Canine body language 101: A functional guide for savvy dog guardians

Have you ever wished you had a canine-to-human dictionary? We all want to understand our furry best friends better, and the good news is, they’re constantly communicating with us and the world around them. It’s just a matter of learning to speak their language.

Canine body language isn’t about guessing what your dog “feels” or trying to assign human emotions to their every wiggle and whine. Instead, it’s about observing what your dog does and understanding what purpose that behaviour serves in a given moment. It’s their way of interacting with their environment, managing situations, and getting their needs met. At Belle & Bark, we believe that becoming a savvy observer of these signals is one of the most powerful tools you can have as a dog guardian.

When you shift from trying to read feelings to focusing on function, you unlock a clearer, more objective understanding of your dog. You learn to appreciate how they are navigating the world, and you become a stronger advocate for their needs. This approach builds a foundation of mutual trust and respect.

To help us break down doggy dialogue, we use the TEEMPS framework. Think of it as your guide to noticing the small, important details, allowing you to quickly scan your dog for their current communication state:

• Tail: Is it held high and stiff, low and tucked, or at a neutral, loose position? What’s the speed, width, and fluidity of any wagging?
• Ears: Are they forward and tense, relaxed and natural, or pinned back flat against the skull? Are they constantly flicking, trying to locate a sound?
• Eyes: Are they soft, squinted, or wide and focused? Do you see the whites of the eyes (often called whale eye)? What is the gaze directed at?
• Mouth: Is it open in a relaxed pant, closed with tension, or are the lips pulled back (with or without teeth showing)? Are they constantly flicking their tongue?
• Posture: Is the body stiff, low, leaning forward, or loose, flowing, and ready for movement? Is your dog carrying their weight evenly or shifted to the back?
• Sound: Are they silent, or is there a bark, whine, sigh, or growl? What is the pitch and rhythm of the sound?

By systematically checking in with each of these points, especially in a new or dynamic situation, you build a more complete and objective picture of what your dog is communicating.

Now let’s explore what common canine behaviours are achieving for your dog. Remember, every signal is a tool your dog uses to manage their environment and interactions.

When your dog feels secure and open to interaction, their body language reflects that openness and ease. These are the signals of a dog operating within their comfort zone.

• Soft, relaxed eyes, sometimes with a gentle squint or slow blink.
• Loose, flowing body posture, often with a slight curve or arc to the spine when moving.
• Ears held naturally, neither pinned back nor stiffly forward.
• A relaxed mouth, possibly slightly open with a “soft” pant, or closed without tension around the muzzle.
• Tail held at a neutral height, perhaps with a soft, sweeping, pendular wag.

Purpose: These signals tell you your dog is comfortable in the situation, perceives no threat, and is likely receptive to gentle interaction, training, or play. This state of ease is where the most effective learning happens. You can learn more about how a dog learns best by reading our post, How Dogs Learn.

Dogs are constantly observing and processing their environment. This investigative behaviour helps them understand what’s happening and allows them to make informed choices about how to proceed.

• Head still, perhaps slightly tilted, with ears oriented towards a sound or sight.
• Eyes focused intently on something new or unusual, often without much blinking.
• Slow, deliberate approach or pausing completely to take things in.
• Nose actively sniffing the air or the ground, especially when approaching new objects or people.
• A still, neutral tail, or a slight, slow wag that doesn’t extend far from the body.

Purpose: When your dog displays these behaviours, they are actively assessing their environment. They are asking themselves, “Is this safe, interesting, or does it require a change in my behaviour?” Giving them time and space to gather information, rather than pulling them forward or interrupting them, allows them to process and build confidence.

Life throws a lot at our dogs: new sights, loud sounds, unfamiliar people, and sometimes even complex training requests. Dogs use a variety of subtle, often rapid, signals to cope with perceived pressure or discomfort. These behaviours are an attempt to de-escalate their own arousal or to create distance from a mild stressor.

