The Mifflin County Dog Training Club

Looking Back: A Dog's Body Language

Written by Kathy Molek
Saturday, 14 February 2009

From the MCDTC February 1991 Newsletter

A happy, friendly dog wags its tail --- and to many people, that seems to be about it when it comes to recognizing canine body language. But body language is one of the dogs primary means of communicating its moods and, as important, its “intentions,” friendly or otherwise.

Before considering body posture, it might be well to examine the usual preliminary contact between a person and a dog--- that is, eye contact. When two dogs meet for the first time, they tend to engage in what might be called a “stare down” competition. The dominant dog maintains eye contact longer than the submissive dog, which turns away and thus acknowledges the other’s claim superiority. If a dog begins to stare at you, however, it may be a sign that it is trying to establish dominance. This trait is seen in mature, intact males more than in other dogs and requires carefully planned behavior modification to establish owner dominance over the dog.

A calm dog is one that stands with its ears and tail down. However, recognizing that state in a dog whose ears are always down, as in a hound dog or whose tail has been docked, is obviously difficult. The dog’s ears, tail, coat, and body all become an index of the degree to which it is aroused from this state.  An aggressive dog’s ears will rise and point forward as its lips draw back and the hair on its shoulders and rump become erect. It may even wag its tail, but ominously slowly. In a fear-biting dog --- that is, one in who fear is mixed with aggression --- this aggressive posture frequently gives way to one in which the ears go back and the tail descends between the legs. The body will lean away from the threatening or fear-provoking source or person. Unfortunately, a fear-biting dog can be as dangerous as a dominant dog. It will not necessarily attack but may do so if its “critical area” is invaded. This area may extend one or two feet from the dog and should be very judiciously respected by anyone confronted with such an animal.

A fearful but not aggressive dog will crouch with tail between its legs and ears flattened. It may even lie on its side and display its belly, sometimes urinating. According to Katherine A. Houpt, VMD, PhD, this behavior is probably a reversion to puppy behavior when the pup rolled over to allow its mother, who was naturally dominant, to lick and clean it.

Dogs play with other dogs and with people in a manner that seems to imply aggression. But careful observation will prove that the dog is unmistakably signaling that it’s all a game by first bowing with raised hindquarters, then rapidly wagging its tail, and sometimes even with waving one paw or touching it to its muzzle.

Licking and mouthing are also important communication behaviors in dogs. Dr. Houpt notes that puppies lick their mother’s mouths to beg for regurgitated food, even though domesticated canines do not often feed their young in this way. The behavior persists, however, with the dog owner often the recipient of what is, like mouthing, a submissive gesture of greeting.