• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
DogsBestLife.com logo

Dog's Best Life

The information you need to keep your dog happy, healthy, playful and loyal.

  • Top Stories
  • Blog
  • What We Do
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Do you know what these 5 dog body language cues mean?

Posted November 1, 2021

Dog body language graphic
Learn to read dog body language so you’ll know why your dog does what she does and what it means when she’s panting, shaking, or sniffing.

Has your dog ever acted a certain way or done something, but you are unsure what it means? Often, your dog may be trying to tell you something, but because you don’t understand dog body language or behavior, you may miss the meaning entirely.

Therefore, you must know the primary reasons why your dog does what she does and what it means when you see her panting, shaking, or sniffing around your home or outside.

So pay attention to canine body language cues so you’ll understand your dog’s emotional state and recognize what your dog’s trying to tell you.

Common signs of dog body language stress 

Stress

Signs of stress include panting heavily, pacing, and possibly shaking. Stressed dogs also show the whites of their eyes in a position commonly called whale eye.

Stressed dogs calm themselves by yawning, circling, lip licking, sitting, or lying down. These are all calming signals that a dog would show members of her pack. Dogs see human family members as their pack.  

Fear

Fearful dogs also are easy to spot. The dog tends to crouch nearer to the ground, tail tucked between her legs, may whine, and move her ears back.

This behavior is often due to a sudden change in the dog’s environment, such as when you move to a new home or take a road trip.

Dogs are creatures of habit, and disrupting your dog’s routine can make her fearful.

Aggression

Noting the posture of an aggressive dog – especially a dog you do not know – is important because it might help you get away quickly. First, an aggressive dog will have all four legs on the ground and stand still as if to say, “I’m challenging you!”

The hair on the dog’s back may rise; his head will be held high but can be in a lowered position at the same time. His ears will be back as if pinned to his head, he likely will be snarling and growling, and his eyes will fixate on you or whoever they want to dominate.

Do not make eye contact with an aggressive dog. 

Common canine body language happy cues

Beagle demonstrates play bow, a canine body language message that shows the dog is happy.
A play bow shows your dog is happy and ready to play.

Confidence

If your dog feels good about himself and his environment, he is confident.

That’s easy to spot because your dog will stand on all four legs, head high, ears up, and his tail (if there is one) will be up high.

When your dog is confident, they give off a friendly demeanor that is easy to see.

Happy

A happy dog looks like a confident dog, except her tail is wagging like crazy.

She’s also likely to prance around, wiggle, and be very excited. Dogs also may use a play bow to show they are happy.

When your dog is happy, sometimes he will bark, but the bark is playful rather than aggressive, and you can quickly tell the difference.

Communicating with your dog

Learning to read canine body language will help you know how best to approach and work with your dog.

Dogs communicate through body postures, facial expressions, tails, and paws. 

Kelly Marshall is a featured author on Oh My Dog Supplies. For more articles by Kelly, visit Oh My Dog Supplies.

dog body language infographic
Courtesy ihomepet.com

Is it better to have two dogs?

 

Related Posts

  • Tricolor Australian shepherd in front of white background. Take steps to stop dog pawing.
    Canine body language: What's your dog saying with his paws?

    Pawing is a natural and inherent way for dogs or…

  • Dog body language. Dogs use licking as a way to communicate with their people.
    Why do dogs lick?

    Dogs lick as a way to communicate their moods, level…

  • dog body language
    Learn to speak fluent dog

    Learning to speak fluent dog or cat can’t be done…

  • dog tail happy
    Learn how to understand what the dog tail says

    Canines communicate using body language and a dog tail message…

Share this post:

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Share on Email Share on Reddit

Filed Under: Dog Fun, Dog Health, Top Stories Tagged With: Dog body language

« Previous Post
Next Post »

Primary Sidebar

Follow Us

Categories

  • Adoption
  • Dog Breeds
  • Dog Facts
  • Dog Fun
  • Dog Grooming
  • Dog Health
  • Dog Inspirations
  • Dog Training
  • Dog Travel
  • Holidays
  • Home Page
  • Puppies
  • Top Stories

Featured Posts

  • Tricolor Australian shepherd in front of white background. Take steps to stop dog pawing.

    Canine body language: What’s your dog saying with his paws?

  • Cute corgi puppy wrapped in a blanket. Talk with your vet about starting your dog on medication to protect him from parasites including flea and tick prevention, as well as heartworm prevention.

    Puppy training 101: 10 tips to prepare your dog for success

  • Thinking of getting a furry friend? Use the DogsBestLife.com perfect dog breed quiz to find the perfect canine companion.

    Take our dog breed quiz to discover the perfect breed for you!

Tags

Service dogsPawVacation dog carePetfinder.comYorkshire terrierValentine's DayRottweilerOld dogsSeparation anxietyPit bullPuppy-proofPoodleThanksgivingPotty trainingSocializationPandemicRescue dogtraining tipsVeterinarianSheddingTwo dogsWorking dogsTicksPuppy kindergartenSmall dogsPet sitterPomeranianOutdoor activitiesPet parentsWater

Footer

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • Blog
  • What We Do
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Recent Posts

  • What is a Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen? Meet the best in show breed
    The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is a small scent hound popular among dog lovers for its friendly nature and distinctive appearance. […]
  • Meet the 9 most popular large dog breeds that make great pets
    Now that you know more about the most popular large dog breeds, it's time to consider their merits and choose the right one. […]
  • Want to adopt? Use Petfinder.com to find your next pup
    PetFinder.com compiles pet info from rescue websites across the country into one spot for an easy search by breed, location, and more. […]
  • Is a large, muscular Cane Corso your dream dog?
    The Cane Corso needs an experienced owner. While bred to guard and intimidate, the dogs can be affectionate and docile if trained properly. […]

Get Our Newsletter

Get more news to help keep your dog healthy delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for DogsBestLife.com's monthly newsletter.

© Copyright 2023 DogsBestLife.com online magazine · All Rights Reserved · Privacy
Get Our Free Monthly Newsletter

Get more news to help keep your dog healthy delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for DogsBestLife.com's monthly newsletter.