Reading Your Dog's Body Language

Dog body language is important for anyone who may come across a dog to know, and especially dog owners. It's a diverse range of species-common behaviors that indicates how a dog is feeling at any given time. Nonverbal communication is pretty much what we've got when it comes to animals, and it's an important part of responsible dog caretaking. If you want to know what your canine pal is feeling, read on.

You might be barking up the wrong tree if you're not sure what your dog is trying to say.

Tail

Did you know that tail wagging doesn't always mean a dog is happy?

A wagging tail means a dog is emotionally excited, not necessarily in a positive way. The speed and direction of the tail wag can tell you a lot about what your dog is feeling, as well as the overall position of the tail relative to the ground.

The faster the tail is wagging, the more emotionally excited a canine is. A calm, relaxed dog might wag their tail slowly from side to side when greeting someone, but if those tail wags are fast, staccato, and twitchy, they're excited and/or alert in some way.

We're not sure what his face is doing, but this is Hank's typical tail position.

When dogs feel positively about something, they tend to wag their tails to the right, and to the left when they aren't so keen on a situation. When a dog's tail is going in circles, that is unequivocally a happy wag, often seen when greeting a loved caretaker.

The position of a dog's tail relative to the ground depends on the breed of dog, so it's important to get to know your dog's neutral tail state, which is where their tail is when they're relaxed. When a dog's tail is between their legs, that is a submissive, afraid, and/or stressed position, and the same goes for a tail pointing downwards and/or stiffly wagging. When a dog's tail is pointing upwards, the dog is feeling assertive and confident, maybe even aggressive. You need to take all body language into account together to decipher the full meaning behind a dog's behavior.

Theo's tail is down here, so he might be feeling uncertain.

Hair and Hackles

The fur running along a dog's spine, typically from neck to tail, is referred to as a dog's hackles. This fur can raise and lower, often involuntarily, depending on the dog's emotional state. Their hackles could raise when they are extremely interested in something, excited, upset, or stressed, but their hackles typically only raise when they are emotionally aroused, not when they're calm. The technical term for the raising of the hackles is "piloerection".

A dog who is shedding more than usual might also be stressed or frightened.

Posture

A dog's overall body posture can be an excellent indicator of their emotional state, so knowing what to look for can help you identify a frightened dog versus an aggressive one, and an anxious dog from a curious one.

A fearful dog might lean or back away and tremble. This is often paired with rounded eyes, big pupils, and a lowered or tucked tail. When the situation is too much for the dog, they might have a fight, flight, or freeze response.

Theo looks a little cautious here.

A dog who is cowering and hunched low to the ground is giving off the signal that they're afraid and/or stressed. They're making themselves look smaller to give off "I mean no harm" vibes, and taken to the extreme, a terrified dog might roll over onto their back and expose their belly to show their submission, but they don't want belly rubs--they're extremely anxious, and might urinate a little to try to appease whatever the source of their stress is.

In pointing breeds, like the English Setter, a paw raise is often used to indicate the location of prey. However, if a dog raises a paw outside of this situation, it can indicate uncertainty or insecurity.

Theo is feeling unsure.

An uncomfortable dog might pace, circle, lie down to not participate in a situation, shake themselves off after being handled or after another dog was playing too rough, scratch themselves when they're not itchy, or release a puff of breath and look away.

A dog whose weight is shifted forward with their head and chest held high is usually either trying to appear bigger or trying to get closer to something. This can indicate curiosity when it's the latter, but if it's the former, the dog could be feeling aggressive, so look to other cues and observe the situation to figure out which it is.

Theo might be feeling tense.

When dogs engage in the "downward dog" position, or the "play bow", that usually means they're ready to play, be it with other dogs or with people! The play bow might be followed with exaggerated movements and expressions, and perhaps brief pauses during play. Dogs also sneeze during playtime, so all parties know that they're having fun and that everything is just play, especially if they're playing a little hard and they want to reassure each other. Sometimes dogs roll over and expose their tummies during play, too, as a playful submission instead of a fearful one.

Facial expression

Does your dog ever squint at you? Does Scooby furrow her brow when she hears thunder outside? You're not just imagining it--dogs have plenty of facial expressions, though they don't mean the same thing that the same expression means on a human being.

Humans yawn when tired, but dogs often yawn when they're stressed in order to calm themselves and others down in tense situations. They can catch yawns from humans, too. You can yawn at your dog to try to provide some comfort during a stressful situation. If the yawning is accompanied by lip-licking and/or a tight mouth and whining sound, this is definitely a sign of stress.

