* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
How well can you read your dog’s body language?
Dogs communicate with us in all sorts of ways — through body posture, facial expressions, vocalizations, and more — that can help us understand what they’re feeling in a certain situation. The more we learn to identify happiness, fear, or signs of aggression, the more we can give our pets what they need. That makes us better owners and our dogs better companions in the long run.
Here’s everything you need to know to understand your dog’s body language communication: why it’s important, what common emotions look like, and how to handle situations that arise. (The above body language chart can be a great place to start.)
Understanding a dog’s body language is a key part of communicating with them. Since our dogs can’t verbally tell us how they’re feeling (the way we expect our human friends and family members to) it’s important for us to be able to read their cues in other ways.
This is especially important when bringing our dogs out in public or introducing them to new people or other dogs. We need to be able to tell if our dog is having a good time… or if they might be feeling nervous or even threatened. When we quickly, accurately, and reliably pick up on these signals, we’re able to step in to keep everyone comfortable and safe.
In short: Reading your dog’s body language can help prevent extreme problems like dog fights and bites to humans — and it can also simply make your pet feel more listened to. Remember, your relationship goes both ways!
Most of us instinctively know what a happy dog looks like, even if we can’t quite put our fingers on the exact indicators. It’s important to realize, though, that not all classic signs of joy — like a wagging tail or panting mouth — indicate a positive state of mind in every situation! (If only dog body language were so simple.)
Here are some signs that your dog really is having a good time.
Exactly what you’ve been doing! These are the exact joyful emotions we tend to love most about our dogs. Maybe embrace their invitation for a game of fetch, or just keep supervising as they play with their dog friends.
If you aren’t quite sure if your dog is happy or not, stick to the side of caution. You can read more about other body language signals below that will help you properly identify your dog’s feelings.
And remember: If you’re out and about and see an unknown dog, don’t approach or touch them without the owner’s permission — no matter how happy they may look. Some dogs love to play with their own family members out and about but struggle with strangers. Others might show slightly different body language signals than your own pup does. It’s best practice to listen to instructions from the human handler (and don’t take it personally if they reply “no thanks” to your invitation to say hi).
Relaxed dogs are also usually easy to identify. But sometimes? A calm dog might look “sad” to us (even though they’re just comfortably resting) or we might interpret a nervous dog as relaxed (just because your pet is still doesn’t mean they’re feeling calm).
Here are some signs your dog is in a positive state of mind even if they’re tired or low energy!
No need for intervention here. A calm dog is usually fulfilled and pleased to be hanging out with their people!
Our modern human world can be tough for our dogs. Cities are full of loud noises and intense smells. The suburbs might be calmer but are still home to strange machinery (at least to our dogs — after all, they don’t automatically understand what a lawn mower or vacuum is), people wearing all sorts of clothes, and other dogs (who often greet on leash, a stressful situation that can make timid pets feel trapped).
It’s not uncommon to occasionally notice some nervous body language in your dog. Many canine’s have a natural fear response to unfamiliar stimuli — so don’t panic if you see a moment or two of uncertainty and your dog quickly bounces back. If your pet keeps giving off stress signals, though? It’s your job as their owner to step in and help out.
Be on the lookout for these indicators that your dog is nervous, stressed, or fearful.
If you see your dog becoming stressed or nervous, pause and assess the situation. In many cases, you’ll want to immediately stop what you’re doing (or leave the environment if possible) to avoid escalating your pup’s uncomfortable emotions further.
In the moment:
In some circumstances, it might be obvious what the cause of your dog’s stress is. Perhaps your pet is reactive to other animals and he sees another dog across the street while you’re out on a walk. Maybe a new guest came in a little too hot for a greeting and accidentally overwhelmed your shy companion. Was there a sudden loud noise outside your home? Did you reach in to grab a bone before your pup felt like they were done with it? It’s pretty easy to trace the sources of that anxiety.
Other times, though, it won’t always be clear what stimulus is making your dog feel fearful or stressed. In these situations it’s time to put on your detective cap (and reach out to a professional force free trainer if you need help). Just a few common situations that can cause fear or stress in our pets:
Ultimately: Advocate for your dog by speaking up for the needs she’s communicating to you with her body, and never force your dog to meet a dog, person, or other animal that they don’t seem comfortable meeting. (The same goes for being petted by another person — or being petted by you, for that matter!)
If a dog feels threatened or protective of resources, they might become aggressive. The vast majority of “aggressive” dogs are actually fearful dogs — canine communication naturally involves their growls, snarls, barks, and eventually bites if the situation escalates. If we ignore their early signals, they might feel pushed into defending themselves.
Here are some signs of aggression to look for:
In addition, a dog may bark or growl if feeling threatened. Remember that growling is not necessarily a bad thing — and should not be punished. Growls are a natural warning that a dog is feeling uncomfortable or defensive. If you stop the offending behavior, the dog is unlikely to act aggressively. If pressed further, however, there’s a chance they might lunge or snap.
Just like when you notice your dog feeling stressed, do your best to defuse the situation as quickly and calmly as possible. This is especially important if your dog displays any of the above body language, as it indicates that active aggression against others (humans or animals) may come next.
To the best of your ability, get your dog out of the situation. If a dog is walking toward you, cross the street. If your cat is getting too close to your dog’s food, move the cat (or the food), and so forth.
Your goal is to end the fear-inducing situation as quickly and safely as possible.
We always recommend working with a professional dog trainer if you have any concerns about your dog showing aggressive behavior. It’s nothing to be ashamed of — many absolutely delightful pets sometimes struggle in certain situations! — and an experienced coach can help you know exactly what to look for. Make sure you choose someone who uses humane positive reinforcement methods to avoid making your dog’s fear or aggression even worse.
A dog’s body language is an important way they communicate with us (as well as with other dogs). Learning to read your dog’s body language is key to training your dog, bonding with them, and making sure they thrive!
While canine body language isn’t always clear cut — sometimes dogs show mixed signals or have certain physical characteristics that mean they display signals in slightly different ways — it’s incredibly worth it to learn your pet’s cues. Keep an eye on your canine companion’s emotions in all situations to help ensure they (and you!) are able to enjoy a safe, happy life.
There is so much misinformation out there, we want to make sure we only provide the highest quality information to our community. We have all of our articles reviewed by qualified, positive-only trainers.
These is the trainer that reviewed this article:
Wynona Karbo
Owner - Ahimsa Dog Training, Ballard, WA
Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA)
Co-host, “It’s Raining Cats and Dogs” on KIRO 97.3 FM
and Brittany L. Fulton, CTC
Founder and Trainer, Dances with Dogs, Silver Spring, MD, www.dancesdogs.com
Certified in Training and Counseling (CTC), The Academy for Dog Trainers
Traveling with your dog can be a rewarding experience, but what do you do when adventure calls you to a place that’s a bit too far for a drive? If you're a pet-owner who want to jetset with your pup, then you’ll want to find the best dog-friendly airlines.
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* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
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* All Sniffspot articles are reviewed by certified trainers for quality, please see bottom of article for details *
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