Dog Speak 101: How Do Dogs Communicate With Each Other? 

If you’ve ever taken the time to watch your dog interacting with her fellow canines, you’ll already know dogs are experts in the art of non-verbal communication.

But here’s the thing: the signals dogs use to communicate with other dogs are the exact same signals they use with us humans.

It’s just unfortunate that we often misunderstand these cues.

Sometimes we even miss them altogether – losing the golden opportunity to understand what our dogs are trying to tell us.

It’s like we’re speaking two different languages!

Luckily, it doesn’t have to be this way.

In this article, we’ll explore the many incredible ways dogs communicate with each other, so you can learn how to read your dog’s body language and better interpret what she’s trying to say.

Doing so will not only improve communication but also strengthen your bond with your furry companion.

Dog Body Language: Visual Signals

A dog’s body language is one of the primary ways she communicates with other dogs.

Posture

A dog’s posture can reveal a lot about how she feels.

For example, when feeling confident and relaxed, she may stand tall with her weight evenly distributed and soft muscles.

However, if threatened or fearful, she may lower her body or adopt a hunched posture.

Some dogs may shift their weight onto their hind legs to facilitate a quick escape if necessary.

Additionally, when vigilant or highly alert, a dog may stand tall with stiffened muscles, leaning forward, ready to confront the “threat.”

If accompanied by stiff, upright ears and tail, it could indicate potential aggression.

On the other hand, dogs may also stand tall during play as a sign of excitement and anticipation.

That’s why it’s always crucial to consider the overall context of the behavior.

Tail

High Tail Wag: A high tail wag, either still or wagging quickly, usually means a dog is emotionally aroused, either in a positive (excited) or negative (aggressive) way.

Direction Of The Wag: The direction of the wag is important too.

Studies show that when a dog is happy or confident, she tends to wag her tail more to the right side. 

But when she is scared, she tends to wag her tail more to the left side.

Left Brain vs. Right Brain: Here’s where it gets interesting. 

The left side of the dog’s brain controls the right side of her body, while the right side of the brain controls the left side.

When a dog wags her tail to the right, it means the left side of her brain is active. 

The left side of the brain is connected to positive feelings like happiness and calmness. 

So when a dog is happy, her tail wags to the right. 

It’s like her brain is saying, “I feel good!”

On the other hand, when a dog wags her tail to the left, it means the right side of the brain is more active. 

The right side of the brain is connected to negative feelings like fear and sadness. 

So, when a dog is frightened, her tail wags to the left.

It’s like her brain is saying, “I’m scared!”

So a tail wagging in a circular motion indicates the dog is feeling happy and friendly – but only if it is wagging to the right.

Low To Medium Wag: A low to medium tail wag, whether gentle or quick, can indicate friendliness too, but it can also be an appeasing gesture.

I’ll talk more about appeasement signals later on.

Low Or Tucked Tail: When a dog’s tail is lowered, it may signify she is calm and relaxed, but it can also suggest uncertainty or fear – particularly when it’s tucked underneath her body.

Fur

A neutral and relaxed dog will have her fur lying flat against her body.

But when feeling fearful, threatened, or on high alert, the fur on her back will often stand up (also known as “raised hackles” or “piloerection”).

This makes the dog look bigger, more imposing, and less vulnerable with the goal of making the threat go away.

However, piloerection can also occur in dogs that are excited, such as during playtime.

In other words, it’s a sign of emotional arousal, whether good or bad.

Dog Body Language: Facial Expressions

A dog’s facial expressions can be fast and subtle and are not always easy to spot – the tiniest curl of the top lip or a furrowed brow, for example.

Eyes

Eye contact is an important aspect of canine communication. 

Soft Eye Contact: A relaxed, soft gaze usually means that the dog is calm and comfortable.

Avoiding Eye Contact: Avoiding eye contact or showing the whites of her eyes (known as “whale eye” or “half-moon eye”) can be a sign of anxiety or fear in dogs.

When interacting with humans, you often see this when dogs are being hugged, when children are playing too roughly with them or (even worse) climbing on them, or are too noisy or close to them.

Sadly, you’ll see examples of this all over the internet.

