Royal Library

Learning your dog's body language is essential for meaningful communication. Dogs express themselves through their bodies, and understanding these signals can help you build a stronger bond. Here’s a simplified guide to dog body language:

Key Body Language Cues

Posture

• Crouching: Indicates anxiety or submission. The dog makes itself appear smaller to show it means no harm.
• Leaning Forward: Shows interest or potential aggression. Often seen with a high, twitching tail.
• Play Bow: Universally understood signal for play, where the dog lowers its chest and raises its rump.

Tail

• Low or Tucked Tail: Fear or submission. Tail positions can vary by breed.
• Wagging: A wagging tail doesn’t always mean happiness. The speed and position of the tail can indicate various emotions.
• Slow Wag: Typically friendly.
• Fast, Twitching Wag: Sign of agitation or excitement.
• High Tail: Confidence or aggression.

Eyes

• Soft Eyes: Relaxed and squinted eyes indicate happiness or calmness.
• Hard Eyes: Wide, intense stare can signal aggression or guarding.
• Avoiding Eye Contact: A sign of submission or discomfort.
• Showing Whites of Eyes: Also called "whale eye", can indicate anxiety or fear.

Mouth

• Yawning: Dogs yawn when they are anxious, not just tired.
• Lip Licking: Can indicate nervousness or appeasement.
• Smiling: Dogs’ smiles differ from humans. A genuine dog smile doesn’t show front teeth and comes with a relaxed body.

Hackles

• Raised Hackles: Hair standing up on the dog's back can signify excitement, fear, or aggression.

Interpreting Dog Body Language

Interpreting these signals in context is crucial. A single cue doesn’t tell the whole story; observe the entire body to understand what your dog is communicating. By recognizing these signals, you can respond appropriately, strengthen your bond with your dog, and foresee potential issues.

Understanding your dog’s body language helps build respect, trust, and harmony in your relationship. 🐾