Understanding what your dog is trying to tell you through their body language can help you, your dog, and keep others safe

I’m sure every pup parent has said that at least once. 

Whether you’re trying to get to know your new dog’s personality after bringing them home, or just trying to figure out what your dog means when they do that silly thing they do, it would be great if our dogs could talk to us, right?

Well, what if I told you they can -- it’s just not with spoken words.

Just like people, dogs use body language to convey their feelings and needs. But since it’s one of their main forms of communication (alongside barking), learning what your dog’s body language means is crucial for being able to interact with them.

Today we’re going to break down dog body language for you so you can better communicate with your pup. 

Dogs communicate via facial expressions, posture, and other body parts

Learning your dog’s body language will help you communicate with them

Understanding how your dog communicates with you lets you be a better dog parent!

While this is no anatomy lesson by any means, let’s take a look at some key body parts that your dog uses to communicate.

Take this quiz to see what you know about dog body language! 

UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS OF DOG BODY LANGUAGE

Tail movement is one of the most common non-verbal communication signals, but it can also be one of the most misunderstood.

Many people associate tail wagging with being happy or excitement, but that’s not always true. While it’s true that tail wagging is a signal of being emotionally aroused, it doesn’t necessarily mean excitement. It could be frustration, fear, or other negative emotions.

Here’s how to interpret your dog’s tail wag:

The speed of the wag. A long, slower, back and forth wag indicates excitement, while a faster twitch-like wag can indicate that your dog is on alert.

The direction of the wag. According to a research study, dogs' tails tend to wag to the right when for positive reasons and left for negative ones. 

The position of the tail. The higher the tail, the more assertive or aggressive the dog is feeling. A low tail that hangs between the legs can signal fear. Neutral tail position is a sign of a relaxed, happy dog. Neutral may look different on different breeds, so be sure to take note of your dog’s tail position when you know they are relaxed.

Raised hackles (pyloerection) -- when the hair on your dog’s back stands up -- can be a sign of emotional distress. Sometimes it signals intense sudden interest, but more often than not it’s a sign of stress. If your dog’s hackles are raised when meeting a new person or dog, they may be feeling intimidated by or unsure of who they are meeting.

When you don’t know what your dog is trying to communicate to you, you can potentially put them in harm or stressful situations. Use our Dog Body Language Course to understand what your dog is trying to communicate with you. 

Overall posture can tell you a lot about your dog's mood and feelings. Here are some key postures to note:

Cowering or crouching can be a sign of fear or stress

Shifting weight forward can mean your dog is interested in something. However, if it’s paired with aggression signals like a twitching tail, it could mean your dog is on the offensive

Rolling over and exposing their belly usually means a relaxed or happy dog

Placing the chest on the ground and lifting their butt in the air means they want to initiate play with another dog or person.

A raised paw can mean your dog is unsure or insecure in a situation. In pointing breeds, that can also mean nearby prey.

Facial expressions in dogs are a little different than in humans. Let’s break down some of the main differences:

Yawning. Dogs yawn when they are stressed, in an attempt to calm themselves. Some behaviorists even say you can “yawn” at your dog when they’re tense to help calm them down

Lip-licking. If your dog has just finished eating, lip-licking is just a normal function. But if there’s no food involved, it may be a sign of anxiety

Smiling. This is a tricky expression to figure out. If dogs are baring their teeth in a snarling manner, they’re showing aggression. But if it’s paired with a playful, relaxed posture, you can interpret it more as a smile that you would see from a human. The key is to get to know your dog and their accompanying postures and signals

Panting. We know that dogs pant after exerting themselves, but they can also be panting as a sign of stress and anxiety when not associated with exercise. Check out this blog post to go more in depth on panting

Like any other language, learning to read your dog’s body language takes time and practice. The best way to learn is by spending quality time with them.

Pay attention to their face, body, and posture during times like playtime, during feeding, when they’re tired, when they’re interacting with other dogs etc. This will let you see their “baseline” body language as well as how it changes given the situation. 

Plus, quality time with your pup is one of the best things you can do for your relationship!

Check out our Dog Body Language Course, to help you understand all of your dog's body language signals and know how to keep them happy and safe!

Video breakdowns of the most common dog body language signals

Pictures and videos depicting these common body language signs

A PDF 'cheat sheet' to help you understand and remember all dog body language

In-depth breakdowns of what you need to know about dog boy language

Does your dog have any unique or interesting body language signals? We’d love to hear about it in the comments! 


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Basics of Dog Body Language - What Your Dog is Trying to Tell You | Pupford