Hard Eye Contact: Staring is often viewed as hostile in the animal kingdom, and it indicates arousal in dogs.

While it can occur during play when dogs are excited and alert, it can also signify potential aggression.

Dilated Pupils: Dilated pupils are also a sign of emotional arousal and are often seen when dogs are anxious or scared.

Ears

Relaxed Ears: When a dog’s ears are relaxed and in their natural position, it usually means she is calm and relaxed. 

Ears Pinned Back: When the ears are pinned back or flattened against the head, it can be a sign of fear or anxiety. 

Forward Ears: When the ears are perked up and facing forward, it usually means the dog is alert and attentive.

Mouth

Open Mouth: When a dog has an open mouth and is panting, she may just be hot.

However, it can also be a sign she is stressed or anxious. 

Soft Mouth: When a dog’s lips are relaxed, she is usually calm and content.

Curled Lip: If the top lip curls upward – may be accompanied by a snarl exposing the teeth – this is a warning signal, and the dog may become aggressive if the threat, real or perceived, does not retreat.

The lip curl can be a very subtle movement and hard to spot.

Licking/Yawning/Tongue Flicking: Lip licking (when not hungry), yawning (when not tired), and tongue flicking are common signs of anxiety or stress in dogs, but often happen quickly and can be hard to identify.

Take The Dog Body Language Quiz

Dog Body Language: Vocal Signals

Along with their array of body language, dogs also use a variety of vocalizations to communicate with each other. 

Again, these can have different meanings depending on the context. 

Barking

Dogs bark for various reasons, including alerting their owners of potential danger, expressing boredom or desire, indicating fear or distress, and showing excitement during play.

A distressed dog may bark in a high-pitched tone, while a bored one may produce a lower, monotonous tone.

Alert barking is usually very loud and intense.

Growling

Dogs growl to communicate their discomfort or displeasure, particularly when they feel threatened, scared, or are in pain.

Some dogs growl out of pure excitement when they are playing.

A dog that is feeling threatened may growl with a low tone, while a playful dog may growl with a higher tone.

Dog owners often tend to tell their dogs to stop growling or consider it to be “bad” behavior, but in fact, it is an incredibly useful communication.

A warning growl is a really good thing; it means he is doing his best to not bite you,” says certified professional dog trainer Pat Miller. 

“A warning growl says, ‘I am very uncomfortable here… please don’t make me bite.'”

Howling

Dogs sometimes howl to communicate with other dogs or to alert their owners of their location. 

An anxious dog may howl with a long, drawn-out tone, while an excited dog may howl with a shorter, more upbeat tone.

Some dogs will howl in response to the sound of the sirens from fire and police emergency vehicles.

We used to have a group of four rescue dogs who would sometimes howl for no apparent reason.

Daisy (who happened to look like a small wolf) would start, and the other three would all gradually join in.

I’ve seen groups of captive wolves do the same thing.

One starts then the entire group stops and joins in.

“Like many canine behaviors, howling has ancestral roots,” say veterinarians Ryan Llera and Lynn Buzhardt. 

“In the wild, safety-conscious wolves in the woods bellowed to announce their location to other members of their pack family. 

“Brave wolves howled to warn other wild animals to stay away from their territory. 

“Your dog may not howl to pinpoint their whereabouts or keep intruders at bay, but now, as in generations past, dogs howl as a form of communication.”

And I would add solidarity to that too. 

Whining

Dogs whine when they feel anxious, stressed, or in pain. 

A dog feeling anxious, stressed, or frustrated may whine with a high-pitched tone, while a dog in pain may whine with a lower tone.

Our Romanian rescue dog Florence whines if she wants to go out for a potty break and the door is closed.

She also whines when she hears a car coming up the driveway, likely due to the anticipation of her other owner coming home.

Whimpering

Dogs can whimper when they are in pain but also when they are excited. 

As always, it’s important to pay attention to your dog’s overall body language to understand the context of the situation. 

Yelping

Dogs usually yelp to communicate discomfort or pain, or when they are startled. 

Some dogs yelp during play, “when one dog bites another too hard” and “to communicate stress,” says Miller.

Understanding Dog Communication

Just like their wolf ancestors, dogs have been communicating with each other for thousands of years. 

