APR 13, 2022
Dogs exhibit a wide range of behaviors. Some of them are straightforward, while others are more difficult to interpret. If you want to understand your canine friend and build a good relationship with him, you should start by knowing what these behaviors mean and how to read canine body language.
This article explains more than 30 common dog behaviors. Read on to learn how to interact with your dog and how you can relate to them. In case you need a detailed guide on this topic, I recommend this guide about coding your dog and common dog behaviors and how to prevent or change unwanted ones by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.
1. Tilting Head to One Side
A dog tilts it's head if they're uncertain about something they are really interested in. They can also show this behavior when waiting for more information, especially from a trainer. In addition, they can tilt its head to listen to a sound and accurately determine its source.
2. Shaking Head
A dog will shake its head if it's relieved from tension. They also behave this way after being aggressive or alert. In addition, you can see this body language from a dog that was eagerly waiting for something.
3. Yawning
A dog yawns if they are under stress or facing threat to help ease pressure and tension. A dog can also show this behavior if they are confused, tired, or threatened. In addition, a dog can behave this way when meeting other canines.
4. Closing Mouth or Opening It Slightly
If their mouth is closed or slightly opened and held in the normal position, you should know that they are relaxed and happy. However, if the mouth is closed and pulled back, they are stressed, frightened, submissive, or in pain. Other dogs can have their mouths pulled back and still be contented. So, you may have to carefully monitor your four-legged friend to determine the exact cause of the behavior.
5. Licking Lips
A dog licks its lips if its stressed or uncertain. Sometimes, this body language can mean that your canine buddy is sexually active. In addition, if you see them licking the lips of other dogs, you should know that they might not be ready to make friends with them. This behavior is very common with puppies.
6. Showing Teeth and Biting
If your canine friend retracts lips to show teeth, they are being aggressive or saying that they want their space. You should be very careful when a dog shows teeth as they can end up biting. If this behavior is accompanied by snarling and muzzle wrinkling, you should understand that your canine friend is very angry. It is advisable not to come close to any dog showing this behavior.
7. Panting
Dogs expel most of their body heat from their mouths. When your dog pants, they're probably too warm, so they are regulating their body temperature. However, it's important to pay attention to panting, as they may also do it when in pain as well. Help your pal regulate their temperature and make sure they are well hydrated before any physical activity–especially as the weather warms up. If your dog was injured, get them to the vet immediately. Some other health problems may also show increased panting as a sign, so if you have a question, don't hesitate to contact your vet. 8. Barking and Yelping
If your dog barks loudly and rapidly, they may be acting out of aggression, or they have sensed danger. A short and soft bark means that your dog is friendly or wants to play. If they produce a sudden, sharp yelp, you should know that your canine friend is in pain. 9. Growling
If your companion animal produces a low or medium growl with or without a bark, they are protective, territorial, or threatened and can become aggressive and end up attacking people or other animals. In addition, your dog may produce a soft growl if they're alert, anxious, contented, or in a playful mood.
10. Howling
Your dog produces a long howl if they are feeling lonely. Most dogs do this to announce their presence to other canines or even people. If they produce a short howl, you should know that they're satisfied or excited. A dog also howls to mimic other sounds. Howling Dog 11. Whining and Whimpering
If a dog produces a low, short whine or whimper, they are excited, anxious, or submissive. A prolonged whine or whimper shows that they are uncomfortable or in pain.
12. Opening Eyes and Staring
If your dog has their eyes wide open, you should know that they are alert. If they give an intense stare accompanied by narrowing eyes, they are trying to be threatening. If they show the whites of the eyes, they are threatened and wants to attack. If they look away after a short stare, it shows that they are polite or submissive. Your dog can also stare at you if you are carrying some treats or food. Any kind of eye blinking in your canine playmate shows love or playfulness. What may seem odd for most dog owners but is normal for dogs is to lock eyes with us when doing their business. This ingrained canine behavior has many causes, ranging from attempted bonding to a need to protect themselves.
13. Pricking Ears Your dog will hold their ears forward or up if they are curious, aggressive, or wants to play or chase. If they hold their ears flat and close to the head, they are scared or insecure. In addition, if they hold their ears apart but not flat, they are likely to be sad or unsure.
