Communication: Understanding What Your Dog is Trying to Tell You

Understanding Canine Body Language: Recognizing Stress, Comfort, and Everything in Between

Dogs communicate constantly, but not with words. Instead, they rely on body language: their eyes, ears, mouth, tail, posture, and even their fur all give clear clues about how they’re feeling. When we learn to recognize these signals, we can better support our dogs, prevent uncomfortable situations, and strengthen our bond with them.

Understanding the difference between a dog who is under threshold (calm and coping well) and one who is over threshold (stressed, overstimulated, or overwhelmed) is one of the most important skills for anyone who lives with or works with dogs.

Under Threshold: Signs of Comfort and Ease

A dog who is under threshold is relaxed, responsive, and taking in the world at a comfortable pace. Their body language is loose and soft. They feel safe—and it shows.

Common signs a dog is feeling good:

• Relaxed eyes

• Soft, wiggly body

• Gentle tail wagging at spine level

• Play bows

• Playful barks

• Stretching

• Hip swipes

• Nose pokes

These behaviors often show curiosity, friendliness, or healthy engagement with their environment.

Over Threshold: Signs of Stress or Overstimulation

A dog who is over threshold is no longer calm or thinking clearly. Stress, fear, frustration, or excitement has surpassed their comfort level. At this point, a dog may struggle to listen, make good choices, or cope with their surroundings.

Common signs a dog is stressed or overwhelmed:

• Dilated pupils

• “Whale eye” (showing the whites of the eyes)

• Excessive panting

• Lip licking or yawning

• Showing teeth

• Low growls

• Tail tucked under the body

• Raised hackles along the back

• Ears held upright and forward

• Head lowered or ducked

• Body tremors

• Increased shedding

These are all warning signs that your dog needs space, decompression, or a change in the environment.

What to Look For: A Breakdown by Body Part

Dogs express emotion through their entire body. Observing one feature isn’t enough—always pay attention to the whole picture.

1. Eyes

Relaxed: Soft gaze, normal pupil size.

Stressed:

• Dilated pupils

• Hard stare

• Whale eye

Whale eye is especially important to recognize. It means: “I’m uncomfortable. Please give me space.”

2. Fur

A dog’s fur communicates a surprising amount.

Relaxed: Flat, smooth coat.

Stressed or excited:

• Raised hackles (the strip of fur along the spine standing up)

• Excessive shedding

Raised hackles don’t always mean aggression, but they always mean heightened emotion.

3. Mouth

Relaxed:

• Closed mouth

• Light panting without tension

Stressed:

• Heavy or rapid panting

• Lip licking

• Yawning outside of tiredness

• Showing teeth

• Low growling

These are clear communication signals. Growling is not “bad behavior”—it’s a dog telling us they’re uncomfortable.

4. Ears

Dogs’ ears come in all shapes, so focus on the base of the ear to determine direction.

Relaxed: Resting softly to the sides.

Stressed or highly aroused:

• Ears forward and erect

• Ears sharply pointed toward the focus (a dog, person, or object)

5. Tail

Relaxed:

• Gentle wagging at spine height

• Loose, natural motions

Stressed or aroused:

• Tail held high or curled tightly

• Fast, stiff wagging (often a sign of arousal, not friendliness)

• Tail tucked tightly under legs

Remember: a wagging tail does not always mean the dog is happy. Look for stiffness, height, and speed.

Why This Matters

Learning to recognize threshold levels helps you:

• Intervene before your dog becomes overwhelmed

• Prevent reactivity or fear-based behaviors

• Advocate for your dog in stressful situations

• Create safer interactions with people and animals

• Build trust, understanding, and confidence

When you know how your dog communicates, you can support them long before they feel the need to escalate.