How Do You Know What Your Dog Is Feeling? Easy To Understand Body Language

Your dog can’t talk. To be honest, it would probably only cause more problems if it could, also, who would believe you?

However, that lack of speech doesn’t stop our furry friends from telling us exactly what they want. 

Dog body language is a huge part of their communication strategy. They send out the signals and hope we’re picking up on them. But, when you don’t speak dog, how do you know what’s what?

Well, we’ll tell you! 

Understanding Doggie Sign Language 

It sounds like an impossible task to understand what an animal is thinking. But when you know what you’re looking for it can be easy to decipher. 

It’s important to understand how your pup is feeling so that you can notice any red flag behaviours. Additionally, you want to know if your dog loves you too, right?

Luckily, pups have a way of wearing their emotions on their sleeve (or fur). The four key places to watch for changes in their demeanour are the eyes, mouth, tail, and hair. 

Let’s look at how pooches display the most common emotions in their own unique way. 

How Does A Dog Display Happiness?

If your pup is happy, healthy, and content in your company there will be a number of signals happening. Some of those are: 

• Tail wagging 
• Bum in the air elbows on the ground 
• Smiling 
• Enjoyment of playtime & walks 
• Sleeping for up to 16 hours a day
• Body contact 

Happy dogs will generally have a sunnier disposition than those suffering stress or anger. However, if they sleep a lot during the day, still love their exercise, and cuddle up to you, then you’ve got a happy pupper. 

Signs That Your Dog Is Stressed

Now we know how to tell if your pup is happy. But how do you know when they’re feeling a little overwhelmed? 

• Elephant eye
• Yawning when not tired 
• Loss of appetite
• Ears tucked in
• Panting 
• Scratching 
• Tail tucked in

These are some surefire signs of stress in your dog. If untreated, stressful or anxious pooches can start to suffer the signs of depression. 

So it’s super important to know the signals from the start and help your furry friend through their tougher times. 

How Do You Know When A Dog Is Being Aggressive?

Nobody ever wants to think of (or see) their dog as being aggressive. But, again, it’s incredibly important to know the signs of aggression and what to do when you notice them. 

• Growling 
• Barking 
• Teeth bearing 
• Ears pinned back 
• Hair standing on end 
• Stiff stance 
• Hard stare 

If you notice any of these in your pup or any other dog, then you should keep your distance until they’ve calmed down. Signs of aggression can be common when young children are attempting to interact with a pet.

Make sure you keep a close eye on your dog’s behaviour whenever they’re around young children. We all think that our dogs wouldn’t hurt a fly, but when behavioural queues are missed, then the animal thinks it has no other choice than to bite. 

Knowing Your Dog’s Behaviour Is Simple

Getting to know your pet’s traits and quirks is all part of ownership. But it is important to get to know them well enough to sense how they’re feeling. 

It’s one thing to know when your pup is happy. But it’s another altogether to notice the signs of annoyance or stress. 

If you’re concerned that your pup may be feeling anxious then why don’t we tell you how to cure doggie depression?