How To Read Your Dog's Body Language

Ever think that your dog's trying to tell you something? We love our pets, yet most of us aren't fluent in "dog" and find much of their behaviours and reactions mysterious. In return, our dogs can't speak to us, leaving much room for interpretation about their emotional well-being.

And while not being able to decode our pet's behaviours accurately might be frustrating, it's possible to interpret their needs and predict their reactions by paying closer attention.

From happy-to-see-you tail wags and puppy yawns to various confounding behaviours, learn the verbal and non-verbal messages our dogs send us every day. Using this guide, you can finally "unleash" the secrets of canine body language and improve communication with your furry pal!

What Is My Dog Trying To Tell Me?

Has your dog ever suddenly stopped on a walk, refusing to move despite your encouragement? You've likely misread the signals, thinking your pet is being difficult or defiant. Canine body language, often complicated and nuanced, can lead to adverse outcomes, unpredictable behaviours or missed opportunities if they're not caught in time.

A single mannerism might not be enough to suggest a specific emotion. Instead, look for a combination of several body language cues for a fuller picture.

Context is also telling, with behaviour influenced by scenarios or situations. A notable example is having your fur pet excitedly greet you when you return home. You wouldn't expect them to react to strangers in the same way, would you?

Similarly, your dog may yawn in response to an unknown environment or discomfort. While a reflexive reaction to feeling tired in humans, canine yawning is often a signal of stress or anxiety.

Tail-wagging can also be interpreted differently, depending on the setting, and isn't necessarily triggered by happiness.

Turn preventable bites into positive behaviour by learning your pet's unique body language.

Uncertainty and Anxiety

A carefree and friendly fluff ball with you, your dog might become nervous and unsure of unfamiliar people and boisterous children. For those who don't know your pet, it's easy for them to overstep canine boundaries.

Dogs who feel shy, anxious, uncertain or uncomfortable, especially in a social situation, may exhibit the following warning signs:

• A bowed head

• A single raised paw 

• A tail tucked between the legs 

• Sideways glances, avoiding eye contact or the whale's eye (showing the whites of the eye)

Dogs under significant strain might exhibit whale eyes, revealing potential signs of stress or fear. Give your dog space or move them to a quiet spot if you see your pet showing whale eyes. Failing to act could lead to an outburst where your dog snaps. Though concerning to see, being proactive prevents an unpleasant situation from occurring.

Distress

A pet may react negatively to strange environments or threatening triggers due to feeling distressed.

Although not necessarily an immediate risk to others, dogs in this state might outwardly showcase their internal struggles in the following ways.

• Lowered torso (in an effort to take up less space)

• Tucked tail

• Pinned back ears

• Excessive panting

• Sweaty paw pad

• Compulsive behaviours: yawning, tongue flicking, drooling, shaking, etc.

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If you see the above reactions often, consult with a vet or behaviourist for support and assistance.

Relaxed

As a loving and loyal pet owner, you want your pet to feel safe and relaxed in your company and others. But how can you tell a happy dog apart from an unhappy pooch?

A content pet might lower their tail and leave their mouth ajar - with their tongue hanging out cutely. This behaviour indicates that your pet feels relatively unthreatened and unconcerned in his environment.

However, it’s important not to let your guard down while meeting strangers, even if your pet seems calm and receptive to the individual. Introductions to newcomers should always be slow and performed on your canine’s terms.

Terror and Submission

When a pup is utterly terrified, he might submit entirely by lying on the floor. This action demonstrates to other dogs that he knows his lower status in the food chain. A dog in this position may further appease the higher-ranking dog by spontaneously urinating.

A submissive dog will lay on its back, defenceless, with the throat and stomach exposed, eyes partially closed, and ears flattened.

Another fear response we have discussed before is known as the whale eye. The whale eye is a communication tactic that your dog might use, in the hope that you or others will notice it.

In other situations, a fearful dog might run away, hide in a safe space, freeze, become aggressive or engage in destructive behaviours.

Happiness and Excitement

Identifying a happy dog is easy; here are a few telltale signs.

• Upwards-pointing tail

• Soft eyes

• Open mouth with the tongue hanging out

• Smooth fur

• Relaxed body
  

An excited canine could also want to play and may initiate playtime with a bow. This behaviour signals to the other animal that anything that happens after the bow is unaggressive and not meant to cause harm.

The bowing movement is characterised by a pet that’s half crouched down with his rear end and tail raised high and his front paws extended.

Aggression

Like happiness, aggression in dogs is evidently apparent. While often stemming from fear, sometimes dogs behave aggressively to maintain their social status. This is especially true when challenged by another alpha.

Knowing whether your pet is dominant or submissive can help you out of sticky situations that may escalate into a fight if you don’t recognise the signs.

An aggressive dog may exhibit various behavioural changes like these.

• Piloerection, where the hackles on your dog’s back raise

• A twitching, upright tail

• Body’s tilted forward slightly

• Facial expressions: hardened eyes, c-shaped mouth and bared fangs.
  

By recognising these signs, you can better understand your pet, who might be prone to aggression, and take steps to intervene or avoid potentially dangerous scenarios.

