Dogster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

Dog Communication & Body Language: 50+ Signs to Understand

Written by: Oliver Jones

Last Updated on September 2, 2024 by Dogster Team

smiling dog beside a smiling woman

Dog Communication & Body Language: 50+ Signs to Understand

VET APPROVED

Dr. Lorna Whittemore  Photo

REVIEWED & FACT-CHECKED BY

Dr. Lorna Whittemore

BVMS, MRCVS (Veterinarian)

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

Learn more »

There’s not a pet owner among us who hasn’t wished their dog or cat could talk. We can communicate easily using complex verbal language, but dogs are limited to using their body language to express their wants and needs.

Once you understand what your dog is “saying” through nonverbal communication, you can better understand their behavior and mood.

Dogster divider_v3_NEW_MAY_24_

The 5 Ways Dogs Communicate (52 Signs to Watch For)

1. Excitement vs Arousal

an excited Siberian husky dog with its tongue out
Image Credit: Luis Quintero, Pexels

Excitement communication is often a response to something a dog likes, such as a person or toy. Dogs may be more or less excitable based on age, mental and physical stimulation, and their personality, but generally, they display behaviors like a wagging tail and relaxed but alert eyes.

Dogs may also display arousal in response to something they fear, dislike, or find uncomfortable, such as another dog or person they don’t trust. Arousal is how responsive your dog is to the environment and how easily triggered by a stimulus they are. When this happens, the dog may display excitement signals like a tail wag and trembling or aggressive behaviors like barking or lunging.

Signs of excitement in dogs:
  • Jumping
  • Mounting
  • Mouthing on the leash or clothing
  • Play bowing with a low front end and high back end
  • Wagging or helicopter tail
  • Relaxed open mouth
  • Demand barking
Signs of arousal in dogs:
  • Hair standing up
  • Forward or alert ears
  • Strong stance
  • Stiff wagging tail
  • Barking
  • Lunging
  • Alert and focused eyes

2. Anxiety

dog yawning
Image By: RogerMayhem, Pixabay

Anxiety is common in many dogs, whether it’s all the time or only in certain situations. The ways dogs communicate anxiety are similar to communicating fear, such as panting, pacing, lip-licking, yawning, a slow tail wag, and avoiding eye contact. Some dogs may shed excessively or drool when anxious.

Sometimes, anxious communication mimics signs of arousal, such as barking or lunging. Anxiety has its basis in fear when the outcome of a situation is uncertain. Arousal is based on excitement, causing a strong response that can be good or bad.

The signs of anxiety may include:
  • Panting
  • Shaking or trembling
  • Pacing or spinning
  • Lip-licking
  • Yawning
  • A slow, hesitant tail wag
  • Looking away
  • Shedding
  • Drooling
  • Jumping
  • Lunging
  • Barking
  • Whining

3. Fear

dog hiding under the table
Image By: Patrick H, Shutterstock

Fearful communication typically involves the whole body with a range of signals that intensify as the fear intensifies. Dogs often display subtle submission signals, such as lip-licking, yawning, and avoiding eye contact. They may also cower, tuck their tails, pull their ears back, tremble, or lean back to avoid the fearful stimulus. The level of aggression gives a useful visual as to how fearful behaviors can escalate to a bite.

Conversely, some dogs “shut down” when fearful, like they’re frozen in place. They may refuse treats or food, avoid people approaching or touching them, or freeze when they’re cornered. If these signs are ignored and the fear intensifies, dogs may switch to defensive aggression to protect themselves.

The signs of fear may include:
  • Cowering
  • Lip-licking
  • Yawning
  • Looking away
  • Leaning back or turning away
  • Tail tucking
  • Pulled back ears
  • Shaking or trembling

4. Aggression

aggressive german shepherd
Image Credit: Christel SAGNIEZ, Pixabay

Aggression is a normal behavior in dogs and other animals in response to a perceived threat, be it a person, dog, or situation. Dogs use aggressive communication to warn others that they’ll defend themselves, their possessions (including their people), and their territory.

