Whether it is a conversation with us or another dog, dogs use their body as their primary mode of communication. Learning to read dog body language is critical if you have a fearful, reactive or aggressive dog. By learning what your dog is telling you, you will be better equipped to make better training choices and provide clear guidance along your training journey.

Dogs are excellent teachers when it comes to canine body language, all we have to do is learn to listen. The most important thing you can do right now is learn how to read your own dog! First watch your dog as they navigate your home. What are their ears doing when they settle down for a nap? What do their ears do as they watch out the window? How about when you go towards the space where you keep their food or goodies? 

Become an active observer of your canine companion. How does their tail set change throughout the day? What about their posture? Can you start to predict how your dog’s body language will change based on what is going on in the house?

As you get the hang of seeing your dog’s body language in your day to day life, start paying special attention to them in areas when you know they are likely to react. Can you start to notice some hints from your dog that a reaction is likely to happen?

We’ve attached a great outline of general canine body language for you in this lesson. Included are some common things to look for when reading your dog’s body language, but remember each dog is an individual and dogs of different breeds, those with cropped ears and/or tails, dogs with injuries, etc. may display things differently.