When working with a reactive dog, we need to not only read their overall body language, but be especially in tune to their stress and calming signals.
These are the signals that dogs use to communicate they are stressed and would like the threat to go away. If those signals fail to reduce or remove the threat, then the dog feels as if they have no other choice than to act aggressively in that situation.
Here are some common signs your dog is stressed.
Turning away – this can be anything from looking the other direction with their eyes, to a slight turn of the head to turning their body completely away from something.
Trying to hide – If your dog is trying to hide behind you on a walk or hide behind/under something else that is a pretty clear signal that your dog is afraid.
Lagging behind or reluctance to walk – This can mean your dog is worried about something in the neighborhood or that your dog doesn’t want to walk because they know they will be bombarded by triggers and things that worry them.
Tongue Flick – This is when the dog quickly licks their lip/nose with their tongue. This is also a signal to another dog or person that the dog is stressed/worried about something present at that moment.
Yawning – Dogs yawn when they are tired, but yawning out of context is a calming signal that can be used to calm your own dog or send a signal to another dog at that moment.
Whale Eye – this is when you can see the whites of your dog’s eyes. This is a function of your dog turning their head but keeping their eyes fixed on a trigger or something that is concerning them in the environment.
Ears Pinned Back – are usually a sign the dog is worried/stressed in that situation.
Crouched Body – this is the dog communicating that they are worried and not a threat to anyone or anything.
Tucked Tail – this is usually a sign the dog is very afraid.
Scratching/Sniffing – if your dog stops to scratch or sniff out of context, this is a displacement behavior and can be a sign they are stressed at that moment.
Body Shake – (as if your dog just got out of the bath) – This is usually a sign that your dog is resetting themself from a stressful event. Think of it as us letting out a big sigh.
Panting – as the stress builds in your dog, your dog may begin to pant heavily and display a “clown face” with a big ‘smile’ and their tongue hanging out.
Tail upright – There are many common myths out there. Just because a dog’s tail is wagging does not mean the dog is happy or friendly. Many dogs will raise their tail as a preparation for an aggressive display.
Piloerection – when the hair on your dog’s back stands up along their spine. This can indicate a high level of arousal from varying causes but definitely something to watch and note.
Staring & Upright Movement – if your dog’s previous attempts failed to make the threat go away, this is your dog’s last ditch effort to make that happen before a full-blown reaction.
Communication with Other Dogs
It can be harder for other dogs to read dogs who have darker or smushed faces. This can mean if you have a dog with difficult to read features, other dogs may have more of a tendency to react to your dog because they cannot clearly see your dog’s facial features.