A common concern our clients have is “Why do dog’s hackles come up?” Is it a sign of aggression, that a dog feels threatened or for another reason? In this blog, we will discuss the reasons why dogs raise their hackles and other signs of body language you should observe.
Why Do Dogs’ Hackles Come Up?
When a dog’s hackles go up, it’s an involuntary response that can happen for several reasons. Sometimes it happens when a dog feels threatened or is highly alert; other times, they may simply be startled or excited. Raised hackles can accompany aggressive behaviors, but this isn’t always the case. For example:
- A dog who is resource guarding a bone may have their hackles raised while growling at someone approaching them.
- A playful dog may have their hackles raised when wrestling with other dogs at the dog park
- A dog may feel threatened when approached by an unfamiliar person, dog, or hearing an unusual sound
- A reactive dog may raise their hackles while watching a delivery driver coming to the front door
- A dog’s hackles can also be raised because the temperature drops outside.
As you can see, there are so many different reasons a dog’s hackles can be raised. Looking at the rest of your dog’s body language and what is happening around them can help you better understand their behavior.
A Dog’s Body Language
To best understand a dog’s body language, you should pay particular attention to their ears, mouth, tail, eyes, and weight distribution. We are going to describe a dog’s language as either friendly, neutral, or as precursors to reactivity and aggression.
Friendly Body Language
A dog displaying friendly body language will:
- Look directly at you or somebody else they love, or look at everyone they meet with soft eyes without long periods of staring
- Have their ears that are pinned back or in a neutral stance
- Have their mouth open, where you can see their teeth
- Have their tongue out or sitting within their mouth
- Have their tail wagging loosely or with a fast wag, back and forth.
These body language signs usually appear to show a looser body posture, where a dog’s body language is forward or evenly distributed.
Neutral Body Language
A dog may show neutral body language in a familiar place when they are not getting direct attention. Such as when relaxing in the living room or exploring their backyard. You may notice that a dog’s:
- Eyes are soft and casually look around the area, with naturally setting ears.
- Mouth may be open or closed, with their lips loose
- Body weight is evenly distributed
Precursors to Reactivity and Aggression
Precursor behaviors can often result in reactivity or barking, but do not always end with aggression. Understanding these behaviors in the moment will help you better understand your dog’s communication. In this stage, you may notice that your dog/s:
- Stares directly at the target and is difficult to interrupt.
- Ears perk up and may point directly at the target if your dog has a higher ear carriage, such as a Siberian Husky or German Shepherd.
- Mouth will be tightly closed, and the corner of their mouth may even come forward
- Body language will be forward, and their body will be stiff.
Now that you understand more about a dog’s body language, you can better understand how they are communicating and give more context to “Why are my dog’s hackles up?”
We Are Here to Help
Would you like help addressing your dog’s aggressive behavior?, or do you have any other behavioral concerns or would like to teach you dog high level obedience commands? You can contact our Pet Behavior Team for a free consultation, where we can chat with you and provide a personalized recommendation that meets your needs. We recommend you check out our puppy training blog or our TikTok channel.
Beyond the Dog Dallas offers personalized one-on-one training sessions, including training at your home and neighborhood, board-and-train programs, and virtual training programs.
We use scientifically proven training methods, backed by over 20 years of hands-on experience. Beyond the Dog Dallas is led by our co-founders, Dr. Kristyn Echterling-Savage, a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), and Sean Savage, a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) and Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA).
