How to Read Dog Body Language: A Deep Guide to Understanding Canine Communication
- Olga Rozenberg
- Jul 14
- 18 min read
Updated: Jul 15
Dogs are always communicating. The question is: are we listening? — Turid Rugaas
Imagine living in a world where no one speaks your language — not your family, not your friends. You try to communicate with gestures, posture, and facial expressions, but people ignore you. Worse, they get upset when you’re honest. Over time, you either stop expressing yourself or you lash out.
For many dogs, this is everyday life.
Dogs live beside us, love us, and depend on us, but they speak a language we often don’t recognize: the language of the body. When we misinterpret or ignore their signals, we create confusion, frustration, anxiety, and sometimes even real danger.
The good news? We can learn to listen. And when we do, we don’t just prevent behaviour problems, we build deeper trust, emotional safety, and a stronger bond with our dogs.
Why We Misunderstand Dogs: Species Divide
Humans are primates; dogs are canids. That evolutionary split shapes everything about how we communicate.
We humans rely on layered communication: words, tone, facial expressions, gestures, often saying one thing while meaning another. We smile politely when annoyed, nod when we disagree, or hide feelings to avoid conflict.
Dogs don’t.
A growl means discomfort. A lip lick signals mild stress. Their communication is somatic (from the Greek sōma, meaning body)
Their emotions don’t just influence behaviour; they are the behaviour.
A dog’s body language is powered by the autonomic nervous system, the part of the brain that controls heart rate, muscle tension, and breathing. When a dog feels safe, the parasympathetic system (rest and recover mode) softens their muscles, slows their breathing, and gives them an easy, fluid posture. But when something feels threatening or uncertain, the sympathetic system (fight, flight, or freeze) kicks in: pupils dilate, muscles tense, the tail rises or tucks, and breathing quickens.
These reactions aren’t conscious choices — they’re automatic, embodied emotions.
Unlike humans, who can mask, fake, or layer meaning, dogs are honest and direct communicators. They show what they feel, moment to moment. And here’s where we often get it wrong: humans are wired to look for subtext, nuance, or hidden meaning. But with dogs, there’s no hidden meaning; their bodies say it all.
Misunderstanding this fundamental difference is often where miscommunication and trouble begin.
The world is designed for humans.
Picture this: you’re walking your dog down a narrow sidewalk. Ahead, another person approaches with their dog. As humans, we stay on course, walk straight, maybe make eye contact or small talk. To us, this feels polite and normal.
But for the dogs, it’s a completely different experience.
Dogs don’t greet each other nose-to-nose. Their natural greeting involves curved approaches and rear-end sniffing, gathering information in a way that’s impossible when leashed and forced into head-on encounters. Add in the tight sidewalk, upright humans looming overhead, tension in the leash, and no escape route, and what we see as a routine social moment becomes, for the dog, a stressful pile of mixed signals.
To the dog walking beside you, this can feel like a forced confrontation. Direct eye contact, forward movement, restricted space — these all carry very different meanings in dog language. While we’re thinking about small talk and manners, they’re trying to de-escalate what feels like a tense or risky situation.
When we miss or override these cues, either because we don’t recognize them or because the environment limits natural behaviour, we unintentionally set dogs up for failure. Even worse, we may mislabel their discomfort as stubbornness, rudeness, or aggression and reactivity, when in reality, they’re just asking for space.
Understanding that dogs live in a world shaped for humans — and that their social codes differ from ours is a critical step toward better communication.
Recognizing a dog's body language and signals early is critical.
“The real danger is not the bark or growl, it’s when we’ve ignored all the signs that came before it.”— Patricia McConnell, For the Love of a Dog (2006)
Dogs rarely “explode out of nowhere.” What may look like sudden aggression is almost always the end point of a long chain of missed or punished signals. A dog will first communicate discomfort or fear through subtle cues: blinking, turning away, yawning, lip licking, freezing, or growling. But when these early warnings are ignored — or worse, punished — the dog learns that gentle communication doesn’t work. Over time, they may stop using these signals altogether. This is when you get what trainers call “from 0 to 100” — a dog who seems calm one moment and lunges or bites the next. This isn’t because the dog is unpredictable or inherently aggressive; it’s because we’ve taught them that only big reactions get noticed. By shutting down small signals, we remove their “early warning system,” leaving them no choice but to skip straight to defensive action. This kind of dog is the most dangerous, regardless of its breed, size, or personality, because it’s been unintentionally trained to communicate only through escalation. Recognizing and respecting early signals isn’t just about kindness; it’s about keeping everyone safe.
