Reading a dog’s body language
PET BULLETIN
‘Mews and Yips’ from the Central Aroostook Humane Society
By Gail Wieder
Board Member
Are you one of those people that when you see a dog, cat, horse or other animal that you run up and want to start petting them?
Yup, I am one of those people. My husband has said to me before, “stop and look first to see if there is a sign that that particular animal is or is not friendly.” Like the other day, we were by a pasture with a little burro and a horse. I just reached in over the fence and petted both. As I reached up to pet the horse, my husband said “look at the ears, if they are laid back you may get bit.” But being the animal lover that I am, I don’t usually think first, I react. So that kind of got me thinking. I was looking through my dog books and came across this list of dog body language from “Congratulations It’s a Dog” by D. Caroline Coile, Ph.D. It’s very interesting reading, so I thought I would share some of these body language tips with all of you:
• Dog advancing: indicates dominance or aggression;
• Dog retreating: indicates fear or anxiety;
• Dog facing squarely: indicates confidence, dominance or aggression;
• Dog standing sideways: indicates confidence without asserting dominance;
• Body leaning forward: indicates confidence and interest;
• Body leaning forward with stiff-legged stance: indicates dominance or aggressive intention;
• Body leaning backwards: indicates fear or submission;
• Body or head lowered: indicates fear, anxiety or submission;
• Body lowered on front end only: indicates playfulness;
• Body lowered on ground and upside down: indicates extreme submission or fear;
• Body upside down and rolling: indicates pleasure;
• Hackles raised: indicates arousal associated with aggression or fear;
• Head held high, arched neck: indicates confidence or challenge;
• Tail held horizontal or naturally: indicates interest;
• Tail raised, held stiffly and quivering: indicates dominance or aggressive intention;
• Tail tucked: indicates fear, anxiety or submission;
• Tail tucked but wagging: indicates submission;
• Tail wagging slowly but broadly: indicates relaxation, playfulness or anticipation;
• Tail wagging quickly and broadly: indicates submission or pleasure;
• Ears forward: indicates interest, dominance, playfulness or aggression;
• Ears back: indicates fear;
• Ears down: indicates submission;
• Mouth slightly open with lip corner pulled back, all teeth showing indicates fear;
• Mouth open with lip corner pulled upward, often with tongue showing: indicates relaxation or playfulness;
• Face, nose or lips wrinkled, teeth showing: indicates aggression;
• Front teeth showing but no signs of aggression: indicates submission (the canine grin); and
• Panting: if not hot or tired, may indicate anxiety or pain.
These are just some of the signs, there are many more. We all should be a little more controlled when we are in the company of an animal that does not know us. I know it is hard for some of us. I have such a fondness for dogs, it’s very easy for me to approach them and just want to hug and pet them to my heart’s content. I will try to be a little more subdued in the future. And especially with children, they should never just walk up to an animal and reach out. Instead, the safest way is not to touch until you know for sure if the animal is a kid-friendly one.
If you are looking for a furry friend to add to your family, check out the Central Aroostook Humane Society. We have lots of wonderful animals there that need a forever home. Our hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closing for lunch noon to 12:30 p.m. Check out our available pets on petfinders.com. Always be responsible, spay and neuter your pets!
