Why It's Important To Know What Your Dog Looks Like When Happy

Dogs communicate all the time but we don’t always understand. We often misinterpret what we see.

A wagging dog’s tail means the dog is happy and wants to play - right?

Yes, a wagging tail can mean the dog is happy, excited, and friendly and wants to say hi or play. It can also mean – I’m not so sure about you approaching me, I don’t like you, keep your distance.

 There are many different tail positions and wags including: down and relaxed, horizontal, slightly raised, up and curled (like a cobra), slow wag side to side, a fast wag side to side or tucked under the body.

 It’s important to know your dog and the way he carries his tail naturally so you can recognize what he looks like when relaxed and happy. Once you know what that looks like you will be able to notice when it looks different.

 It’s important to look at the dog’s full body in order to get a better understanding of what he may be communicating.

 Is he stiff or relaxed? What do his ears look like: flat and pulled back, up and alert, open and turned to the sides? What is he doing with his paws? Is one raised? Is he leaning forward, backward, balanced on all four paws? Is his body curved, straight back, rounded?

 I think one of the most important skills to learn as a dog owner, is how to recognize some of the basic signals our dogs give us. You don’t need to be an expert and study it in depth but an understanding of some body postures is important.

 There are some very good resources available. Links to sites can be found on my resources page.

 If you prefer to invest in books, google Brenda Aloff, Canine Body Language: A Photographic Guide or Barbara Handelman: Canine Behavior: A Photo Illustrated Handbook.

I see this scenario on a fairly regular basis. Two dogs are running, one chasing the other. The owners are thrilled the dogs are having a great time! They are running around and burning off energy. It’s great!

Not necessarily so. Is only one dog being chased? Is the play mutual? Is the dog in front enjoying being chased and having fun or is he trying to stay away?

 Because of what I do for a living, I am often able to tell if a dog is a willing partner or not.

With my own dog, I would call him back to me if I felt the play was uneven or he was trying to keep away.  I would also ask the other person to call their dog back.

Often the response was “But they are having a great time. Look at them chasing each other”. 

When you don’t know what to look for it can appear as though they are both enjoying the experience.

Originally what prompted this blog was a walk in the park with a client, her puppy and a chance meeting with a dog walker and her group of dogs.  

This young puppy was not comfortable with the group of off leash dogs running up to her for a sniff. Her tail was tucked and she was standing very still.

I asked the person in charge to call her group back explaining she was a puppy and wasn’t comfortable with the large group sniff. I didn’t want her to feel overwhelmed.

 When the reply was “she seems to be doing well”, I knew I had to make sure my client understood the difference between too afraid to move and doing well. 

It was a great opportunity to discuss body language, what to look for, how to ask others to call their dog away and as well as the need to stand up for your dog.

 It’s important to have a basic understanding of body language so you don’t have to rely on the interpretation of others.

 Some might feel because it’s a dog professional, they must know better than you do. If they say it’s okay, it must be. Not necessarily so.

 This is not meant to speak poorly of dog walkers but to point out the need for some basic education on the part of owners so they are better able to know when they need to step in. 

 As a dog guardian, it’s your responsibility to protect your dog when the situation calls for it.  Take the time to learn about the signals your dog gives you. Your dog will love you for it.