Like humans, dogs communicate through body language to tell us how they feel. Dogs communicate their emotions through noise, body posture, and facial expressions. Unfortunately, even the most loving pet parent may misunderstand or miss the signals. In this article, we show you the signals you need to know about dog body language.
When you understand your dog's body language, your dog will not only thrive, but your bond will grow stronger too. As a dog owner, however, don't just pay attention to a specific signal but your dog's entire body posture.
Let's take a look at some of the common dog body language signals.
Common Dog Body Language Signals
Dogs communicate in a variety of ways including growling, howling, barking, tail wagging, yawning, and having their ears back. Each of these signals and sounds means different things.
Some of the common dog body language signals are:
Relaxed Dog
Your dog body posture when relaxed will show in their face and the body. Their faces will be relaxed, showing no sign of tension. Also, they may wag their tails gently, with their ears upright.
When your dog is relaxed, when you talk to them, they may cock their head.
Other signals of a relaxed dog are:
Soft, rounded eyes and neutral forehead (no wrinkles)
Open and relaxed pant
Overall relaxed body posture
Smooth hair
A happy dog that will invite you to play
The weight is distributed equally on all paws
High-pitched bark and purr
Alert Dog
A dog behavior that signals alertness is the even distribution of the body posture in all paws which symbolizes a “ready” attitude. Their eyes will be wide open and ears pointed forward. Also, their mouths will be closed and the tail will stretch out from the body.
Stressed or Nervous Dog
One of the common signals of a nervous or stressed dog is that they avoid eye contact. They may look at what's triggering them and then quickly look away.
Also, their tails will be low and they'll crouch. They will sit with their head lowered and their ears back.
Other signals of nervousness include:
Raised fur
Pacing
Panting
Excessive licking of paws
Closed mouth with tense jaws
Twitching whiskers (facial tension)
Sweaty paws
When your dog is stressed or nervous, your dog language may vary as they try to relieve themselves of the stress or to appease the perceived threat. They do this to try to stay calm and to avoid the tension from shooting up.
Experts call this behavior calming signals. Some of these calming signals are:
Yawning
Scratching
Lip licking
Raising the paw
Shaking off
Looking away
Body freezing
Fearful Dog
Fearful dog body behavior is demonstrated through a low and stiff body posture. The tail will be tucked against the belly, the animal will avoid eye contact and stand with a closed, tight mouth, wide eyes, and ears tucked against the head.
Appeasement Dog
As the word suggests, appeasement dog behavior is demonstrated when an animal tries to appease, pacify, and make concessions. Previously, it was known as submissive behavior but is now known as appeasement language.
When your dog shows appeasement body language, they will try to look small and less threatening. They will lower their body to the ground, with their tails low or tucked. If your dog wags their tails, the wag will be tight.
Also, their eyes will be squinted and avoid eye contact, with their ears pinned back.
Your dog may also show an appeasement grin. They will pull back their lips to show some front teeth. This may look like a smile but it's a sign of attentiveness.
Your dog will either show their belly or roll on their backs in what's known as tap out. In this scenario, your dog isn't asking for a belly rub, nor are they inviting you to play, but they're signaling that they're anxious about interaction.
Other signals of appeasement are:
Slow movement
Raise a front paw
Weight shifted backward (to look less threatening)
Head turning
Lip licking
Licking the person or animal
Relaxed body
Aggressive Dog
There are many ways to demonstrate aggressive dog sign language. Their overall body posture is tense and rigid, ready to react to the thing that's stressing them. Their body weight will be shifted forward in a stiffened, “ready” posture.
Other signals of an aggressive dog are:
Hard stare with eyes fixed on the stressor
Raised upper lip exposing teeth
Ears forward or to the side
Tail held high above the body or low
Tension around the mouth
Low growl
Repeated vocalization
Leash aggression
Bite, hold, and shake (with intention to harm)
Biting with excess, deeper intensity
Air snapping
While your job is translating and understanding your dog's body language, navigating through these signals may seem overwhelming.
However, once you understand your dog's body language, you'll have a happy pup.
The Role of Context in Interpreting Dog Body Language
Context is crucial if you're to understand your dog's body language. While your dog will try to communicate to you through these signals, you must understand that these signals will vary depending on that particular situation.
Before concluding what a signal means, you must consider your dog's normal body language in that specific scenario.
For instance, your dog's relaxed body language at home may be different in a public or new environment. Your dog may drool at home in anticipation of their favorite food but may drool when anxious on a car trip.
The Importance of Observing the Entire Body
In addition to considering context, you must observe your dog's entire body to avoid misunderstanding the signals. Look at your dog from head to tail, considering everything to collect as much information as possible before translating the signals.
For instance, a dog ears back meaning may vary depending on the context and entire body language. Depending on the situation, it may mean nervousness, physical pain, happiness, or aggression.
A dog yawning meaning may also vary depending on the information you gather from their entire body language and context. Your dog may yawn after waking up, or they may yawn as a sign of anxiety.
Conclusion
Your dog body language is their way of communicating with you. It's your job to understand and translate their feelings for them to thrive and live happily.