Understanding Body Language & Emotional Signals
Understanding the somatic nature of dog communication invites us to look differently at dogs. Instead of expecting dogs to behave politely or patiently like humans, we learn to tune into the physical cues that reveal their internal experience. By learning to read canine body language – from a play bow or snarl to subtle signals like a quick lip lick or an averted gaze – we equip ourselves to meet our dogs’ emotional needs more effectively, and by that we prevent or manage their behaviours better. We can recognize when our dog is joyful and ready to play, versus when they feel anxious and need space or comfort, when they’re focused and alert, or when they’re uneasy or threatened. This deeper understanding builds trust: your dog sees that you “listen” to what they’re telling you, which in turn helps them feel safer and more relaxed. As you interact with your own dog or others, practice observing these signals. Over time, you’ll start to instinctively know what a soft blink or a pinned ear or a wiggly tail means in context. You’ll also likely strengthen your bond – when your dog realizes you “get” them, their confidence in you grows.
Remember, communication is a two-way street: we owe it to our canine friends to learn their language, since they so tirelessly try to decode ours. It’s a shift from trying to control behaviour to genuinely understanding it and managing it with empathy. That is when the relationship with your dog begins.
“You can’t change behavior without addressing emotion.” — Veterinary behaviorist Dr. Karen Overall
Key Body Parts: A Breakdown of Dog Signals
When it comes to reading dogs, no single body part tells the whole story. To understand what your dog is communicating, you need to step back and read the whole dog, like piecing together a moving, living puzzle. But knowing what each part can signal is a great place to start.
Eyes: The Window to Emotion
A dog’s eyes often reveal what their body tries to hide.
Soft eyes — relaxed eyelids, maybe a slow blink, gentle gaze — signal comfort and calm.
Hard eyes — wide, staring, unblinking — mean focus, threat, or tension. This is the stare you see before a lunge or growl.
Whale eye — when the whites of the eyes show in a crescent shape at the corners — signals anxiety or discomfort. You might see it when someone leans over a dog, or when the dog’s body turns away, but the eyes stay fixed on the person.
👉 Important note: A dog looking away or avoiding eye contact is not “guilty” or “ignoring” you — it’s often appeasement, saying, “I don’t want conflict.”
Ears: The Mood Antennas
Dog ears are like tiny emotion antennas, tuning in to the world.
Forward, perked ears = alert, focused, curious — or possibly tense, depending on the context.
Neutral, resting ears = relaxed, content.
Ears pulled back or flattened = nervous, anxious, submissive.
👉 Breed matters: A German Shepherd’s perky ears have more visible motion than a Basset Hound’s floppy ones — but the base of the ear and overall tension still give you clues.
Mouth and Teeth: Between Smiles and Snarls
The mouth is a highly expressive tool.
Relaxed mouth, tongue lolling, loose lips = chill and happy.
Closed, tense mouth = focus or worry.
Panting — normal after exercise, but shallow, fast panting when nothing’s happening can be a stress sign.
Yawning — often a calming or stress signal, especially in tense moments.
Lip or nose licking — subtle stress sign; easy to miss but very meaningful.
Showing teeth — here’s where context is everything:
A loose-lipped “submissive grin” can be excitement or appeasement.
A wrinkled, pulled-back lip with visible gums and a growl is a warning.
👉 Pro tip: A dog who stops panting and closes its mouth suddenly before staring is not relaxing — it’s gearing up, often for a defensive reaction.
Tail: More Than a Wag
Forget the myth that “a wagging tail = happy dog.” It’s about how the tail moves.
Loose, wide wag = friendly, happy, inviting.
High, stiff, fast wag = high arousal; can tip into tension or aggression.
Low or tucked tail = fear, insecurity, submission.
Neutral tail (for that breed) = calm, at ease.
