Decoding Your Dog’s Behavior: What Your Dog Is Telling You

Becoming a dog owner is like stepping into a world where love speaks a language of wags, yawns, and stretches. Each gesture holds a wealth of information about how your dog is feeling and what they need from you. if you understand these gestures, you will better understand your dog, and you will be on the road to a better relationship. What are some of these common dog behaviors?

Tail Wagging: More Than Just Happiness

While we often equate tail wagging with happiness, it’s actually a more nuanced signal. A dog’s tail can convey a whole spectrum of emotions:

• A rapid, high wag is the genuine joy we love to see. It means your dog is happy and excited to be with you. Also, wagging more to the right is also a sign of happiness or confident ease.

• A slow, low wag, or a wag that is more to the left side, might show insecurity or anxiety orthat your dog is unsure.

• A stiff, twitching tail can indicate tension or alertness to potential threats.

Observing the context and the rest of their body language is key to understanding what the wagging really means.

Yawning: Not Just Tiredness

Yawning in dogs isn’t always a sign of tiredness, though it certainly can be; it’s also a reaction to stress or uncertainty. When entering new environments or during tense situations, dogs might yawn to calm themselves. If you see your dog yawning at the vet or in a crowded place, they might be trying to stay relaxed. Your dog can also “catch” yawning from you, just like humans can.

A completely different meaning of yawning is excitement and anticipation. My dogs sometimes yawn loudly when they know my grandsons are coming over or when I ask them if they want to go for a walk.

Stretching: A Sign of Trust and Comfort or a Sign of Pain?

When your dog stretches in front of you, often doing the playful “bow” (front end down, back end up, also known as doggy down), it’s usually a good sign! This behavior indicates they are comfortable and trusting of you, and they often do it as a greeting. It can also be an invitation to play or a way to express that they’re waking up and happily starting the day.

However, dogs may stretch their backs up when they have stomach pain and it could be a sign of Pancreatitis. If you are seeing other signs of discomfort with this type of stretching, take your dog to the vet.

Barking: More Than Meets the Ear

Barking can mean many things, depending on the tone, loudness, and situation:

• Quick, sharp barks often indicate alertness to something unusual in their environment. Your dog may be trying to warn you about a potential threat, like a noise outside your door or fence

• Continuous barking at a moderate pitch might also mean your dog feels a threat and is trying to protect you.

• Long, drawn-out barks at a lower pitch suggest loneliness or the need for companionship. My Leo makes this almost a groan.

A high pitched bark can indicate excitement or playfulness, like when they greet you when you come home.

Pawing: Seeking Attention and Affection

When your dog paws at you, they’re usually seeking attention or affection. It’s their way of saying, “Hey, look at me, I need some love here!” This can be a request for anything from a belly rub to a play session. It can also mean that they want something from you.

Licking: A Sign of Affection

Licking is often a sign of affection, akin to kissing. Dogs might lick your face or hands as a submissive gesture to show they’re not a threat, or simply because they enjoy the saltiness of your skin. Apparently my husband is saltier than me 🤣

Head Tilting: Curiosity and Concentration

A tilted head can melt any dog owner’s heart, but what does it mean? Often, it’s a sign of curiosity and concentration. Your dog might tilt their head when they’re trying to understand a new sound or when they’re particularly focused on trying to comprehend what you’re asking of them. This is why when I am photographing dogs I often use new to them noises to get them to do the head tilt.

Understanding these behaviors can deepen the bond between you and your dog, helping you provide them with what they need to feel loved and secure. Remember, every dog has its own personality and ways of expressing feelings, so take the time to learn what your special friend is telling you. And of course, capturing these moments in photographs can help preserve the memories of learning and growing together.

If you ever want to capture these behaviors and expressions in professional photographs, feel free to reach out. Preserving these moments helps us cherish the joyful, loving life we share with our pets.

The picture is of a rescued pittie named Bruce with alert but relaxed ears.