Your dog will have their own character and special way of communicating with you. Everything from their nose, to their tail can help express their emotions, their moods, and their wants.

Your bond with your dog will be strengthened when you play together, when you train them, and when you groom them, but learning to understand their forms of dog communication can also help strengthen your relationship.

Although dogs don’t experience further complex emotions such as contempt, they’re certainly capable of happiness, fear, and many things in between. You can usually interpret your dog’s body language without even thinking about it, but here are some common signals to look out for.

Playfulness:

If your dog’s tail is wagging and their body is lowered at the front end, they’re eager to play and have some fun.

Interest:

If their tail is horizontal, and their ears and body are leaning forward, there’re taking an interest in something close by.

Pleasure:

Your dog is very happy if he’s rolling on back, or has their front legs stretched and head on one side.

Fear:

Dogs usually show fear by having their tail down or tucked under. Their ears will also be back, their body or head lowered, or their body leaning backwards.

Submission:

If their tail is wagging or tucked, with ears down, your dog is showing submissions. Their body might be lowered to the ground or leant backwards, with their head lowered and tongue licking the air.

When you’re observing your dog’s body language, take into account your surroundings and what’s going on, as it might better help you understand what they’re conveying. In all, understanding basic dog communication can give you an even better grasp of their personality and make the bond between you even stronger