Helicopter wag (circle-spinning) = extreme joy, usually reserved for beloved people.
👉 Short-tailed or curled breeds need more contextual clues from posture and face since tail signals are less visible.
Overall Body Posture: The Full Picture
The magic happens when you zoom out.
Weight forward, tense muscles = alert, confident, or confrontational.
Weight back, lowered body, hunching = fear, avoidance, submission.
Loose, bouncy movement = playfulness, approachability.
Freezing — sudden stillness — can be a major warning signal, often right before a lunge or bite.
Piloerection (hackles raised) — excitement or agitation; it doesn’t always mean aggression, but it means the dog is highly stimulated.
👉 Look for contradictions: A wagging tail paired with a crouched body is not joy; it’s nervous appeasement. A growling dog doing play bows is probably mock-playing, not threatening.
Our Role
🔹Observe everything. Eyes, ears, tail, posture — no single part speaks alone.
🔹Match behaviour to context. A dog spinning in circles when you come home is joyful; a dog pacing and panting at a vet clinic is anxious.
🔹Avoid cherry-picking. Just because the tail is wagging doesn’t mean the dog is happy — check the whole emotional picture.
The more you practice reading your dog’s full-body language, the better you’ll understand their needs, moods, and requests. And when you do, you build not only better behaviour, but you build trust.
What Relaxation Looks Like in a Dog
Before we talk about stress signals, let’s take a moment to anchor ourselves in what comfort actually looks like. Because sometimes, understanding tension starts with recognizing the absence of it.
A relaxed, safe, and content dog speaks through softness. You’ll see it in the way their body moves, how they breathe, and even in the way their tail swings.
The body posture is loose and balanced, not stiff or hunched, but easy and grounded. Muscle tone is normal. They’re not frozen, and they’re not collapsing either. Think of a gentle sway, a quiet confidence.
Their tail tells a lot, too. For some breeds, it might wag slowly in relaxed arcs. For others, it might hang in a neutral position. Context and breed matter here, but what you’re looking for is fluidity, not stiffness.
The ears are in a resting position, neither pinned back in fear nor strained forward in alertness. Pointy-eared dogs may have upright but relaxed ears, while floppy-eared breeds show a more laid-back droop.
And the eyes, a telltale sign, are what we call “soft eyes.” You’ll see a calm, relaxed gaze with no excessive white showing. The eyelids may be slightly droopy, and the expression may be almost sleepy or dreamy.
Then there’s the mouth. A relaxed dog often has an open mouth with no tension, tongue lolling, and loose lips. It may look like a soft pant or even a goofy grin. There’s no wrinkling around the muzzle or tight lips. Just ease.
You might also see the dog lie down on one side, or even roll onto their back, especially if they stretching out one leg or slowly wiggling onto the floor. This belly-up position is a sign of deep trust when combined with other relaxed signals. (Important note: it can also be a sign of stress or appeasement in other contexts, so always read the full picture.)
One of the clearest signs of relaxation? Breathing and stillness. A relaxed dog breathes normally, has steady pupil size, and often displays a rhythmic, almost sway-like motion in their movements. There’s no freezing, no rapid panting, no darting eyes.
Altogether, the emotion of ease shows up not as a single signal, but as a symphony of softness.
So next time you see a dog sprawled in the grass with loose lips, floppy ears, squinty eyes, and a tail thumping slowly on the ground, take a moment to appreciate it. That’s the language of trust. That’s what peace looks like.
Playfulness and Friendly Invitations: When Joy Takes Over the Body
There’s something universally heartwarming about watching a dog at play. Play is one of the most exuberant forms of canine communication — it’s how dogs say, “I come in peace!” and “Let’s have fun together!”
Unlike aggression or fear, play signals are deliberately exaggerated and unmistakably bouncy. They are a dog’s way of making sure everyone — dog or human — understands: none of this is serious.
What It Looks Like
The classic play bow — front legs stretched forward, chest low to the ground, rear end up, tail wagging like a flag in the wind.
Loose, wiggly movements — bouncing, zig-zagging, spinning, or darting back and forth.
Broad, sweeping tail wags — sometimes so enthusiastic the hips sway, or even full “helicopter” tail spins.