Look At The Whole Body

To start with, it’s important to observe your dog’s overall body language since it can tell you a lot about how she is feeling.

For instance, a happy dog will have a relaxed body posture along with soft ears and a tail that wags enthusiastically.

On the other hand, if your dog has a tucked tail, furrowed brow, and stiff body posture, she might be feeling anxious or fearful.

Consider The Context

It’s important to also consider the context of the situation.

In other words, what else is going on at the time?

A dog barking loudly can indicate frustration in some situations, but it may be an invitation to play in others.

Similarly, a dog can growl as a warning signal to back off or growl in play when she’s feeling excited.

Olfactory Communication

Scent communication is an essential part of canine social interaction, and dogs rely on it heavily to convey information about their identity, emotional state, and territory. 

Sense of Smell

When meeting a new dog, dogs often sniff each other to gather important information about the other dog’s emotional state and social skills.

According to Llera and Buzhardt, dogs have 150 million olfactory receptors in their noses, which is much higher than the 5 million found in human noses.

Dogs use 30% of their brain mass for detecting and identifying smells, whereas humans only use 5% of their brain for the same purpose.

So that gives us an idea of just how important scent is in the way our dogs experience the world and interact with each other.

Urine Marking

When dogs urinate and defecate, they leave behind chemical messages, known as pheromones, that contain information about their age, sex, and reproductive status. 

Other dogs can then use these messages to learn more about who has been in the area. 

Dogs often urine mark to define their home territory, mainly around the perimeter, particularly at entry and exit points such as gates.

While on a walk, you might have observed your dog over-marking an area where she has sniffed another dog—a way for her to communicate with other neighborhood dogs she has been passing through.

If you have a nervous or insecure dog, she may also urine mark inside the house.

This is a way for her to surround herself with her own scent and feel more secure.

Sniffing

Dogs are natural foragers and sniffing is an important part of their behavior.

Research shows that sniffing lowers a dog’s heart rate and blood pressure, so it’s essential for their overall well-being (Budzinski & Budzinski, 2019).

Licking And Rolling

Dogs also communicate through other scent-related behaviors, such as rolling in smelly substances and licking each other’s faces. 

These behaviors can all convey important information about their emotional state and social status.

Social Cues

Dogs are a social species and use a whole range of behaviors when interacting with each other.

Meet And Greet

Have you ever watched two dogs approach each other?

They rarely walk straight up to one another, like humans do.

Instead, they tend to walk around each other in circles while observing each other’s behavior and posture.

Renowned Norwegian dog training and behavior expert Turid Rugaas calls this walking “in curves.”

According to Llera and Buzhardt, while dogs don’t communicate verbally or use physical gestures (such as shaking hands) as humans do, “they do assess each other and gather lots of information from body language.”

When dogs meet, one of the first things they usually do is sniff each other’s butts.

“Dogs sniff rear ends as a form of greeting and obtain vital information from the anal secretions,” explain Llera and Buzhardt.

“Is this dog friend or foe? Is he going to be a good “date”? Will he be aggressive? Is he feeling ill? 

“And because the odor is unique to every dog, two dogs can quickly determine if they have met before.

“That aroma emanating from the anal region is a unique form of canine identification.”

Play Bows

The play bow is a common social cue dogs use to invite other dogs to play. 

It involves lowering the front half of their body while keeping their hindquarters in the air, and wagging their tail. 

This is a sign of a happy dog, and it’s a good way to tell if your dog is feeling playful and friendly toward the other dogs.

It also lets the other dogs know that whatever happens next is intended in play and is not to be misunderstood as aggressive behavior.

This is known as a “meta signal” – a universal sign that all dogs will understand.

Mouthing

Mouthing involves dogs gently biting and tugging on each other’s ears, necks, and legs. 

It is a sign of affection and playfulness, and it’s a good way for dogs to bond with each other.

Wrestling

Wrestling involves dogs playfully biting and pawing at each other while rolling around on the ground. 

It is a good way for dogs to burn off energy and bond with each other.

Having said that, if one dog has a huge size advantage or things get a little heated, it’s time to step in so the dogs can take a break.

