7 dog body languages and what do they mean

Recognising the body language cues in dogs helps to understand a dog’s emotions.

Understanding your pet dog’s body language is essential to build a strong bond with them.

By interpreting these signals, you can better understand your dog’s needs and wide range of emotions.

Here we list down 7 dog body languages and what they mean.

Tail wagging is the sign that your dog is happy and cheerful. If your dog is wagging its tail at high intensity, then it shows that your dog is excited. They wag their tail either to express their affection or to any anxious emotions.

The eye contact of your dog can have multiple meanings. Sometimes dogs maintain intense eye contact to show aggression. They can make eye contact to show their affection and love as well.

Lip licking is a common behaviour in dogs that demonstrates stress, fear, and anxiety. It is an appeasement gesture in dogs that indicates nervousness and uncomfortable behaviour. When a dog is scared, they might try to draw the attention of their owner by licking the lips.

A dog’s tail tucked between the legs shows that the dog is frightened and submissive. If your dog feels nervous or scared, then it might try to tuck the tail between its legs to demonstrate a threat.

The dog’s perked-up ears indicate a sense of alertness and attentiveness. The ears bent forward may indicate that the dog is active and vigilant. Ears raised slightly forward indicate their curiosity towards any sound.

Through growling, dogs communicate their emotions. It is a simple method of canine communication. If your dog starts to growl, it does not mean that they are angry or aggressive. They are simply trying to communicate and express their emotions, When dogs growl, they might communicate about any stressful event.

When dogs are tired and feel lazy, they start yawning. It is a way to relax themselves. Yawning can typically be said as a stress-relieving indication in dogs. Just like humans, dogs too yawn when they feel sleepy.