Dogs lick their lips after eating something tasty, but they also do this when they're anxious and/or uncomfortable.

When baring their teeth in a snarl, dogs are often giving a warning. The top of their muzzle might wrinkle before they pull their lips up to make their front teeth fully visible, and the corners of their mouth will be curled in a C shape. This is frequently paired with a tense forehead and hard eyes.

Theo needs some space. Like, right now.

When a dog is smiling, however, they are also showing their front teeth, but this is a submissive, peaceful grin, found on a happy dog. The smiling dog's posture is very different from that of the snarling dog--the smiling dog is much more relaxed and loose, possibly with their head lowered, often with a wagging tail, flattened ears, and soft eyes. A snarling dog will be tensed up and perhaps stiff-looking.

A dog's mouth is often open when relaxed, and they may be panting, with no facial or mouth tension. The corners of their mouth might be slightly upturned, like a slight smile. A calm, happy dog might also have their tongue hanging out of their mouth, which is a good indicator of a dog feeling approachable.

When feeling afraid or tense, a dog might keep their mouth shut and pull their lips back at the corners. A furrowed brow can be another sign of anxiety, and an indicator of intense fear or stress is occurring when your dog is drooling when there's no food around.

Sweat

Dogs pant to cool themselves, but they also pant when stressed, especially if it's rapid panting with a tight, stress-wrinkled mouth. Dogs can also sweat through their paws, so if they are extremely stressed, they could be leaving sweat-prints on the floor. If it's not rainy outside and your pup is leaving tracks, it's a good idea to immediately check in with them to see what's wrong.

Eyes

Dogs' eyes are commonly described as either "soft" or "hard". When a dog's eyes are soft, that means their lids are relaxed, which might make it seem as though they're squinting. This indicates that the dog in question is happy and/or feeling peaceful. When a dog's eyes are hard, they seem colder, and they might be giving something a hard stare, indicating a threat. A dog with hard eyes might be feeling aggressive or otherwise negative.

Theo is looking away; he might not be comfortable.

Eye contact also has a lot to do with how your dog is feeling. If a dog is looking away, they are trying to calm a situation that they feel uncomfortable in--they aren't looking away because they're being stubborn or ignoring you, they're avoiding eye contact because they feel stressed.

When a dog shows the whites of their eyes, sometimes known as "whale eye", this is another indicator that they are uncomfortable or anxious. You might also notice a rounding of the eye, further indicating stress. When a dog is relaxed and has a squinting expression, usually there's no white showing or very little.

If your dog's pupils are dilated, giving them a "glassy" expression, that dog might be frightened, threatened, or otherwise stressed.

Theo is at attention! Look at those perky ears.

Ears

Dogs can express emotion with the position of their ears, as well. A relaxed dog will likely have their ears slightly back or out to the sides, whereas an excited dog might move their ears forward, pointing to whatever's captured their attention. If your dog is super interested in something, they might move their ears so far forward that their forehead wrinkles. Just like with a dogs' tails, different breeds of dogs have different resting ear positions. It's a good idea to get to know the relaxed position of your dog's ears so you can tell what they look like when they're excited about something!

Theo is feeling pretty relaxed.

Noises

Though most of this article is about body language, dogs do have some ways to verbally communicate their feelings, and those are important to mention too for a fuller understanding of canine communication. Dogs learn through repetition that certain noises get them certain results, so this is a good way for them to communicate with their humans!

Barking

All dogs have different barks that their caretakers come to differentiate over time, and not all dogs bark a lot   some dogs just aren't as vocal. Your dog might have a "welcome home" bark, an "I want to come back inside" bark, a "there's a squirrel outside" bark, a "someone's in the driveway" bark, etc. Some commonalities include higher-pitched barks typically being welcoming, and deep barks perhaps indicating the canine producing the sound is on alert. Deciphering the meaning of a bark can also depend on body language, and barks can likewise help decode body language. The interplay between verbal and nonverbal language is fascinating and incredibly useful in recognizing the emotional state of your canine companions.

"Come down from the tree, you fiend!"

Whining

Whining is frequently indicative of a dog wishing for something. When puppies whine or cry, they're expressing their needs in an attention-getting manner. Dogs might whine for you to take them outside or to play fetch.  It can be a sign of excitement if the dog seems playful, excited, and/or jumpy, like "Oh my gosh! I am so happy to see you! You're finally home! Give me attention! I love you!" Whining can also be of way of your dog letting you know that they're unhappy. Some dogs whine when they are scared or anxious, like during a thunderstorm, or if they have separation anxiety. Some dogs whine when they're in pain. It's important to use context clues to translate the whining   what's the situation? Is it dinnertime? Are they lonely or injured? What is your dog wishing for?