14. Flicking Ears If your dog is flicking their ears, you should know that they are simply listening. Most animals usually flick their ears when there is an unfamiliar sound. So, if you see your four-legged pal flicking their ears forward and backward, you should know that they are he's just trying to catch the sound clearly.
15. Wrinkling Muzzle
If your canine friend is wrinkling its muzzle, they're angry or aggressive. If it shows teeth and snarls while wrinkling the muzzle, they're sending a warning and can attack anytime. You should stop the thing causing this behavior and move away to avoid being attacked.
16. Sniffing the Air If your dog is sniffing the air, they have likely sensed danger or is tracking a threat or prey. They could have also got a whiff of something delicious. A dog sniffing the air doesn’t bark, growl, or howl to avoid alerting its target. A dog can also sniff other dogs or even people to see if they can become friends. 17. Exposing the Belly
If your dog lies down and exposes their belly, they are trying to show respect or is being playful. If you find this behavior interesting, you can encourage it by rubbing their belly. Your canine buddy can also expose the belly when they are being attacked by other animals.
18. Raising Hackles
Your companion animal raises their hackles if they are threatened, insecure, angry, or afraid. A dog with raised hackles is usually alert and aggressive and can attack at any time.
When your animal is meeting other dogs, they can raise their hackles and stand tall to defend themselves in case of an attack from fellow canines.
19. Raising Paws
If your canine friend raises their paws, they are asking for something or wants to play. This behavior is common with younger dogs. A puppy can raise its paws and touch its mother when it wants to suck milk. If a dog raises its paws to touch you, you should know that they love you.
20. Digging
A dog digs to bury or uncover its valuables. It is normal for them to dig, so you should not be worried if you see your dog behaving this way. Your four-legged friend can also dig holes to catch small animals in their hiding places. Others dig to create suitable resting places for their young ones or for themselves.
21. Crouching
If a dog crouches, they could be frightened, nervous, insecure, or preparing to catch another animal. Your canine friend can also crouch to show submission. In addition, they can crouch if they want to play.
22. Mounting or Humping
If a dog mounts you in a polite manner, they are seeking attention or asking for treats. If it humps objects in the presence of other dogs, they are likely to be under stress. In addition, they can mount other dogs as a way of showing overstimulation. They could even just air hump.
23. Bowing
A dog bows by lowering its chest and head to the ground while keeping the rear body up. If your companion animal bows, they likely want to play. Some dogs swing their hips and wag their tails to emphasize the need to play. This body language is popularly known as the play bow.
24. Stretching
Your canine playmate stretches to show love or playfulness. If you come home after being away for some time and see them stretching, you should know that they're happy. They usually stretch with the front or rear body close to the ground.
25. Freezing and Leaning Forward
A dog freezes and leans forward if they are feeling threatened or challenged. This is common when they're interrupted while eating. The behavior can be accompanied by snarling and wagging of the tail. You should leave a dog alone when they are showing this behavior to avoid maybe being attacked.
26. Walking in Circles Before Lying Down
If you see your dog walking in circles before lying down, you should understand that they are looking for the most comfortable place to rest. Your canine buddy could also be having some discomfort which is forcing them to find the best way to lie down without hurting themselves.
27. Scratching the Couch or Other Surfaces Before Lying Down This can seem like a very strange behavior, but it’s actually very normal. They’re acting on instinct to make their beds comfortable. They’re marking their territory or looking for something. They could also be excited or anxious. It could also be to regulate body temperature or a maternal instinct.
28. Pacing
A dog is nervous, excited, or bored if they are pacing frequently. If you see your canine playmate running in a circle around you, you should know that they are playful and wants you to join in on the play. It is important to note that these animals usually run after other animals regardless of whether they are bored or excited.
29. Licking the Genitals
Animals usually lick their genitals to clean them. If you see your four-legged friend licking them excessively, you should know that they are bored or has a urinary tract infection. Most urinary tract infections are itchy and can cause genital discharge which can trigger the genital licking behavior.
30. Licking You
There's a pretty good chance that your dog is licking you because it loves you. It's why many people call them "kisses." Dogs show affection by licking people and sometimes even other dogs.
They could be attention seeking or it could be instinct. There's also a good chance that they like how we taste. Probably because we taste salty to them. One other reason, although rare, could be
obsessive-compulsive disorder, often brought on by stress and anxiety. Licking that occurs constantly (and usually involves the licking of objects, surfaces, and self in addition to humans) may be a real problem. You should always talk to your veterinarian about any concerns. You could even speak to an animal behaviorist.
