Since dogs don't communicate with words, we have to look at their posture, facial expressions and movements to get an idea of how they're feeling. As a loving pooch parent, it's essential to tune in to your dog's body language to understand him or her better, but it can take some time and practice.

For that reason, I've put together this comprehensive guide of cues to look out for to help you better understand how your dog communicates. Without further ado, let's get stuck in!

Tail Wagging & Position

A dog's tail isn't just there to look cute; it's a key communication tool, and you can deduce a lot about your dog's emotions just by checking out what they're doing with their tail. Let's explore what that frantic wagging or tucked-under tail means.

Relaxed wagging

A widely wagging tail in a neutral position coupled with a wiggly or relaxed posture and facial expression is a sure sign that your canine companion is in a great mood.

Bottoms up

When your dog raises her bottom while wagging her tail, this typically indicates that she's feeling playful. She may also bounce about or wiggle happily.

Vertical tail

Does your dog sometimes stop, freeze and raise his tail when he spots another dog approaching? This can indicate that a dog is on the alert, possibly assessing a potential threat. Some dogs wag their tail in a vertical position when they're ready to attack, so watch out.

Tucked-under tail

A tucked-under tail is a sign of submission, fear, discomfort or worry in dogs. If your dog is sick or injured, he may tuck under his tail due to pain or discomfort.

Horizontal tail

If the tail is held out in a horizontal position, it often means the dog is curious and wants to explore. Dog parks, forests, that interesting bug, your kitchen cupboards... anything is fair game for investigation!

Body Posture

The tail isn't the only thing to keep an eye on when assessing your dog's body language: look at how it corresponds to his overall posture. Here, we'll pick apart the range of body postures dogs can display and what each type means.

Relaxed and wiggly

A dog with a relaxed, open or loose, wiggly, bouncy body is feeling chilled, happy and/or playful. 

Stiff and frozen

This kind of posture is a sign that your dog is on high alert. It tends to happen when she sees another dog that she hasn't met approaching. 

Low to the ground

When a dog puts himself in a low position and cowers, he's trying to make himself as small as possible to ward off potential threats. Some dogs show their teeth as a warning or form of appeasement. 

Weight shifted backward

If your dog's weight is shifted backward but their head is tilted up with tension around the mouth, this means he could be feeling threatened.

Body Language & Movements

Posture is one thing, but you can also tune in to how your dog behaves in certain situations to understand what she's trying to communicate. Here are some examples of how dogs use their bodies and movements to express emotions:

Ears in a neutral position

When a dog's ears stay in a neutral position (this may vary depending on the breed or type of dog, as some dogs have floppy ears and some have erect ears), this typically indicates that he's feeling relaxed.  

Ears pinned back

Pinned-back ears mean a dog is fearful or worried. This may happen when he encounters a new dog that he has never met or when he feels threatened by someone or something.

Ears held forward

This means the dog is feeling alert or, in some cases, aggressive depending on the situation. If the dog has floppy ears, you can tell if they're held forward by looking at the ear base.  

Yawning

Yawning can be a sign of sleepiness, but it's also an indicator of stress in dogs, so tune in to the situation to be able to tell the difference. 

Lip licking or smacking

Unless your pooch has just eaten something delish, this could be a sign that she's feeling stressed.

Sniffing the ground

It's perfectly normal for dogs to sniff a lot - it's just what dogs do - but dogs sometimes sniff more when they're feeling anxious.  

Shaking off

Dogs shake themselves to dry off after a bath or swimming sesh, but doing it when dry can indicate that the dog is trying to shake away excess tension. 

Facial Expressions

Your dog's eyes are the windows to her soul, but her mouth can also give you information about her mood. Here's what I mean by that:

Mouth tension

Tension around the mouth is a giveaway sign that a dog is feeling anxious or aggressive. Aggressive dogs may have wrinkly muzzles and snarl, while anxious dogs tend to shut their mouths tight.

Lack of mouth tension

If the mouth is nice and relaxed with no signs of tension, this is a sign of happiness or alertness. 

Soft eyes

If the eyes and face are soft and wrinkle-free (unless you've got a naturally wrinkly dog), this indicates that the dog is feeling relaxed and content.

Looking away

Stressed or worried dogs tend to look away from whatever is bothering them, revealing the whites of their eyes. Sometimes, looking away from what's causing stress is coupled with squinting the eyes.

Hard, fixed stare

When a dog scrunches his face up and holds a fixed, hard stare at something, he could be getting ready to attack.

Final Thoughts

This list is already pretty extensive, but it's certainly not exhaustive: There are so many ways in which dogs express emotions like happiness, joy, alertness, aggression, fear and stress.

The keys to understanding these cues and building a stronger bond with your pup are a keen eye and a willingness to "hear" what your dog is trying to convey, even if it's not delivered vocally.

If you have any concerns about your dog's health or behavior, please reach out to your vet for guidance.

Sources & fact-checking:

- https://www.petmd.com/dog/behavior/how-to-read-dog-body-language

- https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/advice/how-to-read-dog-body-language/

- https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/behaviour/understanding

- https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/interpreting-tail-wags-in-dogs