Howling

Howling has a variety of reasons for occurring. It's a deep-throated sound that some breeds just enjoy partaking in. For others, it's a way to claim territory, like "This yard is mine!" It can also be a way of getting attention, or perhaps they heard other dogs howling nearby and wanted to join in. Some howl along to sirens or to music. For still others, it might be a greeting, or they found something interesting, or maybe they're just releasing some pent-up energy after a long day of snoozing and fighting with the cat.

Theo and Hank love a good howl.

Purring

Yes, you read that right! Some dogs like to purr! Dog purrs manifest in a variety of ways, from pig-like snuffles to a throaty "brr" sound called "rumbling". Dog-purring typically signals happiness, and some have described the sound as "Chewbacca-like", or a grumbly growl crossed with a low rumble crossed with a loud purr.

Growling

Growling has several different meanings, and remember, all dogs are different, so these are just some common tendencies. Growling is often a warning of a dog's mood. They're communicating that they are riled up and not to mess with them. It can mean a dog is angry, aggressive, possessive, in pain, or afraid. Some dogs also play growl! This is usually lower, softer, and rumbly growling that takes place when they are engaged in play. Humans are actually pretty good at discerning between playful and aggressive growls, however, so you don't need to be too worried about it. Just be aware of the situation, as always. If you're playing with an unfamiliar dog (with the owner's permission) and you're unsure of the growling, it's best to stop what you're doing and try to read the rest of their body language and ask their caretaker about it.

A lot of people chastise their dogs for growling, but this can actually be harmful, as the dog is then being discouraged from expressing their discomfort, and the stressful situation isn't defused. It's actually good for your dog to feel comfortable growling when threatened, because then they feel safe communicating with you and you have a warning when they aren't feeling so peachy keen. When your canine companion growls, it's a good idea to slow down, stop, and figure out what's causing them stress so you can keep the dog and yourself safe.

Singing

Some dogs love to belt out a tune every now and then   they might howl along to music, your ringtone, or even the TV! With the right pitch, like an operatic aria, your dog might just feel inspired to sing along. Dogs can even be taught to sing when you want them to, if they've already shown a propensity for it. So if your dog is singing along to the radio, don't worry   they're likely not in pain from hearing a certain frequency, they're just having a good time!

Hank's having a good time with the local squirrels.

Conclusion

Of course, not every dog is able-bodied, so a disabled dog might express emotion a little differently than an able-bodied or neurotypical dog. If your dog is missing a tail or eye or ear or other physical feature or body part, look to the overall body language of the dog. If your dog has a hard time making noise due to damaged vocal cords, pay attention to their body language. Some dogs have different sensory needs, and might express that need in a unique way. Each dog will communicate in their own manner.

A lot of the nonverbal cues a dog gives you can have their meaning best deduced when taken into consideration as a whole   sure, their hackles are raised, but what's their tail doing? What is the dog's posture? Can you see the whites of their eyes? What's their facial expression? Are they aggressively growling, or play-growling? Look at all the signals put together before you come to a conclusion, like you would for anyone trying their best to tell you something. You also don't have to take it from us   doing your own research is always a good idea (though, we did do research to write this article). Welcome to the world of understanding your dog just a little bit better!

Theo's feeling pretty neutral.

Sources:

“7 Tips on Canine Body Language.” ASPCApro, ASPCA, www.aspcapro.org/resource/7-tips-canine-body-language.

“Dog Body Language.” Best Friends Animal Society, resources.bestfriends.org/article/dog-body-language.

Gibeault, Stephanie. “Understanding Dog Body Language: Decipher Dogs' Signs & Signals.” American Kennel Club, American Kennel Club, 27 Jan. 2020, www.akc.org/expert-advice/advice/how-to-read-dog-body-language/.

Nelson, Jennifer. “Canine Communication: Deciphering What Different Dog Sounds Mean.” American Kennel Club, American Kennel Club, 19 Dec. 2019, www.akc.org/expert-advice/advice/canine-communication-deciphering-different-dog-sounds/.

Stregowski, Jenna. “Read Your Dog's Body Language Like a Pro.” The Spruce Pets, 6 May 2020, www.thesprucepets.com/reading-your-dogs-body-language-1118279.

Photo credit: Lyndsey and Pamela Mulvey
Written by: Skye Iwanski