Sometimes, a dog lifts a paw in anticipation
Paw lifts also can be an expression of anticipation, as shown above. In this context, you see that Diamond has high hopes that the turkey is for him. Ears and eyes alert, head and sniffer up and ready, tail out, and a paw lifted combine to signal anticipation.
Dogs also may tuck a paw to convey fear. Typically, when a dog tucks a paw while lying down, it’s a sign of relaxation, but not always as shown in the above. Diamond is hiding under the table, not wanting to interact. Notice that his left front paw is tucked and he is indirectly staring at the boy. Diamond also has pulled his body in and away from the boy, becoming small and tight — these are all signs that he is scared and could bite. If the boy doesn’t retreat or the parents don’t step in to translate these “stay away” signals, he could be in serious danger.
Here are a few examples of situations where a dog may offer a paw lift:
These are just a few examples; there may be many more. Start observing to see if you can notice any paw lifts in different contexts. As discussed below, interpretations such as the above examples should not be attempted without careful observation and consideration of all aspects of the situation.
When I mention stress, this does not necessarily imply negative emotion. I mean stress in the physiological sense. So certain body language signals can mean the dog is feeling some sort of emotional discourse. This discourse could range from positive to negative emotion. Both excitement and fear could have similar effects on the body, with various hormones being released and activating the sympathetic nervous system. The dog may be feeling uncomfortable/fearful or it could also be excited about something. When analyzing stress in body language, it is worth noting the frequency and intensity of the various body language signals.
Possible Causes Of Front Leg Lameness In Dogs
There are two types of lameness (or limping) in dogs: gradual and sudden. Gradual pain or injury can be tricky and discrete. Dogs are masters of hiding pain, so a sudden lameness may actually have been developing for a while. One example is arthritis, which may start off gradually but left untreated or undiagnosed can lead to “sudden” symptoms.
Gradual pain may seem harmless but any sort of symptoms should be reported to your dog’s veterinarian. I recall my first Cocker Spaniel, Brandy Noel, and how she progressed from a grade 1 patellar luxation to a grade 2. She eventually required surgery to repair the shifted kneecap, but the onset and development from grade 1 to grade 2 were gradual.
Sudden lameness will appear as a result of injury or:
We’ll explore a few of these a little further down.