Reading your dog's body language

Your dog may not speak your language, but he has ways of letting you know how he's feeling. For example, when he leans forward slightly and wags not only his tail, but his entire body, you know he's happy to see you. Following are clues you can use to interpret other common canine body postures.

Relaxation

A calm and relaxed dog keeps his weight evenly distributed, and his tail may be wagging slightly. You won't notice any tension in his ears and facial muscles. His mouth may be closed or slightly open.

Interest

Should something catch this mellow fellow's attention, he'll exhibit an alert and interested posture. His ears will move forward and there will be a slight shift in weight. Should the dog be feeling both excited and wary, a ridge of fur may rise up on his shoulders or down his spine. This is known as "getting his hackles up."

Fear

A dog shows fear by shifting his weight backwards and keeping his tail down or tucked between his legs. His gaze will be averted and his ears pulled back. It is common for scared dogs to bark or growl, advance and then retreat. These body postures say, "Please back off, or I may have to bite you."

If a dog feels frightened, unsure and intimidated, he may act in a submissive manner that says, "I am no threat." He will crouch and pull back his ears, and may paw at the ground. You may notice that his mouth is held in what is known as a submissive grin, It looks a bit like a snarl, but you won't hear any growling. If the dog is extremely intimidated, he may roll onto his back to express total surrender.

Aggression

An aggressive or dominant dog will let you know how he's feeling loud and clear. Dogs who are fenced-in or chained are likely to exhibit aggressive postures as they guard their territory. An aggressive dog will lean forward, tail held high and bristled. It may even be wagging, but it is important to distinguish this agitated wagging between that of a friendly dog. His facial muscles will tense, resulting in curled lips, wrinkling around the nose and an unmistakable snarl. He may growl and bark. It's best to back off from any dog exhibiting these behaviors, or you may get bitten.