Relaxed, open mouth — sometimes called the “doggy grin,” with soft eyes and loose facial muscles.
Gentle growls or play nips — paired with self-handicapping, where stronger dogs restrain their strength to match smaller or younger playmates.
Play sneezes — sudden, loud little sneezes, often seen in moments of peak excitement.
Importantly, context matters: A dog that growls with a stiff body and hard stare is delivering a warning. A dog that growls with a floppy play bow and wiggling butt is saying, “Catch me if you can!”
Ethologists like Marc Bekoff call the play bow a metasignal — a signal that frames everything that comes after. It’s like the dog is saying, “Anything I do next, remember it’s just for fun.” This prevents miscommunication and keeps interactions lighthearted.
Play as a Social Dance
In healthy play, dogs often take turns — switching roles between chaser and chased, or alternating who’s on top during wrestling. They check in with each other through soft glances, pauses, or mirrored movements, constantly adjusting to keep things friendly.
If one dog gets too rough, you might see the other pause, shake off, or give a brief appeasement gesture before re-engaging. These little pauses are their way of keeping the game balanced.
Our Role
As guardians, we have a part to play in making sure fun stays fun:
🔹Watch the whole picture. Loose bodies, floppy movements, and back-and-forth roles mean play is going well. Stiffness, hard stares, or one-sided chasing may signal tension.
🔹Let them play — but be ready to intervene. If you notice one dog getting overwhelmed, or if arousal levels start tipping too high, call for a brief pause.
🔹Understand growls in context. Not all growling is bad. A playful growl in a soft, bouncy game is normal. A low, tense growl with a fixed stare is not.
🔹Be your dog’s advocate. If playmates aren’t a good match — say, an overly boisterous dog with a shy or elderly one — it’s better to step in, redirect, or end the session.
Calming Signals: The Subtle Language of Peacekeeping
Dogs aren’t always loud about how they feel. In fact, many of their most important messages are whispered through subtle shifts in body language—so gentle, we often miss them.
Norwegian dog trainer Turid Rugaas coined the term calming signals to describe these quiet peacekeeping gestures. When a dog feels tension, whether it’s internal stress or a signal from another dog or human, they may respond with behaviours designed to diffuse conflict or soothe themselves.
What It Looks Like
Lip or nose licking – A subtle flick of the tongue that says, “I’m uneasy, let’s keep peace.”
Slow blinking or soft eyes – Signals relaxation or appeasement, in contrast to a hard stare.
Turning the head or body away – Avoiding a direct approach to reduce perceived threat.
Sniffing the ground – Displacement and calming combined; the dog redirects focus away from tension.
These signals can be seen in dog-to-dog greetings, with dogs using them to avoid misunderstandings or tension. For example, if one dog approaches too quickly, the other might yawn or look away, showing they mean no harm.
Humans often miss these cues, or worse, misread them. A dog licking its nose when a stranger approaches may be dismissed as "just being cute," when in reality, that tiny gesture may be the dog’s only way of saying: “I’m unsure. Please slow down.”
Our role
As guardians, recognizing these early signals can change everything. Instead of correcting a dog for “being dramatic” or “refusing to listen,” we pause. We assess. We adapt.
For example:
🔹If your dog starts sniffing the ground when a stranger approaches, resist the urge to force a greeting. Give them space.
🔹If they suddenly shake off during training, take a short break or reduce pressure.
🔹If your dog tucks their tail and turns away, that’s not stubbornness—it’s vulnerability.
By tuning in, we prevent escalation. And more importantly, we build trust.
Stress, Fear and Anxiety Signals: When Your Dog's Body Speaks Louder Than Words
If calming signals are your dog’s quiet diplomacy, stress signals are their emotional smoke alarms, subtle but vital. And like all good alarms, they’re trying to tell you something before things escalate.
When dogs feel nervous, overwhelmed, or unsure, they often display behaviours that seem out of place. These aren’t random quirks. They’re coping mechanisms, often called displacement behaviours, and they’re your first clue that something isn’t quite right.
