Just as you might let someone know you’re flirting by giving them sultry eyes or let people know you disapprove of their behavior by giving them the stink eye, dogs are constantly exhibiting visual signals to communicate.
Without the sophisticated vocal communication that humans take for granted, dogs are even more reliant on body language to express themselves. Reading a dog’s body language can therefore tell you a lot about her emotions and intentions. Dogs exhibit many signals that tell us when they are feeling excitement, relaxation, stress, and fear. They also exhibit signals that tell us when they are feeling submissive or assertive, and threat displays that tell us they are uncomfortable and willing to act aggressively. So pay attention: your dog is talking to you!
Keep in mind, it’s important to look at the dog’s entire body to interpret her internal state, as most visual cues signify different emotions depending on the other body language accompanying them.
Just as you might let someone know you’re flirting by giving them sultry eyes or let people know you disapprove of their behavior by giving them the stink eye, dogs are constantly exhibiting visual signals to communicate.
Without the sophisticated vocal communication that humans take for granted, dogs are even more reliant on body language to express themselves. Reading a dog’s body language can therefore tell you a lot about her emotions and intentions. Dogs exhibit many signals that tell us when they are feeling excitement, relaxation, stress, and fear. They also exhibit signals that tell us when they are feeling submissive or assertive, and threat displays that tell us they are uncomfortable and willing to act aggressively. So pay attention: your dog is talking to you!
Keep in mind, it’s important to look at the dog’s entire body to interpret her internal state, as most visual cues signify different emotions depending on the other body language accompanying them.
Eyes
Soft Eyes
A dog that has her eye lids lowered so that her eyes are partially closed is displaying soft eyes. Soft eyes often reflect a relaxed state, and sometimes they are a sign of appeasement or submission.
These dogs are all displaying soft eyes.
Averted Gaze
A dog deliberately looking away from another dog or person and avoiding eye contact is displaying an averted gaze. An averted gaze can be a sign of submission or stress.
Hard Eyes
A dog that has her eye lids open wide so that her eyes appear large and round is displaying hard eyes. Hard eyes are usually accompanied by facial tension lines, both of which often reflect a state of stress and sometimes signify a threat. Hard eyes with a lot of white in the eyes are called whale eyes.
These dogs are displaying hard eyes with a lot of white, called whale eyes.
Direct Staring
Direct eye contact, especially with hard eyes, is often a threatening signal.
Tail
Position
The natural position of a dog’s tail differs depending on the breed. It is important to compare the dog’s current tail position to her natural, relaxed tail position in order to make a more accurate interpretation of her internal state.
Raised
A tail is raised if the base of the tail is angled above the back. A raised tail is a sign of alertness, confidence, or excitement. A tail that is raised straight up or angled toward the back is a sign of intense excitement or high confidence.
These dogs are displaying raised tails.
Level
A tail is level if the base of the tail is in line with the back. A level tail is not a reliable sign of specific internal states in dogs.
Low
A tail is low if the base of the tail is angled below the back. A low, but not tucked, tail can be a sign of submissiveness, cautiousness, or relaxation.
Tucked
A lot of people recognize a tucked tail as sign of stress or fear. A tucked tail is very low, covering the dog’s anus. If the dog is experiencing intense fear, the tail might even curve under the body and cover the dog’s genitals.
Wagging
People generally associate tail wagging with happiness and friendliness. While this is often the case, it is important to differentiate between two types of tail wagging, one of which is not very friendly.
Level Tail with Wide Wagging
A relaxed tail that is around level height and moving in a wide, perhaps circular motion is a classic sign of happiness and friendliness. This type of wagging can also be submissive signal.
Above is an example of friendly tail wagging by Bella – the light colored miniature goldendoodle
High Tail with Short Wagging
A stiff tail that is held high and moving in a quick, short motion can be a sign of stress or threat.
Ears
Natural
A dog’s ears are in their natural state when the dog is relaxed.
Forward
Ears angled forward are a sign of alertness, confidence, or excitement.
These dogs' ears are pushed forward.
Back
Ears angled back, but not flat back, are a sign of submissiveness or cautiousness.
These dogs' ears are back, but not flat back.
Flat Back
Ears flat back are a sign of stress and often fear.
Airplane Ears
Ears that are out to the side are called airplane ears, and they are a sign of uncertainty or mixed emotions.
This wolf and this dog are displaying airplane ears.
Mouth
Short Lips
A dog pulling the corners of the lips forward toward the nose is displaying short lips. Short lips are often a sign of stress. A dog that raises her upper lips while displaying short lips is exhibiting a snarl, a well known threatening signal. A snarl, also called an agonistic pucker, typically makes the canine teeth most visible.
Long Lips
A dog pulling the corners of the lips back toward the ears is displaying long lips. Long lips are seen both in relaxed and stressed dogs, so they aren’t a reliable indicator of specific internal states. If the dog’s face seems tense and she is panting or drooling while displaying long lips, she is likely stressed. If the dog’s face seems relaxed while displaying long lips, she is likely relaxed.
Submissive Grin
A dog that raises her upper lips, making all the front teeth visible, while displaying long lips is exhibiting a rare behavior called a submissive grin. Submissive grins are sometimes confused with snarls, but they look slightly different. Submissive grins involve long lips instead of short and make all the front teeth clearly visible instead of mainly the canines. Submissive grins are most easily differentiated from snarls by the dog’s other submissive body language.
Movements
Tongue Flick
A dog licking her nose is displaying a tongue flick. A tongue flick is a sign of submission or low level stress.
These dogs are exhibiting tongue flicks.
Yawn
Everyone knows what a yawn looks like, but it might surprise you that sometimes it’s a sign of low level stress. To determine if yawning is a sign of stress, look at the rest of the body language the dog is exhibiting.
These dogs are exhibiting tongue flicks.
Panting
Everyone also knows what panting looks like, but many don’t realize that it can be a sign of high level stress, especially if it’s accompanied by drooling. Of course, dogs pant to cool off, too. To determine if panting is a sign of stress, look at the rest of the body language the dog is exhibiting.
These dog are panting.
Conclusion
As I said before, you’ll notice that almost every visual cue a dog can exhibit has multiple possible meanings. For this reason, you must consider the entire body when you’re reading a dog’s body language. That being said, it’s a good idea to focus on one specific body part at a time when you’re first learning.
For example, spend a few minutes watching a dog’s ears to practice recognizing the different positions (this can be a tricky one because of all the different types of dog ears). Reference this list and see if you can remember what those positions might mean. Doing that for each body part will help you learn to put all of a dog’s visual cues together to decipher their true meaning. After all, it’s easier to learn a new language in small steps than to sit down and try to read a foreign novel!
Have you noticed your dog using body language to communicate? If so, what visual cues did you see and what do you think he/she was trying to say?
Much of this information can be found in:
CATCH Training Academy Master Class Study Guide