Aggression And Warning Signs

As a responsible dog owner, it is important to be able to recognize the warning signs of aggression in your dog, as well as in other dogs you and your dog may encounter.

I’ve already talked about how a stiff body posture, hard stare, rigid upright ears and tail, and raised hackles are signs that a dog feels threatened or uncomfortable. 

Growling

I’ve also talked about growling.

But let me reiterate, it’s a really important communication signal and not one that should be ignored or punished

If your dog is growling, it is best to remove her from the situation and address the underlying cause of her discomfort.

RELATED: Why Is My Dog Growling At Me If He’s Moved When Sleeping?

Snarling

Snarling is characterized by a curled lip and bared teeth and is a more “aggressive” form of growling if you like. 

Dogs may escalate to snarling if their warning growls are ignored.

If your dog is snarling, it is important to stop doing what you’re doing and/or remove her from the situation immediately.

Snapping And Biting

Snapping and biting are more intense forms of physical aggression if a dog’s growling and snarling warnings are ignored. 

Dogs may resort to all-out aggression when they feel threatened, their warnings are not being heeded, and they can’t escape.

Fight or flight, in other words.

This is a situation we never want, and dogs should always be removed from a situation long before it gets to this point.

In her Canine Ladder of Aggression, Dr. Kendal Shepherd (2004) shows the many ways in which dogs react to stress or threats, as well as how things can escalate if their initial warnings are ignored.

I find this to be a really helpful visual representation of how things can go from 0 (green) to 100 (red) in a very short space of time.

Resource Guarding And Territorial Behaviors

Resource guarding and territorial behaviors are common forms of canine communication and can be seen in domestic dogs, as well as in their wild counterparts.

Resource guarding occurs when a dog tries to protect a valuable resource, such as food, toys, or a resting place, from other dogs or even from their human family members. 

Signs of resource guarding include growling, snarling, curled top lip, stiff body posture, whale eye, staring, and lip licking.

The behavior can range from mild to severe and can occur in a variety of contexts. 

If your dog is a resource guarder, it’s a good idea to enlist the help of a positive reinforcement dog training and behavior professional to help you modify the behavior in a humane and safe way.

Positive Body Language vs. Negative Body Language

If you take your dog to a dog park, this one’s for you.

To ensure safe and happy interactions with other dogs, it is crucial to be able to recognize the difference between positive and negative body language.

Happy And Relaxed

A happy dog will exhibit relaxed body language, with a loose and wiggly body, soft eyes, and an open mouth. 

She may also initiate play with a play bow or wag their tail in a relaxed, loose manner.

Excited

An excited dog may have a high tail and bounce around or jump up or down. 

She may bark or whine in a high-pitched tone too. 

Excessive excitement can quickly boil over into aggression, so it’s best to keep your dog’s excitement levels in check – especially when playing with other dogs.

Fearful, Anxious, Or Stressed

A fearful, anxious, or stressed dog will exhibit negative body language, such as a lowered body position, stiff body, tucked tail, ears back, and avoiding eye contact. 

Other signs include panting, pacing, tongue flicking, or lip licking.

Frustrated, Angry Or Aggressive

A frustrated, angry, or aggressive dog will exhibit negative body language, such as a hard stare, a stiff body posture, and a raised tail. 

She may also growl or bark in a low, guttural tone.

As you’ve probably realized by now, dog body language is multi-layered and multi-faceted, so here’s a great little video from Fear Free Happy Homes to provide a general overview:

Dog Communication In Different Contexts

Finally, let’s look at some of the different contexts in which dogs communicate with each other and some of the more subtle behaviors and signals they use.

Appeasement Signals

Dogs use appeasement signals to communicate that they are not a threat and to calm down potentially aggressive situations. 

Lip licking, tongue flicking, yawning, turning the head away, raising the front paw, hunched posture, ears back, tail tucked, and showing the belly (maybe expelling a small amount of urine) are all examples of what are known as passive appeasement signals.

On the other hand, a dog may be using active appeasement signals if she approaches another dog with her whole rear-end wagging and her body in a “U” shape, so both her face and genital area can be inspected. 

She may also jump up to try to get in the other dog’s face.

Dogs use these behaviors to show they are not a threat and are willing to defer to the other dog.

