Dog body language 101: What your four-legged friend is trying to tell you

By Lauren Rey

If you’ve ever wondered what your dog is thinking or feeling you’re not alone. Every pup parent has been perplexed at some point over their dog’s behavior. Whether you thought they’d love making new friends at the dog park and didn’t, or you’re trying to understand your dog’s extreme distaste for the vacuum cleaner — dogs can have complex thoughts, feelings, and emotions.

All too often dog behaviors are mistaken for something they are not, and dogs are seen as “being bad” or “acting out” when in reality, there are very good reasons for their behavior. A dog’s behavior and body language can be a reflection of their thoughts, feelings, health status, and more.

While dogs may not be able to verbalize their feelings in the way that humans can, if you pay close attention, you’ll learn that they have plenty to say — and we’re not just talking about barks! Let’s dive into how to decode your dog’s behavior and body language and find out what they’re trying to tell you.

The basics of dog body language

Dogs use nearly all parts of their body to communicate, from their eyes and ears to their snouts and tails. Let’s break down some of the most common dog body language signs and their potential meanings.

Eyes

In humans, it’s often said that the “eyes never lie” but there is some truth to this in dogs too. A dog’s eyes may show changes in pupil size, eyelid position, and the look of their overall “stare” which can change in response to their emotional state.

When dogs are relaxed, happy, or content, they may have a soft eye expression with normal pupils. On the other hand, dogs that are stressed, fearful, or anxious, may display dilated pupils and a much wider eye expression, showcasing the whites of their eyes. This is known as “whale eye” and it’s one of the most obvious signs that a dog is uncomfortable with something.

The way a dog stares can also tell you a lot about how they are feeling. If a dog is happy and content, they may have a relaxed, soft stare or even seem to stare lovingly at their family members. If they feel agitated or threatened, they may stare intently at the person, animal, or object that is upsetting them. And a dog feeling anxious or fearful may squint their eyes, look away, or avoid eye contact altogether. Of course, the eyes are just one piece of the puzzle, so it’s important to look at all of the accompanying body language and behaviors your dog is displaying.

Ears

Like the eyes, a dog’s ears can change position based on their emotional state and indicate a wide variety of feelings.

Relaxed, neutral, or forward-facing ears often indicate a happy, relaxed dog, whereas flattened ears, or ears held low and backward, can indicate a stressed, fearful, or anxious dog. A dog that is alert or fixated on something may have very rigid ears, often pointing up or forward.

Deciphering dog ear expressions can be difficult on their own, as dogs may also display similar ear positions during play or when fixated on a toy, another animal, or an object or sound that grabs their attention — so it’s important to look at what other body language and behaviors your dog is displaying for more clues.

Mouth

While bared teeth on a dog are often a universal sign of “back off,” there are other ways dogs use their mouths to communicate — if you know what to look for!

A happy, relaxed dog will often have a relaxed mouth expression and/or may have their tongue out and lightly pant. But on the other hand, a dog that is fearful, anxious, or stressed will often have a tightly closed mouth and stiff lips, sometimes accompanied by stress signals like lip licking or stress yawning.

Sometimes dogs will showcase a “smile” in which their lips are pulled back and teeth are shown in a non-threatening manner, however, this is known as an “appeasement grin” and is not an indicator of happiness. This is often a sign of a dog feeling threatened and trying to make themself seem submissive or non-threatening toward whatever is frightening them.

Body

While the eyes, ears, and mouth all come together to form facial expressions that can offer great insight into your dog’s emotional state, they are only one piece of the puzzle. A dog’s body posture is another big piece.

A relaxed, happy dog will have a relaxed, loose body posture. Similarly, a dog that is stressed or fearful, may have a stiff or tense posture and crouch closer to the ground.

When a dog feels threatened, they may take a stiff, defensive stance and raise their fur (also known as raised hackles or piloerection). This is often accompanied by other warning signs, like bared teeth, and is a dog’s way of saying “I’m ready to defend myself.”

Tail

Along with facial expressions and body language, a dog’s tail can be an important piece of the canine communication puzzle. However, deciphering dog tail language can be difficult at times. While a dog with a tucked tail may indicate they are anxious or fearful, and a dog with a stiff, raised tail may indicate alertness, a dog with a wagging tail can be harder to read.

There’s a common misconception that a wagging tail equals a happy dog, but this is not always the case! While most dogs do in fact, wag their tails when they are feeling friendly, happy, or excited, they may also wag their tails when they are feeling fearful, nervous, or threatened, or when they are in play or “hunting” mode.

It’s important to pay close attention to a dog’s tail, along with other body language signs they may be displaying to get the full picture of how they may be feeling. It’s also a good idea to not

approach a dog you don’t know, based solely on the sight of a wagging tail, as this doesn’t automatically mean they want to interact with you.

Common dog behaviors and what they mean

While dogs can each have their own unique personalities and quirks, there are some common dog behaviors that nearly all dogs will display at some point. Let’s break down some of the most common dog behaviors and what they might mean.

Chewing behaviors

It’s no secret that dogs love to chew. You can’t walk into a pet store without seeing aisles of various chew toys and bones. Chewing is a natural behavior for dogs that can help alleviate stress and boredom, clean teeth, and much more. While some dogs are more voracious chewers than others, most dogs enjoy chewing on things and need a safe outlet to do so.

If not given a safe chewing option, some dogs may take out their chewing urges on shoes, furniture, or other objects, leading to potential safety concerns and conflict within the household. Be sure to provide your dog with a variety of safe chew toys based on their breed, age, size, and chewing habits.

