Reading body language

No single body part tells the full story. Look at the overall picture: posture, tail, ears, eyes, mouth and how the body moves. A relaxed dog is loose and wiggly, with a soft face and an open mouth. A worried dog makes themselves smaller, tucks the tail and pulls the ears back. An alert dog leans forward and goes still. Context matters too – panting on a hot day is different from panting at the vet.

A wagging tail simply means the dog is emotionally aroused – it isn’t a guarantee of friendliness. A broad, sweeping wag with a wiggly bottom is happy. A high, stiff, fast flick can mean tension. A low or tucked tail suggests worry. Breeds carry tails differently, so learn your own dog’s neutral position and notice when it changes.

Dogs usually whisper before they shout. Early signs of unease include lip licking, yawning when not tired, turning the head away, showing the whites of the eyes, lifting a paw and sudden sniffing. If those are missed, signs can escalate to freezing, staring, growling, snapping and finally biting. A growl is valuable communication – never punish it, or the dog may skip warnings. Instead, give space and work out what worried them.

Healthy play looks bouncy and exaggerated. Watch for play bows, taking turns at chasing and being on top, self-handicapping by a bigger dog and frequent little pauses. Worry if one dog is always the one chased, tries to hide or leave, or if bodies become stiff and quiet. A simple consent test: gently separate them – if the “underdog” runs straight back for more, the game is mutual.