Dog Body Language At a Glance |
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Ears |
Eyes |
Mouth |
Teeth |
Body |
Tail |
Actions |
| SUBMISSIVE |
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Down, flat against head |
Narrowed or wide open |
Lips pulled back in a "grin" |
Not showing |
Low to the ground, front paw raised, lying on back, possibly dribbling urine |
Down between hind legs |
Nuzzling or licking other animal or person on the face |
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| PLAYFUL / HAPPY |
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Perked up or relaxed |
Wide open |
Relaxed and slightly open |
Not showing |
Relaxed |
Wagging vigorously |
Excited panting, jumping or circling around, possible "bow" to invite play |
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| GUARDING |
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Perked up |
Wide open |
Slightly open |
Intentionally bared |
Tense, stiff, hackles up |
Straight out from body |
Snapping teeth, growling, snarling or barking loudly |
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| FRIENDLY / RELAXED |
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Perked up |
Wide open |
Relaxed, possibly open and "smiling" |
May or may not show, not intentionally bared |
Normal posture, possible wiggling rear end |
Up and out from body, wagging quickly |
Whimpers, short high barks or other "Hello!, give me attention" type greetings |
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| FLIGHT (GETTING READY) |
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Back |
Wide open, possibly rolled back with whites showing |
Slightly open |
Not showing |
Tense, shivering, low, poised to run |
Low or between the legs |
May be drooling |
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| FEARFUL |
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Back and low on head |
Narrowed or rolled back in head exposing whites |
Drawn back |
Front teeth slightliy exposed |
Crouched low in submissive position, shivering, trembling |
Down between hind legs |
Averting eyes, worried yelp, whine or low growl |
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| DOMINANT |
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Up, straight and forward |
Wide open |
Closed or slightly open |
Not showing |
Tall posture, hackles possible |
Stiff and up or straight out from body |
Staring, challenging |
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| CURIOUS |
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Perked up |
Wide open |
Closed or partially open |
Not showing |
Normal, possibly timid |
Low and wagging slowly |
Staring, watching |
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| EXCITED |
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Perked up, pointing forward |
Wide open |
Open, possibly panting |
Not showing |
Normal, possibly wiggling or pacing |
Up and wagging |
Short barking, whining |
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| ANXIOUS |
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Back |
Slightly narrowed |
Closed or open slightly in a "grin" |
Not showing |
Tense, slightly lowered in a submissive position |
Partially lowered |
Low whine or moaning like bark |
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| ALERT |
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Perked up |
Normal or wide |
Closed or slightly open |
Not showing |
Normal |
Up, possibly wagging slowly |
Quickly turning head to hear noises |
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| AGGRESSIVE |
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Close to head, forward or back |
Narrow or rolled back, exposing whites |
Open, drawn back |
Intentionally bared in a snarl |
Tense, hackles up, standing tall (to look as big as possible) |
Straight out from body |
Challenging, menacing stare, snarling, growling, loud bark, possible jaw snapping |
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