Understanding your pets’ emotions
Dear Riley,
I want my dog to be happy, but how do I know how he’s feeling if he can’t talk to me?
Sincerely, Amy
Hi Amy!
People have done a lot of research into how we can understand animals. It turns out animals – including people! – say a lot with their bodies. You can also listen for sounds that your dog makes to help you understand what he’s trying to say. The most important thing to do is understand when your dog is feeling comfortable or uncomfortable. Here are some things to look for to help you understand how your dog is feeling:
Comfortable dog:
- Wiggly body
- Open mouth
- Perky ears
- Tail hanging low with big wags
Uncomfortable dog
- Closed mouth
- Ears back, sideways, or down
- Tail raised high or tucked between back legs
- One paw raised
- Growling or snarling
Sometimes a dog can do something that means he is comfortable in one situation, but uncomfortable in another! You will want to pay attention to what’s happening around your dog to help you understand what he’s “saying.” If he does something that doesn’t make sense, like yawning when he doesn’t seem sleepy or licking his lips when there’s no food around, he’s probably not very comfortable. There are a lot of great online resources with information on understanding our dogs. Check out this video for more examples on dog body language.
Some people go to school to understand how animals are feeling, but if we look for clues, we can understand what our dogs are trying to tell us, too. Good luck, and give your dog a pet from me – if he seems comfortable, of course!
Riley the Raccoon
