(AP) — If a dog’s bark or tail doesn’t convey an understandable message, check the animal’s eyes, ears, nose or the tilt of its head for clues. A veterinarian says it’s important that humans get the right message if they want to communicate well with their pets.

Dr. Gary Weitzman is president of the San Diego Humane Society and he says his new book called “How to Speak Dog” will help people understand their dogs.

Jerry Ericksen of Los Angeles has a 90-pound blind boxer named Buster. They communicate in a language they made up themselves. At the dog park, Ericksen calls Buster and keeps clapping so Buster can follow the sound and find him.

If Buster starts to walk into something, Ericksen will yell stop and the dog will change direction.