Dogs quite literally wear their hearts on their sleeves, or at the very least, on their fur. However, people are frequently shocked by how little the typical dog owner can understand their dog’s body language. Instead, people often simply see what they want to see, such as how much your dog enjoys going to the dog park or spending time with your adorable 6-year-old niece. Here, Matt Davies Harmony Communities gives a systematic overview of how to understand a dog’s emotions.
Even while the average dog can understand up to 200 words, it will never be able to talk. It’s up to you to master their language so you can actually communicate. Even while some body parts are more expressive than others, it’s crucial to consider the dog’s entire body. Not every dog will exhibit every indicator, but when your dog is showing these typical emotions, you’re likely to see a combination of visual cues.
The Secrets of Understanding a Dog’s Emotion
Dogs are masters at expressing their emotions through bodily posture. Everything about your dog, including his posture, how he holds his tail, and the position of his ears, expresses his exact emotions at any particular time.
What Does the Position of Your Dog’s Ears Indicate?
You may learn a lot about your dog’s mood from the way he’s holding his ears. A dog who has his ears pushed back against his head may be afraid, stressed out, or anxious. A dog is attentive when its ears are perky and pointing forward. He might have only noticed a strange scent or noticed another dog nearby. Moreover, the position of your dog’s ears—slightly back or to the side—can indicate how peaceful and at ease they are.
What Does the Position of Your Dog’s Tail Indicate?
Another technique to assess your dog’s mood right now is to look at the location of his tail. A rigid, upright tail denotes dominance. Your dog can be defending himself from another dog who’s barking at him, or he might be wary of the visitor knocking on your door. An excited dog will have a wagging and lifted tail.
When you pick up your dog’s leash for a walk or when you get home from your job every day, you’ll probably see his tail in this posture. He is alert if his tail is horizontal. On the other hand, your dog is relaxed if his tail is down. When you’re sitting around the house, your dog’s tail usually hangs in this position the most. His tail indicates that he is at ease in his surroundings.
Other Dog Communication Signs
The tail and ears are only two parts of a dog’s body language. There are a variety of extra signals which may provide you with more information about your beloved pet. As each animal is unique, these will differ from a dog to another, but several of them would be similar.
Licking the Lips
Dogs sometimes lick their lips in order to calm themselves, similar to when they yawn. Yes, they do this whenever they are starving. Once more, try to observe when your dog licks his lips so you may learn what makes him anxious. Does he act in this manner when his paws are handled? In the shower? In a veterinary clinic? Every time your dog has anxiety, provide him with extra comfort.
Yawning
Yawning may indicate anxiety or stress in your dog. It might also indicate that your dog is giddy. Context, after all, is everything. He may yawn while both excited and scared because dogs frequently yawn in an effort to calm themselves.
Conclusion
Consider looking at the bigger picture while interpreting your dog’s body language. Matt Davies Harmony Communities claims that dogs rarely use simply one of these indicators at once. When your dog is assertive or alert, his ears may be perky, just like how humans may shout when they are enraged or excited.
