Although dogs can’t speak (though Huskies certainly seem to try), we can understand what they might be communicating through their behavior. By paying attention to a dog’s posture, eyes, tail, mouth, and ears, we can gain a deeper understanding of their behavior by considering the larger picture. Their actions can tell us whether a dog is friendly, neutral, or entering the precursor stage, which provides us with early warning signs of potential problem behaviors, such as reactivity or aggression. Every dog is unique, but by observing their overall body language, we can better understand what they’re trying to tell us.
A Behavior Scale
In this blog, we will examine a body language scale that ranges from friendly to neutral, and ultimately, as a precursor to reactivity or aggression. We will also discuss how to spot subtle shifts that can help in better understanding a dog’s body language.
Friendly Greeting Body Language
When a dog is happy, they’ll feel comfortable and content, and their body language will have a more relaxed body posture. You may notice that their:
- Eyes will be soft, and they won’t be staring for long periods.
- Ears will be in a natural position or pinned back against their head.
- Mouth will be open relaxed.
- Tail will be midline or hanging low (not tucked) and wagging loose or moving in large circles.
- Tongue will hang lazily, either inside or outside the mouth.
- Body posture will be leaning forward or evenly balanced, with a wiggly body.
Neutral Body Language
This is your dog’s default mode when they’re not stressed or overly excited. You may notice this when they’re sniffing around the back yard or lazing around the house. Body language signs that show neutral behavior include:
- Their eyes will still be soft, and they’ll be casually observing their environment.
- Their ears will be neutral, which depends on their breed. German Shepherds have upright ears, while Golden Retrievers have floppy ears.
- Their mouth may be gently closed or open with soft lips.
- Their tail will be in a natural midline position.
- Their body posture will be evenly distributed.
Precursor Body Language That Leads to Reactivity or Aggression
The precursor stage is when your dog is alert, but it is not yet showing reactive or aggressive behavior. This is an important stage to understand so you can prevent your dog’s behavior from escalating. During this stage, you may notice that their:
- Eyes will focus directly on the target. This may become more intense, with a direct stare that is hard to break.
- Ears will perk up. Dog breeds with higher ear carriages, such as German Shepherds, Siberian Huskies, and Belgian Malinois, may have their ears pointing toward the stimulus.
- Mouth will be pulled closed with tight lips. In more serious cases, the corner of their mouth will come forward.
- Tail will be elevated and may start to flag (i.e. tightly wags from side to side) or tail is tucked under the dogs belly.
- Body will stiffen, and their body posture will lean forward.
During this stage, it can be very challenging to redirect your dog’s attention from the target. There is often a pause before any aggressive or reactive behavior occurs.
Even though the precursor stage can lead to reactivity and aggression, it doesn’t always mean the dog will display these behaviors. Understanding these stages in the moment can help you in understanding a dog’s body language. This can help keep you and your dog safe, and allow you understand what your dog is trying to tell you
We’re here to help
Do you have any behavioral concerns for your dog? You can schedule a free consultation with our Pet Behavior Team. All of our training programs offer one-on-one training sessions at your home or local neighborhood.
Do you live outside the Kansas City area, or want to connect remotely? Our Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, and co-founder, Dr. Echterling-Savage offers virtual training programs. During these programs, Dr. Echterling-Savage will help you in achieving your training goals through remote training sessions where she will design a personalized training program that offers support and guidance.