Calming Signals

Turid Rugaas talks of approximately 30 canine calming signals dogs use to reduce stress and minimalize the risk of conflict. 

These include many of the behaviors outlined in this section.

“For species who live in packs it’s important to be able to communicate with its own kind,” says Rugaas. 

“Both in order to cooperate when they hunt, to bring up their offspring, and perhaps most importantly: to live in peace with each other. 

“Conflicts are dangerous – they cause physical injuries and a weakened pack, which is something that no pack can afford – it will cause them to [become] extinct.” 

Distance Decreasing Behaviors

Dogs use distance-decreasing behaviors to signal that they want to get closer to another dog. 

Play bows, circular wagging tails, and approaching with a relaxed body posture are all examples of this. 

All these signals indicate that the dog is friendly and wants to interact with the other dog.

Distance Increasing Behaviors

Dogs use distance-increasing behaviors to signal that they want to get further away from another dog. 

Such behaviors include growling, barking, and a stiffened posture. 

In specific contexts, these signals indicate that the dog is feeling threatened and wants the other dog to back off.

Avoidance Behaviors

Dogs use avoidance behaviors to signal that they want to avoid interaction with another dog. 

Avoidance behaviors include turning the head away, walking away, hiding behind a person or object, barking and retreating, rolling over, and avoiding eye contact. 

Displacement Behaviors

Like humans, dogs use displacement behaviors to relieve stress and anxiety. 

It’s a bit like when we bite our nails or scratch an imaginary itch

Displacement behaviors in dogs include yawning (without being tired), scratching (without itching), biting at the paws, licking the chops, and shaking off. 

Sometimes dogs will sniff, drink, or even sleep excessively as a way to avoid a stressful situation.

Displacement behaviors indicate that the dog is uncomfortable and needs to relieve some tension.

Conflicted Behaviors

Dogs display conflicted behaviors when they are unsure how to react to a situation. 

Let’s say, for example, you try to lure a scared dog to come to you by holding out a treat. 

She wants the treat but she is scared to approach.

She is conflicted as to what to do.

• RELATED: Yes, No, Or Maybe? Understanding The Consent Test In Dogs

Cut-Off Behaviors

Dogs use cut-off behaviors to signal that they want to end an interaction. 

Cut-off behaviors include turning the head away, walking away, and avoiding eye contact. 

Signals like these indicate that the dog has had enough and is no longer interested in interacting with the other dog.

Before You Go

Whew! If you made it this far, congratulations!

I hope you now have a better idea of what your pup has been trying to tell you all this time.

If you want to learn more tips about understanding your pup’s behavior and emotions, be sure to check out my article, Too Rough? How To Tell If Dogs Are Playing Or Fighting. 

It’s an exploration into deciphering canine playtime rituals that every dog-lover should read!

RECOMMENDED READING

For a visual rendition of everything I’ve discussed in this article, I highly recommend Lili Chin’s book: Doggie Language: A Dog Lover’s Guide to Understanding Your Best Friend.

It’s full of fun illustrations showing all those subtle signals dogs give us to show how they’re feeling, and is a great practical guide for dog owners who want to understand their dogs better.

Resources

• At the Heart of the Walk – Christina and Aurélien Budzinski
• Beware of the Dog: Positive Solutions for Aggressive Behavior in Dogs – Pat Miller
• Calming Signals: The Art of Survival – Turid Rugaas 
• Dog Body Language 101 [Video] – Fear Free Happy Homes
• Dog Body Language Quiz – City of Charles Sturt
• Dog Growling is a Good Thing! – Pat Miller
• Interpreting Tail Wags in Dogs – Dr. Ryan Llera & Dr. Lynn Buzhardt
• Pet Training and Behavior Consulting: A Model for Raising the Bar to Protect Professionals, Pets and Their People – Niki J. Tudge, Susan J. Nilson, Debra A. Millikan, & Louise A. Stapleton-Frappell
• The Canine Ladder of Aggression – Dr. Kendal Shepherd
• Why Do Dogs Howl? – Dr. Ryan Llera & Dr. Lynn Buzhardt
• Why Dogs Sniff Rear Ends – Dr. Ryan Llera & Dr. Lynn Buzhardt