Understanding dog body language

Do you speak dog? From wagging tails to jumping, barking and whining, our pet’s vocal and physical cues tell us a lot about their emotions. Find out more about the messages behind some common canine behaviours.

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Knowing how to decipher dog body language and vocalisations are a great way to get a better understanding of what your dog is thinking. Dogs use all kinds of verbal and non-verbal signals to communicate how they’re feeling – here are expert explanations for some of the most common.

Barking

Barking likely started as an alarm call, signalling other pack members that they needed to be on alert. Over time, barking has evolved beyond this and can convey subtle messages and dog emotions like boredom, excitement, attention-seeking or fear.

Common barks that owners might hear include:

• A medium-pitched, stutter-bark, signalling your dog is ready to play.
• A short, high-pitched bark can indicate surprise, insecurity, pain or fear.
• A low-pitched bark can show dominance, or be used as a threat to other dogs.

When it comes to deciphering your dog’s barking, trust your instincts. Research shows that most people can tell the difference between a positive dog vocalisation (one that indicates playfulness or friendliness) and a negative vocalisation (indicating fear or aggression).

Tail wagging

Body language with dogs can be complicated. A wagging tail is often thought to be a sign of happiness and friendliness – but the truth is far more complex. This action can signal all kinds of things, including:

• Broad, swinging wag: Your dog is relaxed and ready to interact.
• Small, narrow wag: This can be a submissive posture when combined with a low tail position.
• Fast, high wag: A sign of excitement or that something has caught your dog’s attention.
• Vibrating tail: Tiny, fast tail movements indicate your dog is ready for action. If their tail is held very high, this can also be a threat posture.

Jumping up

Dogs tend to greet each other nose-to-nose and have a good sniff. So it’s no surprise that they want to do the same with us, even if that means jumping up to our level.

Jumping is often tolerated and rewarded with attention in small puppies. This only reinforces the behaviour, which can get increasingly disruptive as your puppy grows. If you want to discourage jumping up, it’s important to get into good habits from the start.

Play bow

Most dog owners recognise this body language – when your dog places their front legs and chest on the ground with their back legs and rump raised. This is a signal that your dog is ready to play!

Licking

Dogs lick for many different reasons. Puppies often lick their mother’s mouth, while adult dogs may lick to show affection or explore their surroundings.

Licking can be an attention-seeking behaviour, especially if your dog is rewarded with a treat or a pat when they lick you. If your dog is licking themselves or people obsessively, it’s best to get them checked for underlying health or behavioural issues.

Whining

Dogs whine for many reasons, so context is important. Are they whining to get your attention because they want food or a walk, or because they’re excited about meeting someone new? Some dogs whine to appease people or other dogs – but it can be a sign of fear or anxiety, too.

Whining can also be a sign of pain, so if you’re worried, speak to your vet for advice.

Growling

If a dog perceives a threat, they can sometimes progress from barking to growling. Growls aren’t always hostile, and a high-pitched growl is more likely to be used in play than a low, deep growl.

Body posture highlights the difference: aggressive growls are usually combined with staring or snarling. If your dog’s growling is a concern, speak to a qualified behaviourist for advice. If you have dog insurance with Petplan, you can speak to a behaviourist via the Pet Expert Chat within your MyPetplan account.

Tail between legs

A tucked tail is often a sign of stress. When a dog does this, they’re trying to make themselves look smaller and may be feeling anxious, fearful or insecure. It’s important to reassure them or remove them from stressful situations, if possible.

Looking away

Looking away doesn’t necessarily mean your dog isn’t paying attention. Dogs will often avoid eye contact when they’re feeling uncomfortable or stressed.

For dogs, looking away is a non-confrontational gesture meant to diffuse tension in social situations. On the other hand, a hard prolonged stare can be a warning.

Raised hackles

Hackles are the hairs along your dog’s neck and spine. These hairs usually lie flat but can become raised through a process called piloerection. When a dog raises their hackles, it’s an involuntary reaction to stress or excitement.

Your body language through your dog’s eyes

Has your dog ever become happy, excited, or sheepish before you’ve said a word? Dogs are as responsive to our body language as they are to our tone of voice, so it’s important to consider how those silent signals affect your dog’s behaviour.

You might think your body language is a good indicator of your mood, but dogs often interpret those subtle cues differently from how we expect. Here’s how our dogs perceive some common emotional signals:

• Sadness: If you’re feeling sad, you might over-cuddle your dog in an attempt to comfort yourself, or prefer to spend time alone. Both of these unusual reactions can be confusing, and your dog may play up because they’re unsure what’s happening. This can result in attention-seeking behaviours like barking or pawing.
• Anger: Even if you think you’re concealing your irritation, your dog will pick up that your body is more stiff than usual. They might find this intimidating and as a result, act timid or sheepish. It’s easy to assume this means they feel guilty or embarrassed, but it’s more likely that they feel anxious.
• Excitement: Maybe your tone of voice becomes higher and your body language is more exaggerated and animated. This can be stimulating for dogs, so they might become excited too. If your dog is overstimulated, make sure they get enough mental and physical exercise to burn off their energy and excitement.

Dog emotions are complicated – just like ours! When deciphering your dog’s body language, look at all the signals. With time and practice, you’ll become a pro at working out how they’re feeling.