How Can I Tell if My Dog is Happy?
We all want our dogs to be happy, but how can we tell?
We can tell a lot about our dog’s feelings by looking at their body language.
Every dog is different, so you need to get familiar with your own dog’s neutral body language. You will then be able to notice any changes and have a better understanding of how they are feeling (Gutteridge, 2019).
Are these dogs happy?
Look at the relaxed, open mouths. Relaxed ears. Soft gazes. Loose body language.
These dogs are definitely happy!
Is this dog happy?
Echo’s ears are relaxed, her tail is high and wagging, her overall body is loose and bouncy, which indicates playfulness!
Be careful when looking at dog’s tails- a wagging tail doesn’t necessarily mean a happy dog!
You need to look at the whole body and the context, rather than the tail alone.
An upright wagging tail is usually an indication your dog is alert. A tail wagging in circles usually means your dog is extra happy (Blue Cross, 2019)!
A lower wagging tail usually means your dog is happy.
If your dog’s tail is tucked right under their body, that is a definite sign they are uncomfortable or anxious.
Remember to look at the whole body!
Is this dog happy?
This is a stock image, not one I have taken myself.
This dog is licking their lips, which is a sign they are uncomfortable. Their overall body looks a little tense and uncertain. If I was this person, I would not be standing over a dog patting it like that. Instead, I would go down to the dog’s level and allow the dog to approach me if they wanted to.
Remember…
These are guidelines for interpreting your dog’s body language. Every dog is different, and some dogs don’t have tails or they have floppy ears which are harder to read. Get to know your own dog’s neutral state, then you will be more aware of changes to this (Gutteridge, 2019).
As a general rule, loose relaxed body language is good, tense stiff body language is not so good!
Watch your dog and see if you can get better at reading their emotions!
Do you want some help understanding your dog’s body language? Get in touch and I will be happy to organise a training session with you!
References
Blue Cross, 2019. ‘Why do dogs wag their tails?’ Available at: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/why-do-dogs-wag-their-tails
Gutteridge, S. 2019. Canine Communication: The Language of a Species.
