Dogs communicate constantly through body language, but many owners miss these signals entirely. Learning to read your dog's posture, facial expressions, and movements deepens your bond and helps prevent misunderstandings that can lead to behavioural problems or dangerous situations.
Key Principle
Always read body language as a whole rather than focusing on individual signals. A wagging tail doesn't always mean a happy dog—context and combined signals tell the complete story.
The Truth About Tail Wagging
The common belief that a wagging tail equals a happy dog is an oversimplification that can lead to serious misunderstandings. Tail wagging indicates emotional arousal, but that emotion could be happiness, excitement, anxiety, or even aggression. The key is reading how the tail wags, not just that it wags.
A relaxed, mid-height tail with broad sweeping wags typically indicates a friendly, happy dog. The whole body often wiggles along with the tail. In contrast, a high, stiff tail with rapid, small wags can signal alertness or potential aggression. The dog is aroused and focused, not relaxed and friendly.
A low tail or tail tucked between the legs indicates fear or submission. Some dogs naturally carry their tails lower than others (breed variation is significant), so learn what's normal for your individual dog. Research has also shown that the direction of the wag matters: wags favouring the right side tend to indicate positive emotions, while left-biased wags may signal negative feelings.
Observation Tip
Spend time watching your dog in different situations to learn their baseline body language. This makes it much easier to notice when something is different or concerning.
Reading Ear Positions
Ears are incredibly expressive, though they're easier to read on dogs with upright ears than those with floppy ones. Even in floppy-eared breeds, you can often see the base of the ear change position.
Forward-facing ears indicate interest and attention. Your dog is focused on something ahead of them. Ears pulled back slightly often accompany a friendly greeting or happy expression. Ears flattened tightly against the head typically signal fear or submission, and in some contexts, aggression. A dog showing this combined with other warning signs like a stiff body or hard stare should be given space.
Ears that rotate or flick between positions indicate a dog who's trying to gather information from multiple directions, often seen when they're uncertain about a situation.
What Eyes Tell You
A dog's eyes reveal their emotional state in subtle but important ways. Soft, relaxed eyes with a natural amount of white showing indicate a calm, comfortable dog. "Whale eye" or "half-moon eye," where you can see a significant crescent of white, often signals anxiety or discomfort. The dog is typically looking away while keeping the trigger in their peripheral vision.
A hard, fixed stare is a warning sign and can precede aggression. The dog is focused and potentially threatening. Never engage in a staring contest with an unfamiliar or anxious dog. Conversely, dogs who look away, blink slowly, or give soft eye contact are often trying to communicate peaceful intentions.
Safety Warning
A dog showing whale eye while guarding a resource (food, toy, sleeping spot) should be given space. This is a clear communication that they're uncomfortable and may escalate if pushed.
Mouth and Facial Expressions
A relaxed, slightly open mouth with the tongue visible often indicates a content, comfortable dog. This "relaxed pant" is different from stress panting, which typically involves a longer, wider tongue and faster breathing.
Lip licking when there's no food around is often a calming signal, indicating mild stress or an attempt to de-escalate a situation. Yawning outside of tiredness contexts serves a similar function. These are called "displacement behaviours."
A closed, tight mouth with lips pulled back to show teeth is an obvious warning. However, be aware that some dogs "smile" by pulling back their lips when excited or greeting—context and the rest of their body language will tell you whether it's friendly or threatening.
Full Body Postures
Looking at the whole body gives the clearest picture of your dog's emotional state. A relaxed dog has a loose, wiggly body with weight evenly distributed. Muscles appear soft rather than tense.
A fearful dog tries to make themselves smaller. They may crouch, lower their head, tuck their tail, and lean away from whatever's frightening them. In extreme cases, they may roll onto their back in a submissive posture—this is not an invitation for belly rubs but a plea to be left alone.
A confident or potentially aggressive dog does the opposite—they try to appear larger. They stand tall, lean forward, and may raise their hackles (the fur along their spine and shoulders). This piloerection isn't always aggression; it can also indicate excitement or arousal of any kind.
Approaching Unknown Dogs
Always ask the owner before approaching, let the dog come to you, avoid direct eye contact and looming over them, and watch for signs of discomfort. If you see freezing, whale eye, or the dog leaning away, give them space.
Play Signals vs Warning Signs
The play bow—front end down, back end up—is one of the clearest signals that a dog wants to play. Dogs use this to invite play and to signal during rough play that their actions are still friendly.
During play, dogs may growl, show teeth, and engage in behaviours that would be concerning in other contexts. Play is characterised by role reversal (dogs take turns chasing, being on top), self-handicapping (bigger dogs often let smaller dogs "win"), loose movements, and frequent pauses with play bows.
Play that's become too intense or crossed into conflict shows stiff movements, fixed staring, one dog always being on top or chasing, and absence of play signals. Intervene calmly by calling dogs apart before the situation escalates.
Remember
Dogs are always communicating—we just need to learn their language. By paying attention to the full picture of your dog's body language, you can better understand their needs, prevent conflicts, and build a stronger, more trusting relationship. When in doubt, give dogs space and consult a professional behaviourist for concerning patterns.