Have you ever looked into your pup\u2019s loving eyes and wondered what they could be thinking? It\u2019s interesting that after thousands of years of domestication, scientists are still puzzling over exactly how a dog\u2019s brain works and how they\u2019re so good at picking up on our moods. Although we haven\u2019t solved all the mysteries of the canine brain, there are some tips and tricks you can use to understand your pup and what they\u2019re trying to say through their body language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A dog will always wear their heart on their sleeves. Unless they\u2019ve been taught otherwise, you can almost always read what they\u2019re feeling by observing their body language. Having this deep understanding will help you build a better relationship with your canine and have a better knowledge for dogs that you don\u2019t know. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because different dog breeds have different tails a trick you can use is to look at the base of the tail. If it’s tight over the hindquarters, covering their rear that’s a pretty good indication they’re nervous. Relaxed and loose equals calm. Tense, stiff, and up usually indicates agitated or excited energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dog eyes are so expressive. You can learn so much by reading your pup\u2019s gaze. When a dog is happy, they\u2019ll have soft almond shaped eyes. They may also squint and smile when they\u2019re feeling really good. An aggressive pup will carry a hard stare while a scared dog will give you the classic \u201cwhale eyes.\u201d This usually involves your pup turning their head away, but staring at the offensive scary thing revealing the whites of their eyes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fun fact! Scientists have discovered that dogs have a special eyebrow muscle<\/a> in their facial structure that allows them to give off a more expressive, sadder look. A rare few wolves possess this muscle and some theorize that dogs evolved this ability because it was more appealing to humans. Also, the dogs that are able to demonstrate this are more likely to be adopted from rescues than their less expressive canine friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like people, a dog\u2019s mouth can express a lot on how they\u2019re feeling. A stressed, nervous pup will have more tension in their mouth area. You might also be surprised to know that a dog doesn\u2019t always yawn because they\u2019re tired. Yawning is a trick they pull to clear the air and release tension in their bodies. It\u2019s like your dog saying, \u201cI\u2019m uncomfortable. Let\u2019s relax and chill out.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n A happy pup will show off a natural smile often accompanied with a lolling tongue. A dog that\u2019s acting aggressive will have tenseness in the facial muscles with loose lips. This can escalate to the C-shaped snarl of a pup revealing their teeth. This means \u201cBack off, or I will use these.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ears are another great indicator for gauging how your pup is feeling. Since dog ears come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, it\u2019s important to look at the base of the ear to get an accurate reading of what\u2019s going on. A dog interested in a situation will prick their ears forward in order to better hear what\u2019s happening. They could simply be curious or suspicious depending on what the rest of their body is doing. A submissive pup who\u2019s trying to keep the peace will pull their ears back while a frightened dog will pin their ears to their skull. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Relaxed ears in their natural position indicate a calm or happy dog. <\/p>\n\n\n\n How your dog holds themselves says a lot about how they\u2019re feeling. When a dog is feeling nervous or scared, they will curl into themselves to appear smaller and unnoticeable. A dog interested in a situation will lean forward on their front paws to investigate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A confident dog will carry themselves high in a calm, relaxed manner. This can also be said for dogs who are protective and cautious, but their manner is more stiff and tense. They will hold their tails high and engage head on in case of a threat. They also may manifest piloerection or hackles raised. Take note that a dog with hackles raised may not be aggressive. It\u2019s a reaction that\u2019s similar to goosebumps and happens when a dog is feeling overly aroused. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As always, it\u2019s important to read all the signs your dog is exhibiting before deciding on how they\u2019re feeling and how to respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that you have a better understanding of your dog\u2019s body cues, it\u2019s important to look at yourself and how you interact with your pup and dogs in general. You may discover that there are some things that you are doing that your dog may not like at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Surprisingly, most dogs don\u2019t like receiving head pats<\/a>. Your dog can\u2019t see what your hand is doing and will often tilt up their head to investigate or they\u2019ll duck to avoid being touched altogether. Instead, it\u2019s better to pet a dog under the chin, on the chest, or on their back. This is especially true if you\u2019re petting a dog that you don\u2019t know. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When interacting with a dog you don\u2019t know, always ask permission from the owner before petting their canine. If the dog is wearing a special service vest then you definitely shouldn\u2019t pet or distract them. According to this story<\/a>, a woman nearly suffered a fatal accident because her service dog got distracted by someone who started petting him. In the case that you do receive permission, it\u2019s always polite to allow the dog to sniff your hand palm down before touching. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s amazing looking at photos of people hugging dogs, how often the pup will have a displeased expression on their face. Even if you love a good snuggle, canines don\u2019t always feel the same way. Dogs hug each other when they want to fight or mate and it can induce a lot of anxiety for your pup if you wrap your arms around them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find that after you\u2019ve given your dog a hug that they pull away, yawn, or shake themselves off, they may not like receiving this kind of affection. However, if your pup leans into you as if asking for more, then congrats! You\u2019ve got a snuggle bug. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a fact; most people are taller than dogs. When we lean or loom over a canine this can be very nerve wracking for them. It\u2019s better to engage a dog, especially one you don\u2019t know, at a respectful distance. Don’t get in their face. Stand straight at an angle or kneel while holding your hand out, palm down, so that you appear less intimidating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Always choose caution when greeting a dog you don\u2019t know. As mentioned previously, even if a dog is wagging their tail, that doesn\u2019t mean they\u2019re friendly. Make sure to read all of their body cues and again ask permission before engaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When meeting strangers, usually the appropriate thing to do is make eye contact and shake their hand to make introductions. Dogs find this incredibly intimidating. A straight forward approach accompanied with long held eye contact indicates aggressive and dominating behavior. Again, this is especially true for dogs that don\u2019t know you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Mouth<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Ears<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Body Posture<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What Your Body Language Tells Your Dog<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Head Pats<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hugging<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Looming<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Eye Contact<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n