Understanding your dog's body language.

You can determine how your dog is feeling by it's body language-facial expression, body position, tail movements, ears, eyes, and mouth expressions all signals his moods. I feel that we need to know what our dog thinks before we can have an enjoyable relationship.

Unfamiliar Dogs.

All dogs have subtle differences in behavior and manners. It is quite difficult to read the body language of a foreign dog.

As a rule of thumb, always be cautious around unfamiliar foreign dogs. More importantly, children must be closely supervised, with the dog owner around, if they are to interact with foreign dog.


How your dog respond to your body language?

As you are learning all about your dog's body language also consider the signals you are giving to your dogs unintentionally by your own body language.

Example: Your direct eye contact can be taken as a threat from your dog. He may be frightened
when you eyeball him or he may react with aggression towards you.

Bending over your dog may also mean a threatening gestures to him.

You should try to stand straight when when your dog is besides you. Squat down and allow him approach you.



Signs of Stress from your dog.

The feelings of stress, will often bring along a furrow brow, so similar to humans when they are stressed.

A stressed dog may also position his ears out to the sides, with wide open mouth, panting heavily or yawning. You may also see the whites of the eyes.

Always take caution when approaching such a dog.



Signs Of Fear.

A fearful dog usually show his fear by making himself as small as possible towards you. He moves his weight over his back legs and often holds his tail low, between his back legs. For some instances he may even lie down.

A dog experiencing this feelings of fear will often avoids eye to eye contact and lays his ears back on his head.
Take caution and care with this fearful dog.


Signs of Aggression.

An aggressive or threatened dog usually tries to makes himself as large as possible to his opponent. He transfer his weight over to the front legs and leans forward. The hair running from his neck to his back, may also rises to give him an appearance of being larger than he is.

His ears may also point forward and fix a stern or hard stare at the opponent he is feeling aggressive towards. He may also hold his tail upright wagging it rapidly.

If a dog shows such signs, avoid looking him in the eye and walk quietly away from him.


Signs of a Relaxed Dog.

A relaxed dog often shows his feelings by holding his ears in a relaxed, half-back position at the same time allowing his mouth to hang open.

A relaxed dog usually holds his tail at the same height or lower than his spine. He will show his friendliness by wagging his tail slowly and gently below his back.

Important message:

Not all tail wagging are equal, because if a dog is wagging his tail stiffly above his back, this may mean aggression.