Dogs communicate with their body language just as humans do, perhaps more since the obviously have no spoken language.
The way a dog moves its eyes, its ears, its body gestures, and its tail all have a specific purpose and reason.
And this is their doggy language!
Reading a dog’s body language helps YOU KNOW WHAT THE DOG IS THINKING-and what the dog might do next.
Pay close attention to his EARS, EYES, TAIL, MOUTH, HAIR, and OVERALL BODY POSTURE.
For example, most people believe that when a dog’s tail is wagging, it means that he is excited or happy about something.
However, you need to pay attention to HOW his tail is wagging.
If a dog’s tail is STIFF AND PERCHED UP, he could be alert or even curious about something.
After close observation, you will begin to notice the difference from a wagging “happy” tail and a wagging “alert” tail.
The better the relationship you have with your dog, the better you can “read” him and predict his behavior.
Certainly, every dog has their own personality, so knowing that, along with basic body gestures will help you determine how he is feeling and what he is thinking.
AGGRESSIVE BODY LANGUAGE
As a dog owner, you definitely need to be aware of signs of aggression in your dog and others that you come across. A dog that will likely act aggressively is one with a tense body and dominant stance.
His ears will be drawn back and lay close to his head.
The dog’s eyes will be narrow, with a strong and intimidating stare. His lips will be drawn back so his teeth will be exposed, creating a snarl. His jaws will snap with force.
His tail will stick straight out from his tense body. He most will likely snarl, growl or bark loudly.
ANXIOUS BODY LANGUAGE
An anxious dog will take a standing position with a tense body which he will lower into a submissive position. His ears will set back partially, but not all the way as he would if he were about to get aggressive.
His eyes will be slightly narrowed. He will keep his mouth closed, but he might flash a small grin. The dog’s tail will be partially lowered. The only vocals an anxious dog will make is a soft whine or a low bark-like he is moaning.
CURIOUS, EAGER, EXCITED BODY LANGUAGE
A dog who is curious, eager, or excited will demonstrate the same types of body gestures. His body will wiggle or do a slight prance. His eyes will be gleaming and wide open.
His mouth will be slightly open as he pants in excitement. When he is curious about another dog, he will sniff around, first at his nose, then his genitals. His tail will be up high and wagging enthusiastically in long, wide sweeps.
He may whine or bark because he is so excited.
DOMINANT BODY LANGUAGE
A dog who wants to show his dominance will stand in a very tall, confident posture, possibly with hackles up. A dominant dog may stand above the other, submissive dog.
His ears will either point up or forward. He will give a strong stare with his wide eyes. He will keep a closed mouth.
A dominant dog will have a still tail that is puffed either straight out or up from his body. This dog may growl or grunt in an aggressive, assertive manner.
If a dominant dog wants to play, he may roll on his back and expose his belly in a non-threatening manner to encourage the other dog to play.
A dog may mount or “hump” another dog to signify that he is dominant, but it isn’t always the case. Sometimes a more submissive dog will do this to show his loyalty to a higher-ranked dog.
FEARFUL BODY LANGUAGE
A dog that is fearful is one that lowers his body in a tense and submissive position so he will appear smaller and less threatening. He will most likely be shivering or trembling with a scent excreting from the anal glands.
His ears will lay back flat near his head. His eyes will be narrow and averted with the whites showing (this is called “whale eye.”) He will draw back his lips and show his teeth.
His tail will be tucked between his legs. In extreme situations, he may even roll onto his backside and lift his leg and urinate. The fearful dog may cry, whine, or growl.
Enjoy reading your dog!
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