Dog Body Language 101

Stress Signals (in no particular order):

     Lowered Tail/body (crouching)

     Stiff or rigid body or movements

     Dog won’t take treats

     Ears back for prick ears or down for drop ears

     Slow movements or responses

     Urinating/defecating and/or expressing anal glands

     Dog avoids eye contact (with human and/or with whatever stresses him)

     Freezing in place or dropping into a down and freezing

     Pacing, circling or non-stop movement

     Zooming full speed (trying to get rid of pent up stress)

     Excessive shedding

     Excessive drooling (ropes or puddles)

     Vocalizations such as whining, “huffing” (raspy panting), moaning or growling

     High pitched barking, often frantic sounding

     Stretching (“play” bow or full body)

     Trembling/vibrating

     Hair along the back stands up

     Yawning (especially repeatedly)

     Licking lips

     Penis crowning

     Rolling over onto side or back

     Resisting pressure on the leash, pulling away (esp. when “fighting like a fish”)

     Shallow/rapid breathing, holding breath

     Muscle ridges around back of the mouth or around the eyes

     White showing in the eye

     Dilated pupils

     Sweaty paws (leaving foot prints)

Signs the dog is trying to calm down himself or others around him:

     Looking away from the stressor

     Yawning

     Moving in an arc when approaching a stressor or unknown

     Licking lips

     Full body shake as if wet (releasing some tension)

     Raising a paw slightly off the ground

     Scratching at the neck or side with a hind foot

     Sitting or lying down

     Sniffing the ground

     Blinking more rapidly than normal (relaxed eyes)

Signs that the dog is trying to get a scary or unknown person/thing to move away (can also be pre-fight signals):

     Hard stare (maintained for more than 3 seconds)

     “On their toes” trying to make themselves appear larger -or-

     Lowering the head/neck with staring (as in a boarder collie stare)

     Showing teeth or flexing lips

     Ears forward and alert

     Aggressive barking (usually deeper than play or stress barks)

     Body tension/stiffness or freezing

     Hair over shoulders (or along entire back) stands up

     Marking behavior (urination or defecation) often with lots of kicking afterward

     Tail held high and wagging stiffly or quickly (sometimes just at the tip of the tail)

     Whites in the eye showing

Signs a dog wants to play or get attention:

     Entire body relaxed, no tension

     Play bow (holding front legs only flat on the ground with butt in the air)

     Full wagging tail, relaxed wagging or wagging the tail in a circle

     Rolling over (with fully relaxed body) “flopping” on the ground

     Pawing gently

     Gentle nose bumps

     Ears in a relaxed position

     Full body wiggle

     Grin in the mouth, open mouth with relaxed lips

     Happy/playful bark often one bark at a time or a drawn out bark almost a howl

Things dogs do when they are confused about what is expected of them (may indicate excessive stress):

     Increased activity (pacing, circling, zoomies, jumping up, humping)

     “Yappy” stressed barking, may including nipping or biting

     Marking behaviors (urination/defecation)

     Sniffing the ground

     Wandering or running away (avoidance)

     Stretching

     Yawning

     Full body shake (as if wet)

   Hair over shoulders or along entire back stands up

     Looking away from the stressor

     Biting another object or dog (rapidly biting or shaking a toy, or directing aggression to anther dog or person)

     Taking treats with a “hard mouth” (biting fingers with the treat)

     Seeking attention/reassurance from others (dogs or people)

     Hiding (going to a crate, tunnel or under a corner table for example)

     Licking the stressor (dog or person) or air licking/lip licking

     Rolling on side or back

     Freezing in place, often in a down position

     Glazed eyes/ “zoned” out