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Common Dog Behaviors
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Published: September 18, 2006
What does it mean when a dog is wagging its tail? What does a dog do when it's angry? Do dogs smile?
Learning about dog behavior can help pet owners better understand their dogs, and also make dogs happier members of the family. Being able to read the warning signs a dog displays when it feels threatened or fearful can also help keep people safe.
Dogs are descendants of wolves, which are pack animals. As Dr. Bruce Fogel, a veterinarian and author of Know Your Dog: An Owner's Guide to Dog Behavior points out, it only takes two to make a pack, even if it is just the dog and its owner.
Because they are pack animals, dogs will follow the animal asserting himself (or herself) as pack leader. A dog will do several things to assert dominance over other dogs. This includes placing its head or paw on top of another dog's neck, staring directly into another dog's eyes, mounting the dog or taking the lead in sniffing the other dog. (Sniffing is dog behavior for saying, "Tell me about yourself.")
Two dogs trying to assert dominance at the same time will tussle with each other until one demonstrates submission. Signs of submissive dog behavior include a tail tucked between the legs, a stooped posture (the stereotypical "hangdog" look), walking away and failure to meet the other dog's gaze. In extreme cases, the yielding dog will roll onto its back and expose the underbelly. This dog behavior conveys the message, "I'm vulnerable. I'm defenseless. I'm no threat to you."
If neither dog backs down, more aggressive dog behavior is likely to follow. This includes snarling and teeth baring, growling, snapping, lunging and biting. If left unchecked, this type of aggressive dog behavior can escalate to a dogfight. Sometimes this is just a "fire fight" that can be broken up with quick action. Other times, it is all-out war resulting in serious – perhaps fatal – injury to each dog and to anyone trying to break up the fight.
Dog behavior is not just about showing dominance and submissiveness, however. Dogs also give behavioral signals about their state of mind.
For instance, have you ever seen a dog "bow down" with forelegs spread out, rear up, tail waggling and eyes sparkling? That's called a "play bow." This is how a dog signals to its owner or another dog, "Hey, I've got lots of energy and I want to you to play with me right now!"
Do dogs smile? Some experts believe dogs are just mimicking what they see on their owners' faces by pulling the mouth back, exposing the teeth in a non-threatening way and keeping the face soft and relaxed. It seems this particular dog behavior is directed only toward humans, usually when the dog feels safe and comfortable. That is to say, this dog behavior appears when a dog seems "happy."
The way a dog wags its tail also gives an indication of what it is feeling, and what it wants. A tail standing straight up, hardly moving at all except for a little quiver, is how a dog says, "I'm in charge here!" If the tail is wagging enthusiastically from side to side, the dog is excited about something. Is the dog thumping its tail up and down on the floor? It's really excited! And the pooch probably wants attention from you.
But watch out if a dog is wagging its tail very slowly and deliberately from side to side, or it is held stiffly out behind. Something has caught that dog's attention, and it is on the alert. This dog behavior indicates it might not a good time to approach the dog, much less hug it.
Some dog behavior is a dog's attempt to dominate or get its owner to do something. A dog might jump up on its owner or the furniture unbidden ("I'm the boss"), put its paw on the owner's arm ("Pay attention to me, I want something from you"), nuzzle its head against the owner ("Give me some affection") or run to the door and bark ("I want to go out"). Rover might chew furniture or shoes ("I'm bored" or "I'm afraid of being left alone all the time. I miss you") or lie down and pout ("I'm still bored, but I give up trying to get your attention").
Some of these dog behaviors are legitimate ways dogs have of letting us know their needs. Others are ways to manipulate owner, because the dogs have learned this behavior gets them the desired results.
It is an owner's challenge to learn the language of dog behavior for a happy, peaceful co-existence with his four-legged buddy.
Learning about dog behavior can help pet owners better understand their dogs, and also make dogs happier members of the family. Being able to read the warning signs a dog displays when it feels threatened or fearful can also help keep people safe.
Dogs are descendants of wolves, which are pack animals. As Dr. Bruce Fogel, a veterinarian and author of Know Your Dog: An Owner's Guide to Dog Behavior points out, it only takes two to make a pack, even if it is just the dog and its owner.
Because they are pack animals, dogs will follow the animal asserting himself (or herself) as pack leader. A dog will do several things to assert dominance over other dogs. This includes placing its head or paw on top of another dog's neck, staring directly into another dog's eyes, mounting the dog or taking the lead in sniffing the other dog. (Sniffing is dog behavior for saying, "Tell me about yourself.")
Two dogs trying to assert dominance at the same time will tussle with each other until one demonstrates submission. Signs of submissive dog behavior include a tail tucked between the legs, a stooped posture (the stereotypical "hangdog" look), walking away and failure to meet the other dog's gaze. In extreme cases, the yielding dog will roll onto its back and expose the underbelly. This dog behavior conveys the message, "I'm vulnerable. I'm defenseless. I'm no threat to you."
If neither dog backs down, more aggressive dog behavior is likely to follow. This includes snarling and teeth baring, growling, snapping, lunging and biting. If left unchecked, this type of aggressive dog behavior can escalate to a dogfight. Sometimes this is just a "fire fight" that can be broken up with quick action. Other times, it is all-out war resulting in serious – perhaps fatal – injury to each dog and to anyone trying to break up the fight.
Dog behavior is not just about showing dominance and submissiveness, however. Dogs also give behavioral signals about their state of mind.
For instance, have you ever seen a dog "bow down" with forelegs spread out, rear up, tail waggling and eyes sparkling? That's called a "play bow." This is how a dog signals to its owner or another dog, "Hey, I've got lots of energy and I want to you to play with me right now!"
Do dogs smile? Some experts believe dogs are just mimicking what they see on their owners' faces by pulling the mouth back, exposing the teeth in a non-threatening way and keeping the face soft and relaxed. It seems this particular dog behavior is directed only toward humans, usually when the dog feels safe and comfortable. That is to say, this dog behavior appears when a dog seems "happy."
The way a dog wags its tail also gives an indication of what it is feeling, and what it wants. A tail standing straight up, hardly moving at all except for a little quiver, is how a dog says, "I'm in charge here!" If the tail is wagging enthusiastically from side to side, the dog is excited about something. Is the dog thumping its tail up and down on the floor? It's really excited! And the pooch probably wants attention from you.
But watch out if a dog is wagging its tail very slowly and deliberately from side to side, or it is held stiffly out behind. Something has caught that dog's attention, and it is on the alert. This dog behavior indicates it might not a good time to approach the dog, much less hug it.
Some dog behavior is a dog's attempt to dominate or get its owner to do something. A dog might jump up on its owner or the furniture unbidden ("I'm the boss"), put its paw on the owner's arm ("Pay attention to me, I want something from you"), nuzzle its head against the owner ("Give me some affection") or run to the door and bark ("I want to go out"). Rover might chew furniture or shoes ("I'm bored" or "I'm afraid of being left alone all the time. I miss you") or lie down and pout ("I'm still bored, but I give up trying to get your attention").
Some of these dog behaviors are legitimate ways dogs have of letting us know their needs. Others are ways to manipulate owner, because the dogs have learned this behavior gets them the desired results.
It is an owner's challenge to learn the language of dog behavior for a happy, peaceful co-existence with his four-legged buddy.
