Your dog canโt talk. To be honest, it would probably only cause more problems if it could, also, who would believe you?
However, that lack of speech doesnโt stop our furry friends from telling us exactly what they want.ย
Dog body language is a huge part of their communication strategy. They send out the signals and hope weโre picking up on them. But, when you donโt speak dog, how do you know whatโs what?
Well, weโll tell you!ย
Understanding Doggie Sign Languageย
It sounds like an impossible task to understand what an animal is thinking. But when you know what youโre looking for it can be easy to decipher.ย
Itโs 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.ย
Letโs look at how pooches display the most common emotions in their own unique way.ย
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:ย
- Tail waggingย
- Bum in the air elbows on the groundย
- Smilingย
- Enjoyment of playtime & walksย
- Sleeping for up to 16 hours a day
- Body contactย
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 youโve got a happy pupper.ย 
Signs That Your Dog Is Stressed
Now we know how to tell if your pup is happy. But how do you know when theyโre feeling a little overwhelmed?ย
- Elephant eye
- Yawning when not tiredย
- Loss of appetite
- Ears tucked in
- Pantingย
- Scratchingย
- 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.ย
So itโs super important to know the signals from the start and help your furry friend through their tougher times.ย
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, itโs incredibly important to know the signs of aggression and what to do when you notice them.ย
- Growlingย
- Barkingย
- Teeth bearingย
- Ears pinned backย
- Hair standing on endย
- Stiff stanceย
- Hard stareย
If you notice any of these in your pup or any other dog, then you should keep your distance until theyโve 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 dogโs behaviour whenever theyโre around young children. We all think that our dogs wouldnโt hurt a fly, but when behavioural queues are missed, then the animal thinks it has no other choice than to bite.ย 
Knowing Your Dogโs Behaviour Is Simple
Getting to know your petโs traits and quirks is all part of ownership. But it is important to get to know them well enough to sense how theyโre feeling.ย
Itโs one thing to know when your pup is happy. But itโs another altogether to notice the signs of annoyance or stress.ย
If youโre concerned that your pup may be feeling anxious then why donโt we tell you how to cure doggie depression?