Body language can tell you what your dog is feeling.
Your dog communicates his relationship to you and his surroundings through his body language and general demeanor. In order to totally understand what your dog is trying to tell you, you need to know your dog's behavior as well as his breed characteristics, according to Matthew Hoffman in "Dogs: The Ultimate Care Guide." How your dog's breed normally carries the tail, its typical body postures and vocalizations, and the work the breed was trained to do, can determine if your dog is behaving normally or is acting in a way that should concern you.
Instructions
1. Watch how your dog carries his body. If she walks upright, with her head up and her tail wagging, she is feeling confident and happy. A dog that lowers her body to slink close to walls, drops her hindquarters and tucks her tail demonstrates that she is frightened, says Victoria Schade in "Bonding With Your Dog: A Trainer's Secrets for Building a Better Relationship."
2. Check the way your dog carries her tail. A dominant or aggressive dog carries the tail straight out or standing stiffly erect. A relaxed, welcoming dog wags the tail and sometimes the entire rump, swinging the tail out loosely at hip level, states Hoffman.
3. Pay attention to your pet's head, ears and facial expressions. A nervous or frightened dog keeps the ears flat to the head, shows the whites of the eyes and may open-mouthed pant with tense lips and muzzle, remarks Schade. Alert ears, soft, grinning mouth and relaxed eyes denote a dog that is calm, interested and happy in her surroundings.
4. Listen to your dog's bark. Dogs bark because they are lonely, overstimulated, bored or protecting their property, say the Monks of New Skete in "be Your Dog's Best Friend." Learning why your dog is barking helps you to stop the bad behavior and positively reward the good.
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