MOUNTING
When your dog either mounts another dog or stands above another dog by putting his front paws on the other dog’s back, he is asserting his dominance over the other dog. Mounting other dogs isn’t just a male characteristic. High-ranking females do it, too. Owners wonder why male dogs mount other males or why females mount at all, but mounting is more often related to social status than to sex.
HUMPING
There’s often sexual intent in this behavior, even if the dog doing the humping is neutered, or even female. You can let dogs interact this way, as long as the dog being humped isn’t trying to escape (and, of course, providing the humping dog is not an unneutered male and the other dog a female in season). If a dog does it to a person, break his focus suddenly by making a loud noise to stop him in his tracks.
YAWNING
Yawning in dogs isn’t always a sign of tiredness. It may indicate anticipation or stress. Yawning causes instantaneous changes in the body, increasing heart rate and blood flow to the brain, filling the lungs with oxygen and removing carbon dioxide. In short, a yawn helps a dog energize his body, gather his wits
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
Dogs will often flick their tongues in and out when they are feeling uneasy or apprehensive, as this mixed breed is doing and calm himself down. Your dog may yawn repeatedly when he’s waiting in the vet’s office, as a way of dealing with nervousness. In training classes, he may yawn to deal with frustration and give himself a mental break. A dog who yawns in anticipation of something enjoyable, such as a walk, is doing so both to boost his energy and to control his eagerness.
TONGUE FLICKING
If your dog repeatedly flicks his tongue up to lick his nose, he’s uneasy. He may be assessing a new situation or wondering if he should approach a stranger. Or he may be concentrating hard, trying to master a new obedience command. While a tongue-flicking dog may be friendly, don’t approach a strange tongue flicker the dog is obviously tense. Tongue flicking sometimes precedes biting.
LEANING
Dogs are very tactile and don’t always respect personal space. It’s common for them to lean against people’s legs. Dogs who merely lean, as opposed to a cat-like rubbing back and forth, may be attempting to expand their personal space by taking over yours. Conversely, some dogs lean to express an affectionate kind of possession, or to prevent you from going somewhere else. If your dog rubs against your legs, he is probably just trying to scratch a hard-to-reach spot.
SMILING
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are known for curling their upper lips whenever they feel happy. Alaskan Malamutes and Samoyeds are also well known for their smiling expressions. Dogs sometimes exhibit what is known as a “submissive grin,” which is a type of appeasement gesture. This behavior is particularly common in Dalmatians. Most dogs, however, don’t smile in the same way people do. If anything, they tend to assume a grinlike expression when they’re feeling threatened or aggressive and want people to see their teeth.
TAIL TUCKED AND EARS BACK
If your dog tucks his tail, lays his ears back, takes a few steps backward or hides behind you, you can be sure he’s feeling uncertain. It could be a person or an object that he’s not sure of, and you’ll need to lessen his fear by introducing him slowly and unthreateningly to whatever he’s apprehensive about.
NOSE NUDGING
Dogs love to push people with their noses. Most of the time it just means they want affection or attention. If you are reading the newspaper, for example, your dog may nudge your hand to try to get your attention away from the paper and back to him. Or perhaps the chair that you’re in is his favorite place and he wants you to move out of the way so he can take possession.
PAW LIFTING
If his lifted paw is accompanied by a relaxed, happy expression and a neutral position, your dog just wants attention. Maybe he has been taught how to shake hands and knows he can get positive attention that way. While paw lifting is most likely an invitation to play, your dog might be telling you something else.
A QUICK GUIDE TO DOG BODY LANGUAGE
To enlarge click on a image
Eyes
Direct eye contact means that a dog is feeling bold and confident.
Casual eye contact means he’s contented.
An averted gaze means deference.
Dilated pupils indicate fear.
Ears
Relaxed ears mean that a dog is calm.
Erect ears show that a dog is alert and attentive.
Ears that are up and forward mean a dog is challenging or being assertive or-aggressive Ears that area laid back indicate that a dog is worried or scared Body movements.
Pawing is an appeasing gesture.
Licking another dog’s face is an invitation to play or a sign of deference.
Play bowing (front legs extended, rump up, tail wagging) is an invitation to play and a sign of happiness.
Draping the head over another dog’s shoulders is a social challenge.
Freezing in place means a dog is frightened.
Mouth and lips
Panting means that a dog is feeling playful, excited or stressed, or he may simply be hot.
A dog with the mouth and lips closed is uncertain or appeasing.
Licking the lips is a sign that a dog is worried or is trying to appease a person or another dog A relaxed mouth means a dog is calm.
Lips pulled back are a challenging or warning sign, especially when combined with a snarl.
Hackles (the hair on the shoulders and hips)
Raised hackles indicate arousal, either because a dog is frightened Or is challenging another dog.
Smooth hackles show a dog is calm.
Tail
A relaxed tail means that a dog is calm and at Peace.
A tail held straight out, wagging rhythmically and slowly, means that a dog is cautious or on guard.
Tail down indicates worry or uncertainty.
Tail held up and wagging fast indicates excitement.
An erect tail is a sign of alertness.
A tail held between the legs is a sign of fear.
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