What Parts of The Body Commonly Display Behavioural Cues?

Scan these specific areas of the body for a better understanding of your pet's well-being at any given moment.

Canine Eyes

Humans say the eyes are the windows to their souls. Although not nearly as poetic, canine eyes tell us plenty about a dog's emotional state.

You can better understand a dog's welfare by focusing on the intensity of its gaze.

• Emotionally Overwhelmed, Anxious or Fearful

Give your dog space or reassurance if they're showing the whites of their eyes (sclera) or have round eyes that appear unblinking. These signs indicate they're likely emotionally overwhelmed, stressed, or even fearful.

• Anger or Aggression

A dog with an intense and fixed stare isn't happy either; they might be guarding something, feeling bothered while eating, or have identified a possible threat.

• Fear

A fearful dog may have glassy, unfocused eyes. Your dog will probably ignore your command in an overwhelmed state of terror.

• Happiness

Happy or relaxed canine eyes are soft, narrowed, and almond-shaped, and the lids are heavy. Your pet will look as though he’s squinting or struggling to see, but he’s a contented, stress-free puppy.

Top tip to new owners: While trying to bond with your new pet, don’t try to maintain eye contact for too long; he’ll perceive this as threatening.

Mouth

The human expression can represent a wide range of emotions - a smile represents happiness, while pursed lips are a classic sign of anger.

Just like their human counterparts, dogs may express themselves using their mouths.

Here's how you decode various dog mouth movements and respond accordingly.

A dog that’s on edge will display an aggressive snarl or offensive pucker, characterised by curled lips, bared teeth, and a c-shaped mouth. This is a clear warning signal that may occur in the lead-up to a physical attack.

A dog experiencing anxiety may exhibit a long lip, which is when a dog’s mouth is pulled back at the corners and clamped shut.

Rapid panting without strenuous exercise, accompanied by the rapid closing of the mouth, can be another sign that your dog is struggling in a particular environment.

Ears

Depending on the dog breed, their ears might take on different shapes. Basset Hounds, for example, have long, floppy ears that droop forward, so determining your dog’s mood solely based on their ears might be challenging.

That said, dogs can move their ears backwards and forwards depending on their emotions.

The ears of a calm pet are held in a relaxed position, either back or to the sides. On the other hand, the more alert a canine is, the more forward-facing their ears will be.

Does My Dog Want To Play Or Fight? Ideally, we’d all love our dogs to get along, playing for hours on end, leash-free and carefree. Unfortunately, things don’t always work out how we expect. A visit to the dog park or a casual neighbourhood stroll can quickly get out of hand.

To avoid injuries or vet visits, learn to spot the warning signs to prevent harmless roughhousing and romping in the grass from becoming a full-on fight.

Observe your dog’s posture carefully to forecast his actions. Hounds initiating playful interactions will circle each other; their bodies are curvy and wriggly. If your dog’s torso appears rigid and stiff when approached by potential playmates, remain alert and be ready to step if the interaction sours.

At the same time, even jovial play can end in an altercation. Play that seems fast, intense and fueled by unending, overzealous excitement could boil over into aggression. Warning signals to watch out for may include vertical wrestling with both dogs standing on their hind legs.

If your pet engages in humping, hip bumping or body slamming, or mounting, calmly approach your dog and attach his leash. Intervene - playtime is over.

Common Misconceptions Made By Pet Owners

You might think you know everything about your animal, but the common behaviours they exhibit may have a different meaning than what you expect.

Read on for common misnomers experienced by dog lovers.

“My dog is showing other dogs his belly; he wants to be friends.”

At home, a dog lying on the ground is a trusting pet who usually desires one thing: belly rubs. However, this behaviour displayed in a dog park assumes a different meaning. By lying down, your furry pal expresses submission, signalling that it poses no threat and wishes to avoid conflict.

“My dog is bearing his teeth; he must want to fight”

Humans smile to look friendly and approachable, but a canine might bear his sharp fangs when he's flashing you or others a grin. The tooth-bearing smile might seem like a hostile leer, but what your pet may be trying to relay is that he's friendly and means no harm.

With that being said, it's still important to differentiate between a harmless grin and a dog on the offensive or defensive. A dog about to attack will curl its lips in a C-shape, show its teeth, growl, and lunge.

“My dog must love his food; he’s forever licking his lips.”

Sure, your dog may be showing his satisfaction. But lip licking between mealtimes might not be related to hunger but could be a sign of anxiety over an actual or perceived threat.

From Confusion to Clarity: Understanding Your Pet's Language

Although our dogs can't express themselves with words, it's still possible to understand what they're trying to tell us and others.

Too often, unforeseen accidents can occur not because a dog snaps unexpectedly but due to misinterpreted cues. Hopefully, this guide brings insights on how to read your dog better and respond appropriately to different scenarios.

Develop the ability to distinguish between stress, relaxation, happiness, fear, and contentment to elevate your pet's well-being and build harmonious relationships with other dogs and people.

Focus on areas like the eyes, ears, and mouth to better understand what your dog is communicating.

Unfortunately, misinterpretations can lead to unintentional consequences - we've addressed some that may lead to undesirable outcomes.