Has your pup ever approached you with squinting eyes and a wagging tail? Or, have you seen your dog tilting their head when you are talking with someone over the phone? All these dog body language must have made you think about what they are trying to express. Dogs cannot speak human language, but they express their inner emotions – not with their words but with a language that directly comes from their heart and is emphasized through body language.
Each way, bark, whine, stretch, and tilt carries an enormous volume of expressing what your fur baby truly feels inside, which mere words couldn’t be able to express.
Understanding your dog’s body language is like developing a secret code that only the two of you share. So, are you ready to decode canine signals and see your furry friend in a whole new light?
Decoding Key Dog Body Language
Tail Position
- Wagging Tail
Most of the pet parents have difficulty understanding what the wagging tail is trying to express. It is often believed that a dog with a wagging tail is a happy dog. However, this may not always be the case. A wagging tail generally indicates that the pup is emotionally aroused, i.e., your furry pooches can be excited, frustrated, or dealing with anxiety and other negative emotions.
In order to interpret your dog’s emotions, you can look at the speed and the position of the tail relative to the ground. When a dog is excited or relaxed, they tend to hold their tails higher than a neutral position. However, if your dog is nervous or confused, their tail will be slightly lower than in a neutral position.
If your dog approaches you with a slow rhythmic wag in conjunction with a relaxed body and face, it is generally a happy and relaxed dog. Likewise, if your dog is wagging its tail quickly side by side by holding its tail higher, it generally indicates that your dog is excited. They also wiggle their hips at the same time while wagging their tail.
However, if your dog is nervous or confused, they tend to wag slower and more steadily. Likewise, a tail right above the hips, stiff and vibrating, along with a fixed gaze, indicates that the dog is going through stress or anxiety. Studies also show that a lot of dogs tend to wag their tail left when they are feeling nervous, anxious, or fearful. Likewise, they tend to wag their tail right if they feel relaxed or more submissive.
Moreover, you have to consider the tightness or looseness of your dog’s body while interpreting your dog’s wagging tail.
- Tucked Tail
A tucked tail can convey a different meaning about how your dog is feeling internally. If your dog tucked its tail between its legs, it’s an unmistakable sign that they are scared, afraid, or feeling uncomfortable. So, if you see your pooches’ tucked tail, then you can try your best to take them out of uncomfortable circumstances.
However, if your dog tucked its tail quite often with no any obvious reasons in conjunction with symptoms like lethargy, loss of appetite, or any signs of visible wounds, then you should take them for a vet checkup.
Eyes
Dogs are great communicators and never fake their feelings. They will express their feelings and emotions in one way or another. The eyes are one of the most expressive parts that pet parents can catch on.
- Whale Eye
If your dog is showing the whites of its eyes, it is particularly indicative that your dog is anxious or stressed about some situation, environment, or even people or other dogs.
- Hard Stare
If your dog looks intently at something for a longer period of time without blinking, that hard stare indicates a potential threat and negative state of mind. This hard stare can be accompanied by a stiff body and tight mouth.
- Squinted Eyes
When your dog looks at you with squinted eyes and a relaxed and lovely gaze, it generally means they want your love and attention. Likewise, it also indicates that they are not into rough or aggressive play but want to enjoy a relaxed time.
- Avoiding Eye Contact
Dogs that are afraid or fearful usually try to avoid eye contact. You have probably noticed your dog turning their head away when you scold them.
Ears
- Ears Forward
If you find your dog’s ear standing straight up or inclined forward in the case of a dog with floppy ears, it conveys that the dog is curious and alert. Moreover, it also indicates that the dog is trying to pay attention to something or someone.
- Ears Flattened Against The Head
A slightly pulled-back ear generally indicates that your dog is feeling friendly and relaxed. You may notice these slightly pulled-back ears when you gently stroke your dog.
- Ears Laid Tightly Back
When your dog comes across some unfamiliar or fearful situations, your dog tends to lay their ears tightly back. Make sure to calm your dog and take them away from those stressful situations.