Typically, aggressive dogs show more subtle warning signals, escalating into a bite. This may begin with a stiff posture, growling, snarling, or showing teeth. If the threat still advances, such as when you move toward your dog with a toy in their mouth, the behavior will become more threatening until you back off.

Signs of aggression may include:
  • Stiffening
  • Growling
  • Snarling
  • Snapping or biting
  • Showing the whites of the eyes
  • Freezing the body
  • Tense or curled lips
  • A wrinkled nose
  • Barking

Dogs that escalate from subtle to severe aggression signals quickly—or seem to jump right to snapping and biting—do so because their aggressive language has been ignored, misread, or punished. That is why you should never punish a growl. You’re not removing the aggression, just quieting the alarm system.


5. Happiness or Contentment

hokkaido dog smiling with tongue
Image Credit: Happy monkey, Shutterstock

A relaxed dog is a content dog. They’re comfortable, secure, and feel happy. Dogs that are relaxed and happy will have relaxed mouths that are slightly open with neutral heads and ears, soft eyes, and a smooth, easy tail wag that moves back and forth or in a circular motion. Sometimes, happy dogs appear to have a “smile.”

The signs of a happy or relaxed dog may include:
  • A relaxed body
  • Soft, relaxed eyes
  • A smooth tail wag, either back and forth or circular
  • A soft mouth with a smile
  • An exposed belly
  • Lying with legs back in the frog position
  • Snoring

Dogster divider_v2_NEW_MAY_24_

Tips for Interpreting Dog Body Language

A happy, playful dog is easy enough to spot, but some behaviors are harder to read. For example, a dog wagging its tail isn’t always a sign that they want to play or are happy. Dogs may wag their tail before subtle aggression signals escalate to a fight, but the owners believed their dog was ready for playtime. In this example, the difference could be seen in the rest of the body language, such as a stiff posture or unwavering stare (aggression) versus a crouching position and a soft mouth and eyes (playful).

The key is to observe the dog’s body to catch all the subtle signs and consider the context to read the situation properly. The dog may display a mix of different signals, such as arousal and anxiety. The situation can also change quickly, just like our own emotional state. The dog may be excited to meet another dog and display playful signals, only to decide that the dog is now a threat and move into aggression or fear.

It’s important to pay attention to the dog and the subtle indicators of how they’re feeling to avoid a negative situation before it starts. Similarly, it’s crucial not to humanize your dog. Human body language and dog body language are different. For example, we may see a smile on our dog’s face and assume they’re happy when they’re baring their teeth to warn someone away or using a submissive signal to de-escalate an uncomfortable situation.

When you project your own emotions or interpretation onto your dog’s nonverbal communication, you’re missing an opportunity to listen, form a deep connection, and understand what your dog needs from you.

woman lies with a large dog on the couch
Image Credit: Zapylaiev Kostiantyn, Shutterstock

Dogster divider_v3_NEW_MAY_24_

Conclusion

Dog communication is nonverbal and vastly different from our own. Taking the time to observe your dog’s movements and actions can help you understand what they’re trying to communicate and react appropriately to stress, fear, discomfort, or aggression before it becomes an issue. Eventually, you’ll learn what your pup is trying to tell you.

You might also want to check out: 


Featured Image Credit: Jumpstory

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

Help us improve Dogster for pet parents!

Your feedback really matters.

What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

Leave a Reply

You’re very welcome to leave a comment or question. Please know that all comments must meet our community guidelines, and your email address will NOT be published. Let’s have a positive and constructive conversation.

PangoVet Image Speak With A Vet Online

Get Dogster in your inbox!

Stay informed! Get tips and exclusive deals.
Dogster Editors Choice Badge
Shopping Cart

Pangolia

© Pangolia Pte. Ltd. All rights reserved.