• Lip licking or Tongue Flick, often quick and subtle, and frequently happening when no food is present. This is a common signal you’ll see from a dog when a strange person is reaching toward them.
• Yawning when not tired or just waking up.
• Turning their head or entire body away from something that is approaching or too close.
• “Ground sniffing” or focusing intently on something irrelevant in the immediate environment.
• Freezing or becoming very still, a temporary pause in movement.
• A lowered body posture or moving slowly, often in a crouch.

Purpose: These are displacement or stress-management behaviours. Your dog is communicating, “I’m feeling a bit unsure, overstimulated, or concerned here,” or “I’d like this interaction to be less intense.” Recognizing these cues means you can immediately intervene to change the situation, such as creating distance or removing the perceived pressure, helping your dog feel supported.

Sometimes, dogs want to signal that they mean no harm and wish to avoid conflict or reduce the tension in an interaction. These are active attempts to appease or defuse a situation.

• Curving their body in an arc when approaching another dog or person, rather than a direct, challenging line.
• A very soft, loose body, often with a low, minimal tail wag.
• Avoiding direct, prolonged eye contact, perhaps glancing away or maintaining a soft gaze.
• Rolling onto their back, often exposing their belly, with a loose, floppy, almost wiggly posture. (This is different from a stiff, frozen, fearful roll.)

Purpose: These are appeasement behaviours, aimed at reducing perceived threat or signalling non-hostile intentions. A dog displaying these is trying to communicate, “I’m not a threat, let’s keep things calm and friendly.” When observing this, you should match the energy, keeping your movements slow and relaxed.

When a dog wants space, they’ll often communicate this clearly if we know what to look for. These signals are urgent requests for distance, and respecting them is crucial for preventing escalation. Ethologists, who study animal behaviour, explain that these signals are part of a dog’s warning system, which is essential for survival.

• Body stiffens and tenses, sometimes becoming very still and rigid.
• Ears pinned back flat against the head, or held stiffly forward.
• Direct, hard stare, often accompanied by whale eye (the whites of the eyes showing).
• Closed, tense mouth, possibly with a wrinkled muzzle, or lips pulled back to show teeth (a snarl).
• Tail tucked tightly between the legs, or held stiffly high, moving rapidly but minimally.
• Growling or barking that sounds low, guttural, sharp, or insistent.

Purpose: These are unambiguous “go away” signals. Your dog is communicating that they are beyond uncomfortable and need space right now. It is vital to immediately and calmly create distance for your dog and remove whatever is causing them distress. Pushing past these signals forces your dog to escalate their communication, which can lead to a bite as a final defensive strategy.

You’ve probably seen your dog do it: after coming in from a big outdoor sniffari, a rough and tumble play session, or even a stressful encounter, they’ll shake their entire body from nose to tail. This is a crucial piece of canine body language often overlooked.

• Whole body tremor, starting from the head and moving back through the tail.
• Often occurs immediately after a perceived stressor has moved away or an intense interaction has concluded.

Purpose: The shake-off is a natural, physiological response dogs use to release built-up tension and literally “shake off” a rush of stress hormones. Think of it as hitting a reset button. Seeing your dog shake off after a new experience or a period of arousal is a sign they are actively processing the event and returning to a more neutral, relaxed state.

Learning to read your dog’s body language is a journey, not a destination. It requires patient observation, an open mind, and a willingness to see the world from their perspective. By focusing on what your dog is doing and what purpose that behaviour serves, you can respond in ways that meet their needs, build trust, and strengthen your incredible bond.

Understanding these signals allows us to intervene before our dogs feel the need to use louder, more intense communications. This is the heart of compassionate, science-based training.

Ready to dive deeper into canine communication or tackle specific training goals? We’re here to help! We offer personalized private training sessions designed to empower you and your dog, helping you both navigate the busy city life of Montreal with confidence.

Written by

Tabitha Turton

Tabitha is the founder and trainer at Belle & Bark. With a deep passion for canine behaviour and humane training, she’s committed to making life better for both ends of the leash. Her writing blends science-backed insight with real-life experience to help dog guardians feel more confident, compassionate, and informed.