How to Read the Body Language of a Dog

Sometimes it's difficult to understand what your dog is trying to tell you. Fortunately, with a little bit of practice, you can figure out what your dog's expressions and actions mean. Although some thoughts are conveyed via the dog's bark, more are conveyed through that furry little face and body. With only a little bit of work, you'll be able to understand when your dog wants to play, when he's worried, when he's hungry and when he's pretty proud of himself.

Instructions

1. Watch the dog's tail. It's easily the most expressive part of his body. A gentle, slow-motion wag means he's relaxed and friendly and happy to see you. If it's moving fast and doing a little vibrating, that means he's excited and may want to play. This is most easily seen around other animals. However, if your dog's tail is tucked under, it means he's angry, frightened or in submission, whether to your or another animal.

2. Look at the dog's posture and stance. If she is standing straight, it means she's confident and proud. If she continues the proud, upright stance alongside another dog, it means she's dominant. Some dogs, both males and females, also demonstrate dominance by humping other dogs. When a dog hunches over, tail low and head even with the body, it means he's uncertain about something or afraid of something. On the other hand, when a dog's body is crouched low to the ground, with her butt high in the air and her tail up and wagging, it means she wants to play. If the dog's butt is down and her front is up, it means she's excited or afraid of something.

3. Consider the dog's eyes. Just as you can look into a person's eyes and guess what he is thinking or feeling, you can do the same with your dog. You can tell if he's happy or sad, excited or angry. By combining that evidence with the rest of his body language, you can deduce what he's thinking.

4. Look for hints given off by the ears. Ears that are pricked forward mean your dog is alert, whether she hears a sound, senses a storm or see a squirrel. If her ears are relaxed, it means she's relaxed. If they're back, it means she's' feeling aggressive or could be expecting aggression from something else. If her ears are pricked and she tilts her head, it means she's curious about something. Maybe you mentioned a walk.

Tips & Warnings

• The best way to know what your dog is saying to you is to spend time with him.

• Just because a dog's tail is wagging does not mean she's feeling friendly. It's important to pay attention to see the manner in which the tail is wagging.

Resources

• Body Language in Dogs
• Read A Dog's Body Language
• Understand Dog Body Lanaguage