What It Looks Like
Yawning when they’re clearly not tired
Drinking water compulsively
Sniffing the ground right as someone approaches
Scratching or shaking off suddenly, even when dry
Chewing paws or grabbing a toy when stressed
These behaviours help dogs self-soothe or delay taking more extreme action. They’re all common signs of stress. They're subtle, easy to miss, and often mistaken for normal dog behaviour. But context is everything.
According to research published in Nature and Companion Animal Psychology, one of the most reliable signs of acute stress or fear is a lowered body posture: tail down, ears back, and a “shrinking” motion. Dogs under pressure often try to make themselves smaller, both physically and socially.
And while many of these behaviours overlap with the calming signals we explored earlier, the emotional weight behind them is heavier. These aren’t just gentle gestures of appeasement; they’re early warnings that your dog is struggling.
In more intense moments of anxiety, you might see:
Cower or crouch close to the ground, trying to appear smaller
Tuck their tail tightly between their legs
Pin their ears back flat against the head
Tremble, shake, or freeze in place
Show the whites of the eyes (“whale eye”), with a worried, darting gaze
Avoid eye contact, turning their head or gaze away
Back away, hide, or cling closely to their trusted person
“Whale eye” – where you see the whites of the eyes due to a frozen or sideward gaze
These signals can appear gradually or all at once.
Our role
🔹Pause and observe. If your dog hesitates, don’t pull or push — ask why they’re unsure.
🔹Create space. Step away from the trigger, change your path, or give them a break.
🔹Offer gentle support, not pressure. Avoid cheerleading (“It’s fine! Come on!”) or forcing them forward; stay calm, present, and respectful.
🔹Let them choose. Choice is a powerful antidote to fear. Letting your dog watch from a distance or approach in their own time can rebuild confidence.
Excitement and Arousal: When Energy Takes Over
Arousal in dogs is simply heightened activation — an upshift in energy that prepares the body for action. This can arise in many contexts: greeting a beloved human, anticipating a walk, spotting a squirrel, or becoming frustrated by a barrier or restraint. Whether we label it “happy” or “frustrated” from the outside, the dog’s body is telling the same story: the system is on.
What It Looks Like
Fast, intense tail wagging — often high or stiff
The body is leaning forward, sometimes bouncing or spinning
Ears up or forward, sharply tuned to the environment
Wide eyes, sometimes with a fixed stare
Barking, yipping, or vocalizing
Mouth open in a pant or grin, or snapping shut when tension rises
Hackles (piloerection) raised along the neck or spine
Mounting another dog or object.
This surge of energy is not inherently “good” or “bad.” It’s simply the nervous system shifting into a state of readiness. But here’s where it matters: high arousal narrows a dog’s capacity for self-regulation. Arousal, left unmanaged, can tip into behaviours that overwhelm the dog and their surroundings — jumping, mouthing, pulling, lunging, barking, mounting (often seen as playful or arousal-driven, not dominance), or even redirected frustration (happens when a dog is blocked from reaching a trigger and redirects pent-up energy elsewhere).
Our role
We’re not here to suppress excitement. We’re here to help channel it.
When you notice your dog’s arousal building:
🔹 Pause the moment — let them sniff, take a breath, or disengage
🔹 Soften your own body — lower your voice, relax your posture, avoid adding hype
🔹 Guide them into movement that helps discharge energy — a short walk, a sniff break, or pattern games.
🔹 Stay attuned — arousal is arousal, whether it started in joy or agitation. Watch the body, not just the context.
For example, a dog bouncing with joy at the sight of a friend may end up leaping into faces, mouthing hands, or ignoring all cues. That’s not “bad behaviour”; it’s overflowing arousal. Similarly, a dog fixated on a passing jogger may surge forward, not from “aggression” alone, but from a system primed for action.
By learning to recognize arousal early — and by helping dogs regulate, not repress, that energy — we create a safer, more connected way of moving through the world together.
Aggressive or Threatening Cues: When the Dog Says “Back Off
By the time a dog shows threatening or aggressive signals, they’ve often run out of softer ways to communicate. These are not “bad behaviours” — they are urgent, crystal-clear warnings.
Where calming signals ask for space, and stress signals show conflict, threatening cues are the dog’s way of saying: “I can’t back away any further. Respect my boundary.”
These signals are not subtle. They are designed to be seen, understood, and taken seriously by other dogs and by us.