Some dogs may also use chewing as a coping mechanism when dealing with separation anxiety or other behavioral issues. Talk to your vet if your dog’s chewing habits become excessive or destructive.

Hunting behaviors

While some dogs have higher prey drives than others, all dogs are natural predators and may display hunting behaviors like stalking and chasing. This might manifest in ways like your dog chasing after a squirrel in your backyard or stalking and dismembering their stuffed toys.

You can help fulfill your dog’s natural desire to hunt by supplying them with a variety of toys. Things like stuffed animal toys that squeak, balls to chase, and even interactive toys that you can fill with food or treats, so your dog can “hunt” for their food, can all help satisfy your dog’s need to hunt.

Playful and contentment behaviors

Dogs who are happy may showcase playful behaviors like chasing, rolling, and displaying “play bows” — a stance used as an invitation to play by bowing their front legs down while keeping their hind legs up. They may also get random bursts of energy, or “zoomies” where they’ll run around in a playful manner or perhaps even drag out all of their toys as another way to initiate play.

Dogs who are calm, comfortable, and content may present themselves to you for petting, curl up next to you or on your lap, or even fall asleep on you.

These are all good indicators that your dog is happy and content!

Fear, anxiety, or stress-related behaviors

Fear, anxiety, and stress in dogs can manifest in a variety of behaviors, everything from hiding or shying away from a person, animal, or object that makes them uncomfortable, to taking an aggressive or defensive stance (in a multi-dog household, you may notice dog-on-dog aggression), or even engaging in destructive behaviors.

You may see some signs of stress such as avoidance, changes to appetite or elimination habits (like suddenly urinating inside the house when they’ve been potty trained for years), or restlessness. These are often accompanied by some of the body language signs we’ve outlined above, to indicate fear, stress, or anxiety.

If your dog is struggling with fear, anxiety, or stress it’s important to get to the root cause and make changes to your dog’s environment to make them more comfortable. Sometimes this may require the assistance of a veterinarian, behaviorist, or trainer.

Breed-specific behaviors

While all dogs share some common behaviors, when evaluating these behaviors, it’s important to take your dog’s breed into consideration and provide additional training, toys, exercise, and enrichment, as needed.

For instance, if you have a working breed like a Belgian Malinois, you’ll need to stock up on much tougher chew toys and devote more time to exercise than you would if you have a Pug at home. And if you have a hunting breed, like a Beagle, dealing with howling and high prey drive is just part of the package!

Dogs who are not getting enough exercise or enrichment or are having their natural behaviors suppressed are more likely to display destructive behaviors due to boredom and stress. So, before dismissing your dog’s behavior as being “bad,” be sure the needs of their breed are being met.

Common dog vocalizations and what they mean

While dogs can’t speak in the human sense, they do have their own form of vocal language, and it's much more than just barking. Here’s a breakdown of some common dog sounds and their meanings.

• Bark: The most common form of dog communication; dogs might bark as a greeting, an invitation to socialize or play, an objection to something, to alert their families of something, to beg for food, or simply “just because.”
• Howl: A higher pitched, drawn-out form of barking, dogs howl for a variety of reasons including feelings of fear, anxiety, or stress, in response to other dogs howling or high-pitched sounds outside, like sirens, during play, or as a hunting call.
• Whine: Dogs typically whine when they want something or are upset about something. It may be to beg for a bite of whatever’s on your plate or express dissatisfaction over being left alone.
• Whimper: Dogs whimper, or “cry” to express pain or anxiety. This might be due to an injury or illness, or if something has frightened them.
• Growl: Dogs growl as a warning. This means a dog is ready to defend itself or its family against a perceived threat. It’s often accompanied by other defensive or aggressive signs, like stiff body posture, raised fur, and flattened ears.

Understanding dog communication through body language, behavior, and vocalizations

The key to understanding canine communication is looking at the whole picture — a combination of your dog’s body language, behavior, and vocalizations. For instance, a happy dog may appear with a relaxed, loose posture, engage in playful behaviors, and actively seek attention or petting. On the other hand, a dog that is feeling frightened or stressed may shy away from attention, display tense body postures, “whale eye,” or even growl when approached.

It’s also important to observe how your dog reacts to changes in their environment, such as moving to a new home, adding a new baby or new pet to the household, changes to their routine, more frequent visitors, or anything that produces loud sounds (like a vacuum cleaner). These can all be sources of fear, anxiety, and stress for some dogs.

When to call the vet

Sometimes dogs exhibit body language, behaviors, and vocalizations that don’t seem to make sense, such as suddenly becoming avoidant or shying away from being petted when they used to love this, urinating in the house when they’ve been potty trained for years, or being restless and vocalizing at night. In many cases, this could indicate a potential medical problem.

When dogs are dealing with pain or illness, they may exhibit stressed body language, avoidant or aggressive behaviors, or changes to their eating or elimination habits. It’s always a good idea to contact your vet if you start noticing these types of changes in your dog.

Learning your dog's language

While we may never fully know what goes on inside our dog’s mind, by learning their “language,” we can better understand their feelings, strengthen the bond we share with them, and ensure they live a happy, fulfilled life.

Keep your dog happy, comfortable, and safe by ensuring they get regular veterinary check-ups for optimal health, have current ID tags and microchips in case they ever get lost, and get plenty of exercise and chew toys so they can express their natural canine behaviors.

For added protection, you can also consider a Lifetime Protection Membership from 24Petwatch. You’ll have access to vet telehealth for any questions that might arise, discounts on pet-sitting and dog-walking services, and lost pet recovery specialists standing by 24/7, to help bring your dog home quickly, should they ever let the neighborhood squirrel get the best of them and take off!