This seems such a simple question – of course he’s happy, that’s what a wagging tail means. Or does it? Up to 90% of human-human communication is non-verbal and with human-dog communication, this is obviously a lot more. Whether a veterinary professional, dog walker, dog groomer or simply a dog owner, learning to read the body language of our dogs, just like we would learn to read a foreign language, is vital to be able to live and work with them in harmony. Some signs are obvious, some less so. But we need to listen, because if we get it wrong, the consequences can be disastrous….

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How do dogs ‘talk’?

As well as using whines, growls and barks, dogs will use almost every part of their body to portray what they’re feeling. Ears, eyes and tail will combine with limbs, hair and posture to tell a story. 

A happy dog

Happy dogs are relaxed dogs. Their body posture is open and welcoming and they’re ready to interact.

  • Ears – held in a natural position
  • Eyes – natural position and normal shape
  • Mouth – open and relaxed, possibly with tongue out
  • Hair – smooth
  • Body – play-bowing
  • Tail – wagging

An angry dog

If you see any of these signs in a dog, do not approach them

  • Ears – up and rigid or flat back 
  • Eyes – staring or maintaining eye contact
  • Mouth – showing teeth, lips drawn back, snarling
  • Hair – raised
  • Body – forward and rigid, cowering or standing but leaning back
  • Tail – up and rigid, between back legs or even wagging

A worried dog

This can be the most difficult to interpret as some of the signs don’t mean what we’d think they’d mean. However this is one of the most important stages to understand as it allows the situation to be de-escalated before the dog reaches such a state in which it could react aggressively. 

  • Ears – back
  • Eyes – not making eye contact, whites of the eyes showing or squinting
  • Mouth – panting, ‘smiling’, licking lips or yawning
  • Hair – either smooth or raised
  • Body – leaning away, lifting a paw, rolling on back, crouched
  • Tail – tucked under or low wagging

The most commonly misread body positions are

  • rolling over to show the belly – although sometimes this can be a perfectly happy and relaxed dog just wanting cuddles, it can also signal a stressed or anxious dog, especially if they urinate a little too. 
  • Yawning or licking lips – both a good sign of a worried dog, not a tired or hungry one.
  • Lifting a paw – in a relaxed or trained dog, this can be a signal to ‘shake paw’ but otherwise, will signal the animal is unsure. 
  • Whites of the eyes showing – sadly often seen in photos of dogs ‘cuddling’ children but beware as it can indicate the dog is not happy in the situation which could escalate to a reaction. 

So what about a wagging tail?

Interestingly, a wagging tail can indicate pretty much anything. A dog will wag its tail in response to a heightened state of emotion, be it good or bad. However there are differences in the motion of the ‘wag’ that can give clues as to how the dog is feeling. 

  • A relaxed dog will give long sweeps of it’s tail such as when greeting an owner
  • A more stiff wag is likely to mean the dog is on edge
  • A fast wag tends to be a good sign
  • A slow wag can mean the dog is unsure
  • A high tail indicates an excited dog
  • A low tail shows they are more nervous

It may even be the case that the direction in which a dog wags their tail can give a clue as to their feelings. One study found that in positive emotional situations, a dog was more likely to wag their tail more to the right whereas when faced with an unfamiliar situation, the tail would be held more to the left.

Conclusion

To successfully read a dog’s body language, it’s important to always look at the dog as a whole, not at one body part in isolation. Like doing a jigsaw, when all the pieces are put together, the picture becomes clear. However always air on the side of caution if unsure and never put yourself or anyone else in a potentially dangerous situation. By displaying these signs, our dogs are trying to communicate with us in the best way they know how – if you learn to read them, it can strengthen your relationship and hopefully mean that all tail wags are happy tail wags.