MEMBER OF USA SINCE 1978

To truly understand your dog, you must understand what your dog says to you.  This is also what is commonly referred to as “reading the dog”.   Since dogs cannot talk, they must communicate with each other in some fashion.  Over time dogs have developed a method of communicating through body language to express their feelings.  The ability to read and understand this type of behavior will enrich your bond with your dog.

Here are a few illustrations that will help you learn the language, these come from Carol Benjamin’s book “Mother Knows Best”.

1.      PLAYBOW: When stretching after a nap or expressing friendly sociability, the dog will assume an elongated position, with its forelegs and chest on the ground and rump in the air.  This stretch is one of the primary ways that your dog invites play.  Almost all dogs use and can read this posture, even if it is done awkwardly by a human.

2.      PAWING:  Pawing is a submissive, friendly gesture, also used as an invitation to play or communicate.  Paw back-and while you are there, tell him to shake and you’ve got an instant trick.

3.      PANTING: Your dog pants to cool his body.  He cannot sweat through the skin as people do, but rather through the tongue and the pads on his feet.  He also pants to express friendliness.  If you pant back to him he will either respond in kind or he will translate.  That is, he will either pant back, or he’ll play bow, pay at you or wag his tail.

4.      MOBBING: Mobbing, and subsequent mouth licking, are most often seen in puppies when their mother approaches.  Your puppy may mob you when you come home, and for similar reasons.  In the wild, and sometimes even in a domestic setting, when mother is mobbed and her lips are licked, she regurgitated her half digested meal for her babies.  You on the other hand will probably prefer to pet him when he mobs you.

5.      SUBMISSIVE POSTURING: Submissive posturing begins with the ears folded back, tail tucked between the hind legs, a roll over onto the back, neck and tummy exposed, tip of the tail wagging, and perhaps urination.  This is language you should understand since you will be training and correcting your dog.  This is not language you should “speak” as it is not appropriate for humans.  Be aware not to cause this type of behavior through correction of your dog.

6.      TAIL WAGGING: Tail wagging is an indication of friendliness.  If wagged low, it is an indication of submission.  When only the tip of the tail wags, your dog is not sure whether you will be happy about what he is doing—but he hope so.

7.      TAIL TUCKING: Submission and fear are expressed with this posture.  The female will also tuck her tail to protect herself from amorous males when she is not in season.  When ready to mate, she tosses her tail high into the air and to the side.

8.      HACKLES RAISED: The angry dog will raise its hackles, put the ears slightly forward, tail high, and be up on his toes.  A dog that raises its hackles out of fear will put its ears back, tail tucked, back rounded, and tummy tucked.   The second expression could mean a shy sharp dog or a fear biter.  This dog is totally unpredictable and thus makes him more dangerous as he can be turned either way in an instant.  Common sense dictates that this dog be handled with great care.

9.      THE T POSITION: The more dominant of two dogs will form a “T” by leaning on the submissive dog’s back with its muzzle or even his paws.

10. MOUNTING: Mounting is used for mating and also as a display of dominance.  A dog wishing to vote himself the alpha dog will mount another dog of either sex as an act of self-assertion.  There is no appropriate reason for a dog to be allowed to mount a human.

11. SUBMISSIVE GRIN: This caught-in-the-act grin acknowledges submission.

12. LAUGH FACE: An open-mouthed happy look invites play or shows that the dog know he just cracked a particularly worth while joke.

13. MEANINGFUL SOUNDS: As you add the posture to the sound, you will be about to interpret the variety of utterance your dog makes.  His voice can express a range of feelings—sadness, boredom, joy, anger, friendliness, pain, a call to gather, a kind of “ahem” to get your attention, loneliness or exuberance.

14. EYE EXPRESSION: You can see what the dog is feeling by looking into his eyes, just as he will know what you are feeling by looking into your eyes.

This web site is designed by MTLYN Associates.   Send mail to  MTLYN ASSOC@aol.com with questions or comments about this web site. Copyright © 2001 GREATER WASHINGTON, D.C SCHUTHUND GROUP Last modified: April 03, 2001