What is my dog saying?
Dogs talk with the whole body, and no single signal means one thing. Pick what you are seeing to learn what it usually means and what to do.
What are you seeing?
What it usually means
A relaxed, friendly dog. The wag involves the whole back end and the muscles are soft.
What to do
Carry on. This is what comfortable looks like, and it is worth learning your own dog's version of it.
What it usually means
Arousal, not friendliness. A stiff, high wag often goes with tension and can come before a snap.
What to do
Give space and do not reach in. A wagging tail does not always mean a happy dog.
What it usually means
Fear or strong unease. An old dog may also tuck its tail because of pain in the back, hips or rear end.
What to do
Take away whatever is frightening them if you can. If it is new and there is no obvious cause, have a vet check for pain.
What it usually means
Fear, appeasement or pain, depending on the rest of the body. With a loose wiggly body it can simply be a friendly greeting.
What to do
Read it with the eyes and mouth. Flat ears with a tense body and a closed mouth mean back off.
What it usually means
Often called whale eye: the dog is worried and watching something without turning its head. It is a common warning before a bite.
What to do
Stop what you are doing and give the dog room. Never punish the warning; it is the dog being clear with you.
What it usually means
Common signs of stress or unease. In an old dog, frequent lip licking can also be nausea or mouth pain.
What to do
Ease off and see whether it stops. If it happens a lot with no obvious trigger, mention it to your vet.
What it usually means
A freeze. The dog is deciding what to do next, and this is the last warning many dogs give.
What to do
Stop, look away and calmly move away. Keep children back.
What it usually means
An invitation to play. It also tells the other dog that whatever comes next is not serious.
What to do
Play, if your dog is up to it. Old dogs still bow; keep it short and on soft ground.
What it usually means
Loose and wriggling, it is trust or a request for a belly rub. Still and tense with the tail tucked, it is appeasement and a wish to be left alone.
What to do
Check the rest of the body before you reach in.
What it usually means
More often pain than mood: the belly, back or neck. Old dogs show pain with posture long before they cry.
What to do
Call your vet today. Do not give human painkillers; they can kill dogs.
What it usually means
Can be stress, but in an older dog it is often pain, heart or lung disease, or a hormone problem.
What to do
If it is new or happens at night, book a vet visit. Labored breathing or pale or blue gums is an emergency.
What it usually means
Clear communication: stop, or go away. A dog that growls when touched in one place is very often in pain.
What to do
Respect it and step back. A new growl in a gentle old dog deserves a vet visit, not a telling off.
This tool organizes what you have noticed. It can't examine your pet, and its result is not a diagnosis or veterinary advice. Take what it shows to your vet; if your pet is in distress, go to an emergency clinic now. Full disclaimer
Reading the whole dog
Body language is a set of clues that have to be read together and in context. A wagging tail on a loose body is a greeting; the same wag on a stiff body with a hard stare is a warning. Always look at the tail, ears, eyes, mouth and overall tension at once.
Old dogs change their signals. Arthritis stops a tail lifting or a play bow going all the way down. Failing sight and hearing make a dog startle more easily, and a dog in pain may growl or snap in situations it used to tolerate. A change in how your dog communicates is worth as much attention as a change in appetite.
Warnings are useful. Lip licking, turning away, freezing and growling are how a dog avoids biting. Punishing them teaches the dog to skip the warning. If your dog has snapped at or bitten anyone, keep people and especially children at a distance and talk to your vet about pain and about a qualified behaviorist.
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