PetKnows

Ever wonder what your dog’s body language means? Whether you know it or not your pup has learned to read your body language so shouldn’t you do the same? The best place to start is by closely watching your dog and how he or she interacts with other dogs.

Pay attention to how your dog approaches another dog’s space, especially if they are not familiar with each other.

• Advancing: indicates dominance or aggression
• Retreating: indicates fear or anxiety
• Facing squarely: indicates confidence, dominance or aggression
• Standing sideways: indicates confidence without asserting dominance

Now take a look at the tail. A wagging tail doesn’t always mean a friendly dog.

• Tail held horizontal or naturally: indicates interest
• Tail raised, held stiffly and quivering: indicates dominance or aggressive intention
• Tail tucked: indicates fear, anxiety or submission
• Tail tucked but wagging: indicates submission
• Tail wagging slowly but broadly: indicates relaxation, playfulness or anticipation
• Tail wagging quickly and broadly: indicates submission or pleasure

And those ears that you love so much they can give you a few clues as to how your dog is feeling.

• Ears forward: indicates interest, dominance, playfulness or aggression
• Ears back: indicates fear
• Ears down: indicates submission

Lastly take a look into those dreamy eyes for an idea of what your pup is feeling.

• Eyes opened wide and staring: indicates aggression
• Eyes turned away and squinting: indicates submission
• Eyes blinking rapidly: indicates stress
• Eyes with dilated pupils: indicates arousal, often from fear or aggression

You might not be able to read your dog’s mind but these helpful tips might put you a little closer. Does your dog have a quirky body language that they use to show you how their feeling? Take a minute and share it with us.