Dog Communication Signals

Looking away and avoiding eye contact is sometimes thought to mean a dog is ignoring you or stubborn, but it can often mean they are trying to calm a stressful situation, such as having a camera put close to their face.  It can be like they’re saying “Excuse me a moment.”

Tail wagging means emotionally aroused, not necessarily happy.  It can mean happy, stressed, or even used to try to calm a human down if they see an angry face or hear yelling.

Yawning means a dog is uncomfortable and is trying to calm themselves or others in what they consider a tense situation.  You may notice it when you bring your dog to the vet, or when a child hugs them, as if to say “I need a break.”

Lip licking or nose licking can show a dog is uneasy or anxious.  If your dog does a quick lip lick and head turn when someone outstretches a hand, they may be showing they’re uncomfortable. 

Raised hackles means emotionally aroused, but not necessarily negatively aroused.  Sometimes it is like goosebumps in humans and involuntary.  Other times it may mean they are intensely interested in something. 

Whale eye is when the whites of the dogs eye shows from a stressor. It can happen if a dog needs space from a hand coming over its head for petting, or a fight or flight reaction to another dog. 

Sources:

Chin, Lili. Doggie Language. Summersdale Publishers Ltd., London, UK, 2020.

Gibeault, Stephanie. “How to Read Dog Body Language.” American Kennel Club, 27 Jan 2020, https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/advice/how-to-read-dog-body-language/

Rugaas, Turid. On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals. Dogwise Publishing, Wenatchee, WA, 2006.