Tips for Understanding Your Dog’s Behavior

Though they can’t vocalize their feelings, dogs use behavior and posture to give us clues about different states of mind. Watch your dog’s body language to gauge his mood; taking into account how he holds himself, the motion of his tail, and even the way his head is positioned.

Posture

A dog’s standing position can tell us many things about how he’s feeling:

• Standing At-Ease: You’ll know when your dog is content by the way he stands. A loose standing position is a sign of relaxation and calm. If he’s feeling especially cheerful, he may even wag his tail.
• Cowering: A dog that holds his body close to the ground, shoulders lowered, is the sign of a submissive mood. This is your pet’s way of giving dominance to you or another animal, illustrating that he comes in peace.
• The Play Bow: Animal behaviorists give this name to the position a dog takes when he brings his front legs out ahead of him, but keeps his chest low to the ground and his rear end up. It illustrates that he’s in a lively mood and is ready for fetch or playtime.
• Standing Tall: Dogs use the way they stand to show dominance, too. Dogs that want to portray control will use their body to make themselves look as big as possible, puffing out their chests and stiffening all four legs. He may even straighten his tail and position his ears to face forward.

Tail

Dogs use their tails to show a range of emotions. If your pup is happy, he may hold his tail in a relaxed position, or even begin wagging. His wagging speed can also give you clues into his state of mind – fast-paced wagging is a telltale sign that your dog is very excited. On the other hand, when a dog tucks his tail between his legs, you can tell he’s in a fearful or submissive mood.

Head and Face

Like humans, a dog’s emotions will show on his face. Dogs are capable of smiling, and when your furry friend is feeling energetic, his mouth will open even further, but beware if his mouth is wide open with teeth showing – this means to back off. Dogs bare their teeth as a warning sign that’s meant to show plans of attack.

A dog’s ears will also give tips into his psyche. A submissive or fearful dog may lower his ears tight against his head to show insecurity, whereas forward-facing ears can show dominance and assertion.

For more tips to help you understand your pet’s behavior, check the Australia Pet Doors blog each week. We share articles about raising healthy cats and dogs, plus information about using pet doors in the home. To shop our selection of pet doors and find out which type of door is right for your family, give us a call at 0414 922 751.