Speaking without Words

We recently got a puppy, and I find myself thinking a lot about non-verbal communication. Oh, we talk to the dog, all the time. But he doesn't talk back to us in words. He does communicate plenty, however. His communications are wags, piddles, bites and jumps, and other dog things. I know he knows some words, but he also seems to know something about body language. Try Googling nonverbal communication statistics (and yes, I do know the fine folks at Google would probably prefer that I not use that verb) and you will see the claim that some high percentage of communication even between beings who can speak to each other is nonverbal communication. So, how then do you ensure your nonverbal communication is effective? I am not sure what the answer to that question might be. Does that mean we know how to communication nonverbally instinctively? How would you learn to lie without words? Or is that what acting is?