31. Wagging the Tail
Usually, a dog wags its tail to show friendliness or happiness. If they wag it rapidly while holding it down, they're showing submissiveness. If it slowly wags the tail while keeping it in the natural position, you should know that they are alert or wants to play.
Your canine friend is confused, sad, or unwell if it slowly wags his tail while holding it down. If it slowly wags it while holding it high, they're excited or confident.
32. Holding the Tail Straight
If your dog holds its tail straight up, they're confident, aroused, or excited. Some dogs show this behavior when they meet other canines or other animals. If the upright tail is slightly shaking, you should know that it's facing a challenge. A dog is content, happy, or relaxed, if its tail is level with the body. Moreover, if your canine buddy is holding its tail low with no movement, its showing alertness or insecurity.
33. Tucking Tail Between Legs
Your canine friend is afraid, nervous, worried, or under stress, if he holds his tail between the legs. If he holds the tail tightly against the belly, you should know that he's extremely scared or submissive.
According to my own findings, dogs show this behavior when meeting other dominant animals. They also show this body language when punishing them.
34. Eating Poop
While eating poop is repulsive to human sensibilities, it’s not really all that bad from a canine point of view. Dogs evolved as scavengers, eating whatever they found on the ground or in the trash. Some reasons they might eat poop are isolation or constrictive confinement. Anxiety or attention seeking could also be reasons. They learn that they get a reaction from you when doing so. If they are fed to close to where they poop, they could start associating it with real food. Smelling it on their mothers or living with a sick or elderly dog could also contribute. If your adult dog starts to eat poop, you should consult with your vet to rule out health problems like Diets deficient in nutrients and calories, malabsorption syndrome (deficiency in the absorption of one or more nutrients in the gastrointestinal tract), diabetes, Cushing's, thyroid disease and other conditions or drugs such as steroids.
35. Head Pressing
If you notice your dog pressing his head against the wall or another firm object, there's a need for your immediate attention. Head pressing is a common sign of numerous serious problems, such as toxic poisoning or brain disease. Make an appointment with your dog's vet right away.
36. Sitting on Your Feet or Between Your Legs
This is often mistaken for possessive behavior but is most often a sign of anxiety or nervousness. Your dog is probably trying to feel safer by staying close.
37. Scooting
It means there's something irritating your dog's anus. It's possible that your pup's anal sacs are full and need to be expressed. If your dog's anal sacs aren't backed up, the problem could be irritation for some other reason. Allergies may only show up as an itchy rear. They could have strands or grass or hair hanging out and they are rubbing the ground to get it out.
If you care for or work with dogs, you should know what their behavior and body language means. You should be able to tell whether or not a dog loves you, or if you have a good relationship with them. You should know whether they need help or instruction.
References
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Horwitz D.F., Ciribassi J. Decoding Your Dog: Explaining Common Dog Behaviors and How to Prevent or Change Unwanted Ones. American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. (2014).
Kaminski J., Bräuer J., Call, J. & Tomasello, M. "Domestic Dogs are Sensitive to a Human's Perspective". (PDF). eva.mpg.de. Max Planck. (2009).
McGreevy Paul D., Georgevsky Dana, Carrasco Johanna, Valenzuela Michael, Duffy, Deborah L., Serpell James A. "Dog Behavior Co-Varies with Height, Bodyweight and Skull Shape". ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. (2013).
Miklósi Ádám. Dog Behaviour, Evolution, and Cognition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.(2007).
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Serpell J., Duffy D. Dog Breeds and Their Behavior. In: Domestic Dog Cognition and Behavior. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer. (2014).
Udell M. A. R., Dorey N. R., & Wynne C. D. L."Can Your Dog Read Your Mind? Understanding the Causes of Canine Perspective Taking". en.wikipedia.org. Learning & Behavior. (2011).
Topál J., Miklósi Á. and Csányi V. "Dog-Human Relationship Affects Problem Solving Behavior in the Dog". dx.doi.org. Anthrozoös. (1997).
Duffy D. L., Serpell J. A. "Behavioral Assessment of Guide and Service Dogs". Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research. (2008).
Further information from: petmed.net
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