People often misinterpret signs from dogs, thinking a wagging tail or lick of your face always means your pooch is happy.
But these can actually portray signs of stress in your canine companion.
Veterinarian and dog expert Dr Joanne Fernandez-Lopez said her childhood friends described her as ‘the dog translator’ long before she even went to vet school.
Now, as the director of veterinary affairs at ABCs Puppy Zs, a Texas Goldendoodle breeder, and associate veterinarian at animal care company Dutch Pet, Inc., Dr Fernandez-Lopez has more than a decade of experience working with dogs.
She told DailyMail.com there are ‘hundreds’ of behaviors a dog acts out that owners regularly misinterpret.
The vet said: ‘I could literally write a book of hundreds of signs! But here are just a few of them.’
Wagging tail
The above shows a dog with their tail in a neutral position, meaning they aren’t particularly excited or stressed
Anyone who has ever come home to their dog after a long day has experienced the happy tail wag when they walk through the door, or seen their pup’s caboose shake when the treat jar is opened.
But a wagging tail isn’t always a sign of happiness or excitement, Dr Fernandez-Lopez told DailyMail.com.
The position, speed and even direction of a dog’s tail is more complex than that.
She said: ‘It seems like people think a wagging tail means happiness but that slow stiff wag can show uncertainty, at best, if not potential caution.
‘Consider also the context and vigor with which the tail is wagging.’
The faster a tail wags, the more ‘aroused’ the dog is, but that could mean in a good or bad way. A wag when the tail is straight up signifies a dog on high alert or possibly in an aggressive state of mind.
A tucked tail signifies fear and stress.
And a study on dog tail-wagging showed the animals tend to wag more to the right with positive arousal and more to the left with negative arousal.
Ignoring you
A dog may lean away or ignore a person when they are fearful
It is easy to misinterpret the moment when a dog turns its head away from you.
Dr Fernandez-Lopez said: ‘A dog that turns its head away or avoids making eye contact isn’t rude.
‘This is a calming signal, proving that they are not dangerous but wish you well as opposed to breaking up the party.’
When you approach or reach for your dog and they turn their head or lean away from you, they are signaling they are stressed, and it may be a good idea to observe the surroundings to see what set them off.
A dog may also lean away or ignore a person when they are fearful.
What’s important, experts say, is to not force affection onto or contact with a dog exhibiting these signs because it could lead to aggressive behavior.
Yawning and licking lips
Could this be a sign of stress?
Dogs may yawn after a long game of fetch or lick their chops after dinner, but they could also do these things when they’re stressed out.
Dr Fernandez-Lopez said: ‘Commonly confused for being sleepy or hungry, a sheepish yawn and lip-lick are definitely potential leading indicators of stress or discomfort with their present setting.
‘The former being a way that the dog comforts itself and the latter having to do with its discomfort.’
A stress yawn, according to VCA Animal Hospitals, is usually more prolonged and more intense than a sleepy yawn. Dogs may also experience drooling.
In addition to licking their lips, stressed out dogs may also excessively lick their paws or another body part because licking is a self-soothing action.
Stretching
If your dog is stretching, it might look relaxed, but there is more to this behavior
If you find your pet in downward dog, it could signify more than just your average stretch. It can actually be a warning sign of stress, Dr Fernandez-Lopez said.
She added: ‘Though stretching may appear to be a common, comfortable behavior, canines also perform it as a calming signal.
‘Dogs who react by stretching may be trying to reduce their anxiety.’
Just like people, dogs may stretch to relax tension in their body brought on by stress.
Excessive stretching where their head is down and butt is up in the air could also signify physical pain, including life-threatening health complications. So it is important to visit your vet if you notice your dog exhibiting this behavior a lot.
Lifting a paw
Lifting a paw can mean a dog isn’t comfortable with the current situation
Maybe you taught your dog the command ‘paw’ or ‘high five,’ so when they lift their leg you think your training was successful.
But, a raised paw could actually signify a dog is scared, stressed or uncomfortable with their current surroundings.
Dr Fernandez-Lopez told DailyMail.com: ‘If a dog is lifting one of his paws, it will often indicate that he/she is uncertain of something in the environment.
‘Particularly if the eyes show an expression of curiosity or concentration.’
Some dog breeds are known for their paw raise when hunting, but outside of this context, a lifted paw can indicate a dog is uncertain or feeling insecure about a situation, the American Kennel Club (AKC) said.
Whale eye
If a dog shows the whites of its eyes, it can be a sign of stress
Dogs showing the whites of their eyes, what is known as ‘whale eye,’ is a common indicator of stress or agitation.
Dr Fernandez-Lopez said: ‘When dogs show the whites of their eyes, it can be a sign of stress or that they feel uncomfortable.
‘It is a dog version of “I do not feel ok and I might need some distance.”‘
The AKC said people may observe this behavior if they touch the head of a shy dog or if someone – or another animal- comes too close to them when eating or chewing on a toy.
Giving the whale eye may indicate the dog is scared or stressed that they may have their food or toy taken away.
Lowered head and ears
Body, head, ear and tail positioning can reveal a lot about how a dog is feeling
If your dog seems to be cowering with its head and ears low, they are likely stressed out.
Dr Fernandez-Lopez told DailyMail.com: ‘Though some owners may know to interpret alert ears perked up, ears that are held back or lowered can indicate fear, anxiety, and submission.’
Pulled back ears indicate dogs are concerned, suspicious or defensive. ‘Seal ears,’ when the ears are pinned almost completely back against the head, signal extreme fear.
A lowered head often means the dog is anxious and they may also have a tucked tail or furrowed brows.
Lowering their head or cowering makes the dog seem smaller, which a nervous animal may do so as not to draw attention to itself.
A lowered head and cowering posture also makes the dog appear submissive to whatever the animal is threatened by.
Sniffing the ground
Sniffing can sometimes be an avoidance or displacement behavior
A dog’s sense of smell is up to 100,000 times more powerful than a human’s and sniffing is how your pet interprets the world around them. So it is natural to think anytime your dog’s nose is to ground they’re just being curious.
However, Dr Fernandez-Lopez said this isn’t always the case: ‘Dogs may start to sniff the ground when you ask them a question too “intrusive” or in other situations that makes dogs stressed or uncertain.
‘It is a method to keep conflict at bay and defuse tension.’
Sniffing can sometimes be an avoidance or displacement behavior, according to VCA Animal Hospitals, meaning the dog may sniff to ‘escape’ a stressful situation by redirecting their attention onto something else.
Other displacement behaviors include licking genitals, scratching, shaking or turning focus onto anything other than the current situation.
