Canines communicate with each other through a combination of pronounced and subtle movements of their body—they rarely bark at each other. They use barking as a warning or signal.
To understand your furry pal better, you should learn to understand dog body language. When deciphering it, the tail of your dog is not the only part you should take note of. The position of the entire body, the ears, the mouth, and the facial expressions should also be taken into consideration.
In this piece, we’ve grouped the most common canine postures into three major categories for easy reference. Take a look at each of them and what they mean.
5 Types of Relaxed Dog Body Language
Dog Body Language #1: Ready to Have Fun
When canines are in a playful mode, they will do the “play bow.” It is one of the most common signs that a dog is happy. Amongst humans, this body language looks like the “downward dog” pose in yoga practice.
The front body part is lowered and the front paws are bent. The lower half of the body is raised with an upright wagging tail. The rump may sometimes wiggle.
The tongue is usually exposed and relaxed, and the mouth is open. Dogs usually stay in this position very briefly before doing something else.
Dog Body Language #2: Wants to Make Friends With Other Dogs
A dog communicates that it wants to strike a friendship with another pooch by circling his fellow companion whilst adopting a relaxed but wiggly body posture.
Their bodies are curved and they may play-bow with each other. Their tails held in a wagging position and they may sniff each other’s rump.
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Dog Body Language #3: Hello/Welcome
The dog does a stretching movement, which makes him appear as if he’s doing yoga. He may also put his forepaws on your thigh and stretch himself as he looks at you. A dog never greets strangers with this stretch.
Dog Body Language #4: Curious or Interested in Something
When something catches their eye, dogs’ ears will be pricked although the mouth is relaxed and closed. His tail is in a horizontal position but not stiff and may slightly move from side to side.
The body slightly leans forward and the eyes are a bit wide. In this mode, dogs are still determining whether what they’re observing is okay or not and whether they should do something.
If your dog does a play-bow posture but with a stiffer tail and wider eyes, he’s concentrating on something he sees as prey. It could be a toy or a smaller creature.
If the dog’s body, neck, and head are at a level position, with legs bent and ears alertly facing forward, these dog body language cues mean he is stalking. This is another way of reacting to prey. This is usually a playful behaviour if the perceived prey is a toy or a harmless object.
Dog Body Language #5: Relaxed
This is the neutral stance of canine pets. Although the head is high and the ears are alert, the body is not stiff. The dog’s mouth is open with the tongue exposed to one side.
The facial expression is calm, with blinking or squinting eyes. The tail and the legs are also relaxed.
Trivia: When dogs tilt their head to one side, they are probably trying to make sense of what they’ve heard. This usually happens when you speak to them in an unusual tone or a high-pitched voice. Dogs may also do this to determine the source of a sound.
5 Types of Agitated to Fearful Dog Body Language
Dog Body Language #1: Shy
Some dogs are more nervous with new people than others and take time to warm up. They indicate their shyness by flattening their ears backwards and crouching low on the ground. This is their way of making themselves small.
Dog Body Language #2: Needing Reassurance
Puppies wanting to be assured of your friendship will lower their bodies. They will exhibit drooped or floppy ears and a low, faint tail wagging.
They may also lick or touch you or another dog’s face with a paw. When your dog does this, acknowledge him calmly as his canine mother would. Offer him an open hand so he can sniff you and be reassured that your friendship with him is fine.
Too much affection may reinforce this behaviour and turn it into an undesirable habit.
Dog Body Language #3: Stressed
Stressed body language in dogs commonly includes licking their lips, yawning, or even shaking the body. Drooling, having sweaty paws, panting, and doing the “whale eye” are other signs you should look for.
The whale eye is when the dog continues to look at the threatening presence even as he turns his head in another direction. As such, the whites of his eyes are visible. The more signs of anxiety and distress a dog shows at one time, the more fearful he is.
Dog Body Language #4: Submission/Appeasement
To defuse a threat and avoid injuries, a dog may show a submissive posture to a human or a more aggressive dog.
He may turn his head and lower or bob it and lower his tail as calming signals. Other body postures that show appeasement are tucking the tail between the legs, lowering the body and even curving it downwards, and turning the eyes in another direction.
Dog Body Language #5: Total Submission
This is when a dog rolls on his back, exposing his throat and stomach and tucking his tail towards his belly. His eyes are partially closed and his head is turned to the side to avoid direct eye contact.
His ears are flattened backwards and his nose and forehead are smooth. He may even tinkle a little, the canine equivalent of waving the white flag.
He is telling you or another dog that he is not a threat; this is not a signal for humans to give him a belly rub.
2 Types of Agitated to Aggressive Dog Body Language
Dog Body Language #1: Scared
In this mode, the dog may show signs of being stressed through dilated pupils and a wrinkled nose. The lips may be slightly curled and even tense. Some of his teeth may be visible, and his tail, which is low and between his legs, may not move.
Dog Body Language #2: Suspicious
A dog who does not want to be touched or approached will have a stiff body and raised tail. His head and neck are high and may lean forward, ready to jump into an altercation.
His hackles may also be raised. His nose and forehead are wrinkled and his lips are curled, showing his teeth and gums. His ears are pricked forward and his eyes are glaring and hard. He may even snap at the air.
How to Greet Dogs Appropriately
To make your encounters with your pet (or those of others) more harmonious, you must be calm when saying hello to a canine. This helps you avoid reinforcing bad habits, such as jumping up on you or barking excessively.
Mother dogs would calmly greet their pups without vocalisations. Take your cue from them. In greeting other dogs, especially those you just met, you should:
- Wait for the dog to approach you.
- Avoid eye contact.
- Calmly pet him on the side of his body or face when he does approach you.
FAQs About Dog Body Language
1. How Do You Understand What Your Dog Is Trying to Tell You?
You can understand what your dog is trying to tell you by learning what his body language means.
Since your furry pal cannot communicate in a way like we do, he relies on his body’s movements to signal his emotions. For this reason, the information we have provided in this article is a useful tool for understanding your pet better.
2. What Does Insecure Body Language in Dogs Look Like?
Insecure body language in dogs may vary. Some pets urinate or show their bellies to appease someone whom they see as a threat.
Others are more likely to react in an aggressive way, such as barking, growling, and baring their teeth.
3. What Signals Would a Dog Give If He Was Uncomfortable in a Situation?
Signals a dog would give if he was uncomfortable in a situation are:
- Lip-licking
- Increased yawning
- Whale eye
- Hypersalivation
- Dilated pupils
- Stiff body
- Raised hackles
If he is exhibiting any of these signs, remove him from the stressful situation immediately. Do not wait for any altercation between your pet and the stimulus as it could result in a traumatic experience for him.
4. What Do Dog Sighs Mean?
When a dog sighs, it usually means he is feeling relaxed and content. In this case, their body language will typically include half-opened eyes and relaxed ears and body posture.
Sighing is a canine’s way of communicating exasperation as well. If your pooch feels this way, he might sigh whilst having wide-open eyes, which shows disappointment or frustration.
Note that the sighs of dogs can be an indicator of pain and discomfort due to an illness. So monitor your furry pal for symptoms of illness such as increased vocalisation, limping, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
Conclusion
Canine-to-canine communication is mainly done through body language. They use it on their owners too to convey what they feel. For this reason, understanding dog body language and what it means can help you have a stronger bond with your canine companion, which is integral in forming a harmonious and peaceful dog–owner relationship.
Learn to decipher more dog codes with these dog behaviour tips! Don’t forget to share this information with other pet owners!