What It Looks Like
Stiffen the body — muscles locked, weight shifted forward, standing tall on toes.
Raise the tail high, sometimes arched over the back, often wagging fast and stiff (this is arousal, not friendliness).
Push the ears forward (in pointy-eared breeds) or lift them alertly (in floppy-eared breeds).
Stare with hard, unblinking eyes — a cold, fixed gaze that says “back off.”
Bare the teeth — anything from a lifted lip to a full snarl, with wrinkling at the muzzle.
Growl, snap, or air-snap — a vocal and physical warning before actual contact.
Raise the hackles — the fur along the shoulders and spine stands up (piloerection), showing intense arousal or distress.
These cues may appear gradually or in a sudden wave, especially if the dog feels trapped. And crucially, context matters: a dog showing stiff, twitchy tail wags and a hard stare is not inviting play — it’s sending a warning.
Our Role
Many bites happen not because dogs are unpredictable, but because their signals were ignored.
As guardians, here’s how we can respond:
🔹Slow down. Don’t rush or challenge a dog showing these signs.
🔹Create space. Step back, turn your body sideways, and avoid direct eye contact.
🔹Stay neutral. Don’t yell, punish, or reach toward the dog — this can escalate things.
🔹Understand the cause. Ask yourself: What is the dog protecting? Is it guarding space, a resource, or simply overwhelmed? Identifying the trigger is key.
🔹Get professional help. Repeated aggressive displays aren’t a matter of “fixing” obedience — they need careful assessment, management, and often professional support to keep everyone safe.
Aggression isn’t the first language dogs turn to — it’s often the last resort after other messages failed. Our job is not to punish the growl or the snarl, but to listen when the dog says: “I can’t cope with this anymore.”
When we learn to see these signals not as defiance, but as communication, we become safer, smarter, and more compassionate companions.
The author's thought
Dogs don’t plot, scheme, or ask to be understood — they simply are. Their behaviour is a direct response to what’s happening in their world, driven by instinct, emotion, and immediate need.
The more I came to understand that, the more my own relationship with dogs changed. I stopped looking at their behaviour as something happening to me — as if a dog was stubborn, difficult, or pushing my buttons — and started seeing it as a pure response. Something triggers, and they react. That’s it. No hidden meaning, no moral judgment, no personal insult.
And as soon as we understand that, our lives with dogs get easier. We stop taking their actions personally. We stop overthinking or overcontrolling. We start watching — really watching — the world through their eyes. We pay attention to the context, the environment, the pressures, and the patterns and begin giving them the credit they deserve. They are not stupid; they are different from us.
For me, this shift in perspective has been the most liberating part of learning to live alongside dogs. Because when we accept them as they are, when we let them be dogs, we can meet them with more kindness, more patience, and a lot more peace.
So here’s what I invite you to consider: next time your dog does something that puzzles or frustrates you, pause. Ask yourself: What’s happening around them? What are they responding to? And then, instead of correcting the behaviour, think about how you can adjust the situation to help them feel safer, calmer, or more understood.
In the end, dogs don’t need us to be perfect. They just need us to pay attention.
If this resonates with you and you want to explore your own dog’s world more deeply, I’d love to walk that path with you. Reach out or follow along — you don’t have to figure it all out alone.
References:
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Horowitz, A. (2009). Disambiguating the “guilty look” in dogs. Behavioural Processes, 81(3), 447–452.Available at: scientificamerican.com
Lindell, E. et al. (n.d.). Interpreting Tail Wags in Dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals.Available at: vcahospitals.com
Rugaas, T. (2006). On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals. Dogwise Publishing.Available at: psychologytoday.com
Stanley, C. (2017). What Are Canine Calming Signals and Do They Work? Psychology Today. Available at: psychologytoday.com
Todd, Z. (2017). Do Dogs Use Body Language to Calm Us Down? Companion Animal Psychology.Available at: companionanimalpsychology.com
Stellato, A. et al. (2020). Fear expressions of dogs during New Year fireworks: A video analysis. Scientific Reports, 10, 17728.Available at: nature.com
Whole Dog Journal (2024). Recognizing Displacement Behaviour in Dogs. Available at: wholedogjournal.com
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