Dog Body Language

Reading Canine Body Postures
While dogs cannot speak our languages, they do display their state of mind via their body language. By taking careful note of ear position, pupil dilation, facial tension (particularly around the muzzle and forehead), tail carriage and body weight distribution, an observer can detect whether a dog is relaxed or fearful, or acting in a submissive or dominant manner toward the observer.

Neutral Relaxed
A neutral, relaxed dog will have the following body positions: head erect, ears up, tail relaxed and wagging, weight distributed evenly over all four feet, and a relaxed mouth that is slightly open.

Arousal
An aroused dog will have the following body positions: eyes large and staring hard, ears up and forward, tail up and bristled with a stiff wag, stiff legs with the weight over the front legs, and a tense muzzle with lips lifted to display teeth. An aroused dog is stimulated by something in the environment. When the dog is excited by something pleasurable, the hackles (the erectile hairs along the back of the neck) will be down and the tail will be carried a little lower and will loosely wag. The muzzle will be relaxed and the tongue may be seen. This posture may be displayed to subordinates in order to express higher ranking pack position.

Aggressive Attack
A dog that is about to attack will have the following body positions: ears erect and tilted forward, hackles may be up, tail stiff and raised, weight forward, teeth bared and snarling, lips curled, and eyes staring. This threatening posture is used to chase away another animal or to protect possessions, pack, or self.

Active Submission
An actively submissive dog will have the following body positions: ears back, tail hanging low and slowly wagging, a raised paw, mouth clearly closed with the tip of the tongue darting out, and eyes half closed and blinking. This pacifying posture is used when a dog acknowledges another dog or human’s higher social ranking, or to inhibit another’s aggression. A submissive dog may greet a more dominant dog with a muzzle nudge, a lick, or a tongue flick as an appeasement (pacifying) gesture.

Passive Submission
A passively submissive dog will have the following body positions: ears back, lying on back with belly exposed, tail tucked, releasing urine droplets, and a head turned away with an indirect gaze. This surrendering position is offered to a more dominant or aggressive individual.

Defensive Aggression
A defensively aggressive dog will have the following body positions: ear back, pupils dilated, hackles may be up, tail down and tensed, posture mildly crouched, weight over rear legs, and a tense, wrinkled, snarling muzzle with teeth exposed. When fearful, a dog will give warming signals to indicate that he does not wish to be approached. If unheeded, he will bite to protect himself.

Dog to Dog Communication
When dogs meet other dogs, they signal their status in relation to each other. Actions like raising a forepaw, looking away, licking or nudging at the other’s muzzle or bowing with the forelegs, are submissive gestures. Mounting, raising up stiffly on one’s toes, or placing one’s head over another’s withers (the place where the neck meets the back) indicate the more dominate individual of that interaction. Dogs also sniff each other’s genital regions when greeting to gather information on sexual status.

Maternal Correction
In a maternal correction the mother dog quickly snarls and places her mouth around the muzzle or head of the puppy. The puppy submits by flattening to the ground and whimpering. The puppy will tuck it’s tail and raise it’s paw. The mother dog is disciplining the dog with a quick muzzle grasp and the pup learns to offer submissive body postures.

Play Solicitation
The play bow is a combination of dominant and submissive gestures. It is offered to invite another to play or as part of courtship behavior. A dog that is soliciting play will have the following body positions: ears up, tail up and loosely wagging, eyes soft, mouth open and relaxed, tongue exposed, front end lowered and ready to leap forward.