Postures
- Play Bow
When your dog lowers their chest on the ground with their butt in the air, this playful gesture clearly indicates that your furry friend is inviting you to play or asking for interaction with your or other dogs.
- Hunched Over
If you find your dog hunching over, then they are expressing their feeling of fear. Likewise, dogs hunch over, trying to make themselves look small since they are in a vulnerable state.
- Exposing Their Belly
One of the sensitive parts of a dog’s body is their belly. So, when your dog exposes their belly in front of you, it generally expresses their trust, acceptance, and faith in you. Likewise, your canine friend can expose their belly to show their submissive side and avoid confrontation. When your dog comes across other dogs, they may show their belly with the intent to express that they are not a threat to other dogs.
- Turning Their Back
Dogs become vulnerable when they expose their back to you. So, if your dog is turning their back, it is indicative of trust towards you.
Face
- Baring Teeth
When you try to take away the food that your dog is eating, it usually doesn’t bark or snarl but bare their teeth. This shows their inherent nature of territorial protection.
- Yawning
In most of the cases, when you see your dog yawning, they can just be tired. However, when your pups come across a new environment or unfamiliar people, they tend to yawn. So be on the lookout for these yawning without being tired.
- Licking
The dog usually licks their face to clean themselves up or mop up food leftovers after eating. However, licking their face also indicates discomfort, stress, or pressure. They tend to lock their face to de-escalate the stressful situation. Likewise, if your dog shows excessive and repetitive licking, it can be a sign of anxiety.
Raised Hackles
When the fur of the dogs fluffs up from the neck down to the tail, that body structure is called raised hackles. Fur standing up indicates that your dog is aroused but it can be either due to stress, excitement, or alertness.
Read More: Caring for Senior Dogs
A Close Look at Pet Communication
Pet communication can be both clear and a bit puzzling at times. For instance, when you see a tucked tail or teeth being barred, those are pretty obvious signs. On the other hand, interpreting a wagging tail can be a little tricky! That’s why it’s really important to look at the entire body language of a dog, as it truly helps you see the bigger picture.
Relaxed Dog Body Language
- Soft eyes with no wrinkles on the face
- Tail wagging loosely
- Ears in a neutral position
- Loose and free body without holding any tension
- Weight distributed in all four legs
Feared Dog Body Language
- Tail tucked between the legs
- Avoiding eye contact
- Wide eyes
- Whining
- Trembling
- Yawning, lip-licking
- Ears pinned against the head
Aggressive Dog Body Language
- Tail held high and stiff
- Fixed and unwavering gaze
- Raised upper lip and exposed teeth
- Rigid and tense body posture
- Body weight shifted forward
- Raised hackles
- Growling
- Ears held back
Alert Dog Body Language
- Stands tall with a stiff body
- The tail extended from the body
- Ears pointed forward
- Eyes wide open with an intense gaze
- Mouth close with wrinkles on forehead
Appeasement Dog Body Language
- Body either crouching or lying down to make themselves appear smaller
- Tail tucked or held low
- Ears pinned back
- Avoiding eye contact
- Licking
Conclusion
Nonverbal cues, like body language, say so much, revealing every single emotion your dog feels. So, decoding all these body languages will not only help you understand your pups better but also help you to create and strengthen the bond you two share.
We hope that this blog has helped you understand your canine friend a little more than yesterday. For more valuable insights about your furry friend, stay tuned with Littlefurr.
FAQs
- What are the common body languages that tell you that a dog is anxious?
The common body languages of anxious dogs are pinned back ears, tucked tail, trembling, avoiding eye contact, and yawning.
- What body language does an aggressive dog exhibit?
Aggression in dogs can be expressed through baring teeth, growling, high and stiff tails, and stiff body posture.
- How can I tell if a dog is happy?
When a dog shows relaxed body and facial expressions, bright eyes, slow high wagging tail, and playful behavior, it usually indicates a happy dog.
- Is it normal for a dog to yawn when not tired?
Yes, dogs can yawn out of nervousness, stress, and an attempt to ease the tension in a situation
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