While all dogs slow down with age, if your dog seems abnormally quiet, uninterested in favorite activities, or is less social, this may be a sign they’re not feeling well. Happy dogs enjoy playtime and walks, and most even love rides in cars. It’s important to consider the other signs your dog is giving you, especially their overall body language, before assuming all is well. But don’t judge your dog by their bark alone. Happy dogs generally have higher pitched barks and bark for a shorter period of time than dogs that are agitated. They are inviting play and want to interact. In a play bow, a dog lowers their chest to the ground but keeps their rear in the air. They are excited when you come home and want to show it! Bottom Up and Head/Chest LowĪ dog is telling you they are up for fun or want to play when they do a play bow. The quick movements usually indicate the dog is happy and ready to play. When dogs bounce from side to side or hop and dance, they may be happy to see their canine friends or their favorite people. If a dog is baring their teeth or curling their lips back, this can indicate aggression. Like people, a furrowed brow can express worry in dogs (except for Shar-Peis with their permanently furrowing brows!). A lolling tongue can also mean your dog is relaxed.īe sure not to confuse open-mouth panting with smiling, as this could mean your pet is stressed or overheated. The mouth is soft and open, the corners of the mouth are turned up, and while some teeth may be visible, it’s not in an aggressive manner. If your dog is standing stiffly with a tightly waving tail, they may be alert or nervous. A tail pinned under the body is a strong sign of fear. On the other hand, if a dog seems tense or their body is stiff, these are signs of discomfort. If the tail seems to be raised pretty high, this could indicate agitation or over-stimulation. A wriggling dog showing you their belly is likely to be a very happy and comfortable dog.Įach dog breed has a different relaxed tail position, but a happy dog will generally raise it slightly. When a dog is happy, their whole body and tail will look relaxed, and they quite often wiggle! A happy dog’s whole body can wag along with their tail. Narrowed eyes and a hard gaze can indicate aggression, while wide eyes, particularly if they whites are showing, could mean your dog is frightened. When a dog is happy, their eyes and eyelids will be open and relaxed, their gaze will be soft, and they will blink often. If their ears are pulled back or stiff with hyper-alertness, this is usually a sign of a stressed or fearful pooch. Some dogs will have one ear cocked up, or both may be loose and floppy.Įars pricked forward often indicate that a dog is interested in something. While ear shapes vary depending on the breed, a happy dog’s ears are relaxed and rest naturally against their head. When these clues are missing, it could mean your dog is ill or feeling out-of-sorts. Here are some tips on how to read your dog’s body language and behaviors to help you know when they are relaxed and happy, and most likely healthy. So how can you tell if your dog is happy in general? What are some other signs of dog happiness? 13 Signs of a Happy Dog However, dogs are individuals, and their activity levels and desire to be social vary as they grow and age. You may be familiar with the signs that your dog is happy in the moment-soft, relaxed ears and eyes, a wagging tail, puppy kisses, and a broad smile. Your dog may bark, hop up and down, stare intently at whatever they want, whine, tremble, or show some other sign.ĭogs can also show love, affection, playfulness, and happiness through their body language and behaviors. But, like many toddlers, your dog lacks the vocabulary to tell you how they feel, so it’s up to you to learn how your dog expresses emotions.įor example, most of us know what it looks like when our dog is frustrated or wants something. Dogs have the emotional capacity of a 2- to 2.5-year-old child, so they can experience emotions like joy, fear, and anger.
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