What Your Dog is Trying to Tell You

Words may be important for humans to communicate, but dogs convey emotions through body language and sounds. While your dog may seem to understand your words, especially if you've put in the effort to train them on simple commands such as sit, heel, and stay, you also need to work to understand and translate canine body language.

The Sounds

If your dog one day starts speaking to you, pull out your phone and take a video, and politely take to the celebrity status. Until then, expect subtle verbal cues for decoding canine body language. Dogs communicate with their physical presence; however, there are some sound signals you can rely on to interpret what they're thinking or feeling.

Panting

If a dog is calm, they may pant quietly. In fact, it may be so unnoticeable that you might classify it as light breathing. Dogs pant slightly when they are happy or energetic. If you ask your pup to take a walk with you, their breathing will become slightly heavier. Dogs also pant when they are nervous.

Heavy panting is something to pay close attention to. It's a sign that something could be seriously wrong with your dog. Dogs will pant when they are overheating or if they are suffering from a trauma or chronic illness. When you notice your dog panting, let them rest and try to keep them cool. If the panting persists for a long period of time, call your vet to schedule a check-up to ensure there are no underlying health conditions.

Whining

Whining is a difficult vocalization to identify. Vetstreet explains that whining may be a dog's way of "asking" for something, like attention or dinnertime. A dog may be excited or feeling energetic. Other dogs whine as a reaction to stress. An injured or ill dog may whine to express their discomfort. Like many of the other dog body language cues, it's important to look for other indicators to identify why your dog may be whining.

As you spend more time with your dog, you'll slowly start to pick up on different types of whining. Combined with body cues, some dogs will whine to try and get your attention because you're not focused on them. Other dogs may whine and go sit by the backdoor to let you know that they need to go relieve themselves (congrats on potty training your pup if this is your dog). Whining tends to have a negative connotation, but in this case, youd dog's whining is okay and can even be seen as cute. However, if your dog is whining with no subtle cues that they are happy or needs to go outside, there might be an underlying health concern for you to address. Because dogs cannot tell you what's wrong, it's best to bring them into the vet and have them checked out, just to be on the safe side.

Barking

Barking is a lot like yelling for humans. Your dog is trying to express themself, and the only way they can get their feelings out is by barking. Dog barks come in different pitches, and while some may be more menacing than others, it is always important to pay attention to a dog's barking. A continuous rapid barking is often an alert. Your dog may have noticed someone in his territory — like a postal worker — and they want to make their  housemates (and the other dogs in the neighborhood) aware, too. Loud, deep barks are often a warning to strangers: "Don't take a step closer, I don't trust you." Follow their advice and proceed cautiously. Finally, a yelping bark often comes from a dog that is injured. If you come across a dog that's yelping, call for help. They may need urgent care, but keep in mind that an injured dog might also be a cautious one, and therefore may not see your concern as an attempt to help but rather a danger signal.

Howling is similar to barking that dogs get from their wolf ancestral roots. It is a higher-pitched held out note to announce their presence as well as communicate with other dogs in the area. While it can be loud and annoying, it is just another form of communication for your dog.

Singing

No, your dog probably isn't the world's next great pop-star, but dogs can vocalize their barks in an almost singing manner. This is typically done when they are happy. It is not uncommon to find dogs that like to sing while you play the piano, tell you how happy they are when you get home, or let you know that they enjoy playing with you. This form of vocalization is just a way for them to let you know that they are in a good mood.

The Body

A dog's stance, and other body clues, are ways of alerting you of their emotional state. How are they holding their body? Are they  trying to make themself appear larger than they are? Do they seem to shrink closer to the ground when you approach?

The Hair

If you're concerned that a dog may become aggressive toward you, and you're being cautious, watch their hair for movement. If you notice lifting of the hair on the back of their head, neck, or body (similar to a cat), he's communicating that they want you to keep your distance. They may be nervous or angry. It's their body's way of holding up a stop sign telling you that they do not feel comfortable with you or something else approaching. This cue may not be directed toward you; it can also be a subtle queue to you that there is impending danger nearby. Because dog's sense of smell and hearing are much greater than human's your dog might be alerted to something you might not notice, and he's trying to let you know to be cautious and keep a lookout.

The Tail

A dog's tail is full of dog body language clues for you to decipher. Do you see a wagging tail? If so, your dog is likely happy or full of energy. Is it tucked in between their legs? Tucking is a sign of fear and may mean they are nervous. An alert, erect tail (also known as a pointed tail) means your dog is paying very careful attention. This stance is often a signal for hunting dogs that prey is close by and you should be quiet and approach carefully. It can also be a sign that your dog is trying to show dominance by taking up more physical space.