How to read your dog's body language

Why understanding your dog's body language matters

Understanding your dog's body language can help you recognise how they're feeling and respond appropriately. From a wagging tail to tense body posture, learning these signals can help you build trust and spot signs of stress, fear or pain.

The 3 key signs of dog body language

It’s important to consider the whole dog when assessing body language but in this blog, we are going to look at my top three things to look at when thinking about dog body language and communication:

What your dog's tail is telling you

Now obviously not all dogs have tails, which is a shame, because they are important! Even a very short tail can get the point across, but it is a lot easier to notice in dogs with a full tail.

The most important thing about tails is a wagging tail does not mean the dog must be happy. That is a common mistake that can be very misleading.

Happy tails are typically loose, wide wags (tail coming right round to the sides of the body) and roughly in line with the dog’s back or their normal tail height.

Worried, fearful tails are often very low or tucked under, and have a much narrower, tighter wag. They might be slow or very fast.

Very aroused or assertive tails are often held very high and stiff. Like a flag. They usually have a very small side to side movement. This could be excitement but can also be a warning sign for aggression so be cautious.

What your dogs eyes can tell you

Eyes tell you a lot, and eyebrows do too.

Relaxed dogs tend to have soft eyes with relaxed brows. Their eyes will have little, if any, white visible. Their gaze will be relaxed and shift slowly from place to place.

When worried our dogs’ eyebrows often become more visible, creating creases above their eyes and across their foreheads. Some dogs may squint as if the sun is in their eyes when they are scared. It is also common to see more white than normal, often referred to as ‘whale eye’.

If our dogs are feeling threatened and want to warn people away, we may see some obvious changes in their eyes. Their pupils (the black central part) may become a lot bigger. Their head way be lowered, as they look up out the top of their eyes, or they may stare directly at the person. Their gaze is typically fixed and intense. (If this happens, slowly and calmly move away and wait for the situation to diffuse).

Be careful not to stare into your dog’s eyes, especially when you are just getting to know them as this can be quite confrontational.

How to spot tension in your dog's body

This is more of a ‘feel’ than a clearly defined observation. Is your dog soft and wiggly? Or are they stiff?

Happy, relaxed dogs are soft, wiggly, bouncy, bendy, fluid.

Stressed dogs are tense, stiff, rigid, they might look as if they ‘puffed up’ or ‘squaring up’, or they may be trying to make themselves small and low to the ground.

If your dog rolls over and shows their tummy, this is a perfect time to consider tension. Rolling over can be playful and looking for engagement, or it can be a sign of feeling threatened and wanting space. Looking at tension in the body is a great way to work out which your dog is trying to convey.

How to respond to your dog's body language

As you help your new pet settle into their home it’s important to remember that identifying how your dog feels is only half the job, you must also respond appropriately. If your dog shows any aggressive behaviour (even very early signs such as staring and freezing) they are asking you (or the person/animal, they are interacting with) to stop and move away. You should do this immediately. Ignoring these signs will only lead to increased levels of aggression.

When we interact with our dogs, or introduce them to something or someone new, we are not looking for just the absence of obvious signs of them not liking it, we should be looking for active enthusiasm and enjoyment. If that is not present, slow things down and think about how to build more positive (rather than just neutral) interactions. 

When to seek behavioural advice

If you are worried about how your dog is coping or think they are showing signs of stress around certain people, places or animals, speak to your vet or the rehoming centre about further behavioural advice and support.