Animal Welfare League
Contact Us
Donate
Adopt
Pet advice
Pet adoption
Pet adoption
Cat adoption
Dog adoption
Rabbit adoption
Frequently asked questions
Find a vet
Adopt a pet
Help us help animals
Help us help animals
Sponsor a pet
Donate items
Animal welfare education
Buy a gift for a shelter animal
Leave a legacy to animals in need
Do your own fundraising
Buy lottery tickets
Volunteer with our team
Become a foster carer
Donate online
Pet boarding
Pet boarding
Cat boarding
Dog boarding
Boarding services menu
House rules
Pet daycations
Terms and conditions
Make an enquiry
Pet cremations
Pet cremations
Remembering your pet
Bringing them home
Equine cremation
Volunteer with our team
Frequently asked questions
Find a vet
Make an enquiry
Op shops
Op shops
Donate items
Volunteer with our team
Our locations
I've lost my pet
I've lost my pet
Hints and tips
List of found pets
List of pets found by councils
Lost pets noticeboard
Submit a lost pet report
I've found an animal
I've found an animal
Lost pets noticeboard
I've found a cat
I've found a dog
Lost pets noticeboard
Rehome your pet
Rehome your pet
Rehome your cat
Rehome your dog
Rehome your rabbit
Submit a rehoming request

Search term

Pet adoption
Cat adoption
Dog adoption
Rabbit adoption
Frequently asked questions
Find a vet
Help us help animals
Sponsor a pet
Donate items
Animal welfare education
Buy a gift for a shelter animal
Leave a legacy to animals in need
Do your own fundraising
Buy lottery tickets
Volunteer with our team
Become a foster carer
Pet boarding
Cat boarding
Dog boarding
Boarding services menu
House rules
Pet daycations
Terms and conditions
Pet cremations
Remembering your pet
Bringing them home
Equine cremation
Volunteer with our team
Frequently asked questions
Find a vet
Op shops
Donate items
Volunteer with our team
I've lost my pet
Hints and tips
List of found pets
List of pets found by councils
Lost pets noticeboard
I've found an animal
Lost pets noticeboard
I've found a cat
I've found a dog
Rehome your pet
Rehome your cat
Rehome your dog
Rehome your rabbit
Contact Us Donate Adopt Pet advice Search
Blog
How your phone can let emergency services know you have pets at home
How to introduce kids to dogs
How to manage your pet's weight
5 Ways to Use Your Pet’s Meals for Enrichment
8 ways to improve life for your senior cat
Everything you need to know about feeding kittens
How to care for your cat’s teeth
How to introduce your new pet to your existing pet
Back to blog

Decoding your dog's body language

Exploring the world of dog body language is crucial for every pet lover. Your dog is communicating with you all the time, but sometimes it can be tricky to understand what they’re trying to tell us. Just as humans communicate through words and gestures, our furry companions rely on their unique set of body language cues to express their needs, emotions, and overall state of happiness. By learning to interpret and respond to these cues, we can better understand their needs and feelings, and ensure their happiness.

  • Tail wagging in dogs carries various meanings based on its position and speed. A slow, relaxed wag reflects calmness, while a fast, vigorous wag signifies excitement or anticipation. Conversely, a tucked or tense tail may indicate fear. It’s also important to remember that different dog breeds have varying natural tail positions – knowing your dog's neutral tail position will help you decode their wag.
  • Ear Positions. Dogs' ears are highly expressive, conveying valuable information about their mood and attentiveness. Erect ears facing forward indicate alertness and interest, while ears pulled back or flattened against the head may signal fear or anxiety. Dogs with floppy ears may have a more challenging time expressing these cues, but you can still see subtle shifts or tense muscles around their ears.
  • Body Posture. A dog's body posture speaks volumes about their emotional state and intentions. When a dog stands tall with a relaxed body, they are generally calm and comfortable. Conversely, a stiff, tense body posture can signify fear.
  • Facial Expressions. They’re not just adorable to look at, a dog's face actually reveals a lot about their feelings. Relaxed, open mouths usually indicate a calm and content state. A wrinkled forehead, furrowed brows, or a closed, tense mouth may be a sign that your pup is feeling a bit anxious. Other cues such as yawning, lip licking, and even smiling can indicate stress.
  • Eyes. A dog's eyes provide valuable insights into their internal state. Soft eyes with relaxed lids indicate calmness or happiness, while a hard stare suggests intense focus. A hard stare can precede aggression, while looking away is a way for dogs to calm a situation or express discomfort. The whites of the eyes, known as "whale eye," signal anxiety, stress or fear.
  • Play Bow. An easy-to-read aspect of dog body language is the play bow. This is when dogs place their chest on the ground with their rump in the air. As the name implies, it’s used to initiate play with other dogs and even with people.
  • Raised Hackles. When a dog's hackles are raised, it indicates hair standing up along their back, signalling arousal that can be positive or negative. This involuntary reaction, similar to goosebumps in humans, may indicate the dog being upset, stressed, excited, or intensely interested in something.
  • Rolling onto their back. This one is tricky as it can signify both relaxation or significant anxiety. This is why it’s very important to consider the context of your dog’s body language, as it will help you work out what they’re trying to convey.

None of these dog body language signals act alone, they are all part of a package. So, when you read a dog’s body language, look at everything from the tail to the eyes, as well as their surroundings. It’s also important to remember that every dog is an individual, so it’s important to understanding their unique body language cues. This will all provide invaluable context to understand what your pup is trying to tell you.

Animal Welfare League

Animal Welfare League of South Australia Inc (AWL) brings together lost and abandoned pets and caring humans to create happy homes where everyone feels loved.

Contact
Animal Care Centre
1-19 Cormack Road,
Wingfield SA 5013
10am - 3pm
Tuesday - Sunday

Edinburgh North Shelter
4 Hewittson Road
Edinburgh North SA 5113
10am - 3pm
Tuesday - Sunday
P: 08 8348 1300
E: support@awl.org.au
Pet adoption
Cat adoption
Dog adoption
Rabbit adoption
Frequently asked questions
Find a vet
Help us help animals
Donate online
Sponsor a pet
Donate items
Leave a legacy to animals in need
Do your own fundraising
Buy lottery tickets
Volunteer with our team
Become a foster carer
Animal welfare education
Pet boarding
Make an enquiry
Cat boarding
Dog boarding
Boarding services menu
House rules
Pet daycations
Terms and conditions
Pet cremations
Make an enquiry
Remembering your pet
Bringing them home
Equine cremation
Volunteer with our team
Frequently asked questions
Find a vet
Op shops
Our locations
Donate items
Volunteer with our team
I've lost my pet
Hints and tips
Submit a lost pet report
List of found pets
List of pets found by councils
Lost pets noticeboard
I've found an animal
Lost pets noticeboard
I've found a cat
I've found a dog
Rehome my pet
Rehome your cat
Rehome your dog
Rehome your rabbit
About us
Who we are
Policy and position statements
Our team
Contact us
Work with us
Pet projects
Become a member
For the Love of Pets
ACNC Registered Charity ACNC Registered Charity Volunteering SA&NT
Learn More
08 8348 1300
support@awl.org.au
Made with Mango Chutney
Made with Mango Chutney
website made with love from mango chutney