they snap, which is another great things about Huskies. They usually give quite a warning to back off before they do anything.

Hi Guys, Just came across this thread and it caught my attention when you mentioned Cavalier King Charles.. I own 3 cavaliers and 1 husky ( we have only had him for 3 weeks)

Are you saying that a cavalier and a husky may have trouble communicating properly?

I am quite tempted now to buy and download this book!

No, I don't think the point is that a Husky and a CKCS can't communicate well in an interpersonal sense. The point is more that a Husky, as a breed type, is capable of a more expressive, dynamic, versatile communication with their body, non-verbally, than a CKCS can as a breed type due to the structure and features of their bodies.

seattlesibe wrote:

No, I don't think the point is that a husky and a ckcs can't communicate well in an interpersonal sense. The point is more thata Husky, as a breed type, is capable of a more expressive, dynamic, versatile communication with their body, non-verbally, than a CKCS can as a breed type due to the structure and features of their bodies.

Thanks seattlesibe for clearing that up for me Makes sense now!

Yeah, no problem.

That book was excellent, I learned a lot about the subjective experience of dogs given their bodies and mind. It's kinda a book of philosophy of mind for dogs

Heart.Of.A.Wolf wrote:

So many dogs give little to no warning before they snap.

I know this is a SUPER old post and I don't think this person even posts on here anymore...but I just had to say something.

Dogs RARELY, if EVER, "snap" without giving signals. That is a very misguided and just plain wrong statement to make. Thinking like that contributes to the countless amount of dogs that are labeled aggressive unfairly. A dog doesn't need a tail for you to see it is stressed.

If a dog really and truly "snaps" without warning, that dog has serious mental issues and probably need to be PTS before it does serious harm. A dog that does not give warning signals has problems that need to be addressed by a professional and a dog like that wouldn't be allowed in even a PetSmart doggy day care center.