How Dogs Communicate -

“Ears, eyes, tail and muzzle- gather the clues to solve the puzzle.”

A relaxed or neutral dog shows a lack of tension, loose lips, relaxed jaw, soft blinking eyes, and hanging relaxed ears.
A tense or stressed dog may have ridges around the eyes and lips, a puckered forehead, dilated pupils, eyes wide, shallow panting, ears drawn back, and lips drawn back in an extreme manner.

Forward ear position can indicate a state of heightened attention, motivation, confidence, and/or aggression.
Backward ear position can indicate submission or fear.
Neutral ears fall naturally and are not forced into any particular position.
Breed-specific ear shapes, or ears that have been cropped, can make a dog’s ears difficult to read. Look at the ear base for dogs with hard-to-interpret ears. It will show what position the ear is in.

Soft, blinking eyes are a sign that your dog is feeling calm and relaxed.
A hard or intense stare needs to be redirected before it’s too late.
Seeing the whites of a dog’s eye indicates stress. Why do you think this is? What are the eyes focusing on?

Dogs typically close their mouths when concerned about something in their environment.
Heavy panting and a “spatulate tongue” mean the dog is very stressed.
If the dog is showing you their teeth by curling a lip or panting with lips pulled back, they are probably warning you to give them some space.

Weight placed forwards or backwards may indicate heightened attention or fear.
Body and stance that is loose generally indicates that the dog is relaxed.
Muscle tension and stiffness can indicate that the dog is on alert and possibly ready to react.
Bunched fur can reveal physical and emotional tension.
A dog that has rolled over could be either friendly or frightened.

A tail that is tucked or down likely indicates that the dog is worried.
A neutral tail is relaxed and gently swinging. It is not forced or held in any extreme position.
A high tail can show confidence, but high and stiff with a tiny wag can indicate targeting or impending aggression.
If the dog’s tail is curled, look at the base of the tail to determine if the tail is “high.”
A wagging tail can mean arousal and not indicate a positive state. Look at the rest of the body language to properly interpret it.

How Dogs Communicate