When it comes to communicating their feelings, dogs are EXCELLENT at talking to us and each other! But instead of using words like humans do, they use changes in body language to convey how they are feeling. The wag of their tail, the shift of their stance, the curl of their lip, even a flick of an ear can tell us a lot about how our dog is feeling about the situation they find themselves in. We just need to know what we are looking for AND what it means!
Why is it important to learn dog body language?
Because dogs seldom ever bite out of no where. They are usually communicating quite clearly well before they resort to growling and snapping. These signs are often overlooked by pet owners and unintentionally ignored. Children are most at risk for dog bites because not only are they too young to learn what to watch out for, the adults present are often not aware of how the dog is feeling either in order to teach them! This is a recipe for disaster even with the kindest, most patient of dogs. Any one of us humans might snap after being repeatedly ignored when we ask for space too! So what are some common emotions easily identified by body language?
Most of us know a happy dog when we see one. Waggy tail, goofy grin, floppy tongue, sometimes so wiggly they practically fall over! Looking for more subtle signs of happy body language, we might see the wagging tail is level with the spine, not tucked low or raised like a flag. The dog’s face is relaxed, eyes are soft, typically with no whites showing. They are usually curvy and fluid through their chest, torso, and hips.
When a dog is possibly confused or growing concerned by something, you tend to see less wiggly curvy motion.
Dogs might go still, lift a paw and hold it up, a mouth that was open and panting might close partially or all the way, while their tail rises stiffly like a flag and ears come forward towards the front of the skull to listen closer. The dog might glance away and then back, or turn their head away. You might see lip licking or a stress yawn. The dog is “buffering” in a moment like this, trying to process and determine what is going on and if they need to take action. Turning away, lip licking, and yawning are signs the dog is asking for space or a break from the interaction.
If the dog is afraid, that tail might fully tuck up under their bellies from behind, still or wagging. Fearful dogs will make themselves smaller, shrinking down in a cower, or even lying belly up, ears flat against their heads, often with whites of their eyes showing and a lot of tension in the face. You might see a frightened dog “smile” at the thing they are afraid of, this is often called a submissive grin where they retract their lips to show their front teeth. They are saying, “I’m not a threat! Don’t hurt me!” You might see more dramatic lip licking or even licking at the person/dog they are afraid of.
These are not “kisses” but a request for the scary thing to go away!
An angry or threatened dog will usually get tall, stiffly lean forward towards the threat, bark or growl, and you may see their hackles, a line of fur down their back, stand straight up. Their tail may still be wagging! A wagging tail does NOT always mean happy! Usually a dog with a stiffly wagging tail, sometimes only the tail tip, held straight up like a flag is a very angry dog. Lips pulling up to show all their front teeth, snarling, and air snapping are very clear signs the dog is threatening to bite. This is obviously a dog who needs space!!
What is tricky about all these body language signs, is a dog might be in a situation where they transition from one emotional state into the next very quickly.
Imagine how fast a dog can go from happy and having fun to angry or scared if someone steps on their tail or drops a loud object! We need to pay close attention. Watch for those moments the dog is “buffering” so you can step in and help them realize they can gain distance instead of escalating!
The best course of action is noticing our dogs’ discomfort as soon as possible, but we are human and sometimes we blink and miss it. So when we realize our dog is not happy, what do we do? Well sometimes that’s not the easiest question to answer! If you notice your dog struggling with changes in emotion that are unpredictable or that you cannot make sense of, one of the first stops should be a checkup at your veterinarian. Dogs are very good at hiding pain, and sometimes a pain response looks a lot like anger or fear! If your vet checks pup out and they are physically fine, then it’s time to consult with a certified fear free trainer or behaviorist to help you better understand your dog and keep them feeling safe and happy!
Dog body language can be very foreign to us humans, but it’s important for us to learn. Dogs are always speaking with their bodies, it’s our responsibility to listen!
Brittni Hyzer CPDT-KA, FFCP, FDM
Know Better Do Better Dog Training LLC
Brittni has been working with the dogs of southeastern CT for many years now. She branched out on her own to start Know Better, Do Better Dog Training in 2021 and hasn’t looked back. She is fear free certified and recently worked hard at getting certified as a Family Dog Mediator. Family Dog Mediators carefully examine all the elements of a dog’s life with their family and the wider world in order to create a plan that fits and is customized for that particular family unit. Reach out if you need help with training your dog! She does one on one and group classes