How To Understand And Read Your Dog's Body Language

While most dog owners think that a dog's primary form of communication is his bark, this is far from the truth. Dogs do certainly bark, and they can do it quite often and loudly, but when two dogs meet each other face to face, they rarely bark. Instead they begin to read each other's body language.

Dog owners often have a lot of misconceptions regarding canine body language. It is an important skill to be able to read your dog's body language with some accuracy, so let's take a quick look at various postures and body language.

The Aggressive Dog

An aggressive dog may easily be mistaken for a happy or friendly dog by a person unaware of the significance of various body postures. A dog that is acting aggressive, usually out of fear, will:

- Possibly first cower away. Aggression is commonly a result of fear itself, when a dog feels threatened but refuse to run away due to whatever reasons. The tail may be tucked between the legs, the ears will be pressed back along the head, the back might be arched and you might notice that the dog is a little closer to the ground than usual. Sometimes a dog will move its weight to its hind legs to make a more powerful escape if necessary.

- Growl and show its teeth. This behavior does not necessary means that a dog is about to bite. Generally it can be seen more as a big show or a "I will if I have to" sign. Dogs and other canines are not aggressive by nature and will almost always look for a way to run rather than to fight.

- Occasionally a dog will decide to attack, usually another dog. This dog will puff himself up to look larger, raise the hackles on his back (the fur along the spine, usually concentrated over the shoulders), bare his teeth, and hold his head high. You may notice that the dog tenses his whole body.

The Submissive Dog

Some dogs possess a particularly submissive nature. They have no interest in being top dog, or else are easily put in their places by other dogs. Signs include:

- Flattening the ears back along the head.
- A low tail wag, usually slight.
- Lowering the head and looking up.
- Licking the lips.
- Whimpering or whining.
- Rolling over to expose the belly.
- Licking the other dog's mouth.
- Some dogs may urinate.

The idea is that your dog shows that he is not a threat by making himself very vulnerable. A dog in this situation is looking for ways to keep the other animal from acting aggressively.

The Happy Dog

A happy dog is simply a relaxed dog. Your dog's entire body seems to be loose and he may be panting regularly. A simple tail wag may accompany this.

The Aware or Alert Dog

A dog that has seen something of interest or of potential danger will suddenly appear much focused.

- Ears are up and pointed towards the sound or motion.
- Eyes are fixed or scanning.
- A dog may try to make itself taller to hear or see better.
- The mouth is usually closed unless the dog is barking.
- Hackles may be raised

A dog in this position may be about to bark or run off. If your dog is off leash, do your best to distract him so he doesn't bolt off in the direction of whatever he has noticed.

The Playful Dog

The playful dog will be easy to recognize. Playful dogs like to move a lot, and will generally try to engage you or another dog in play.

- Fast movements, like little jumps, dodging motions, or running around you.
- Play bows, where your dog lowers his front half while keeping the rear end in the air.
- A happy look on your dog's face, alike to smiling.

It's important to realize that dogs play in a way that can appear aggressive. The play bow will tell you that the dog is going to play, not fight. Dogs typically mouth each other and try to dominate the other dog by pushing or pulling on the skin to get the other dog on its back.

As a dog owner, it is good for you to be able to read your dog's body language. This can help to prevent accidents or undesirable incidents with other dogs. Last but not least, you will know when your dog is happy and ready to have fun together!