Dogs can’t use words to express themselves the way people can, but that doesn’t mean they don’t communicate. Dogs use their body language to tell us how they’re feeling and what they need.

The most commonly known form of dog body language is a wagging tail. This is often interpreted to mean that the dog is happy, but this is not necessarily the case. Some dogs who are happy don’t wag their tails, while others who do may be wagging their tail for other reasons, including aggression, according to www.aspca.org. The position in which a dog holds its tail can also be an indicator of its mood: a relaxed dog will hold its tail in a neutral position, while a dog who is feeling threatened or sad will lower its tail. Dogs move their ears in similar ways; when a dog is alert and excited, he will raise his ears.

Like animals in the wild, dogs try to make themselves appear smaller or larger when they feel threatened. You can tell that your dog is scared when she tries to make herself look smaller by hunching her body or lowering her head. An especially scared dog might even roll over on its back as a sign of submission. When a dog is feeling aggressive, it will try to make its body seem big and intimidating by stretching out its neck and leaning slightly forward.

One type of body language that can be very difficult to read is any action classified as a displacement behavior. Simply put, when a dog feels conflicted, it will do something that is normal but doesn’t really make sense in context. According to www.petprofessionalguild.com, dogs do this because they are suppressing an urge to do one action by doing another action in its place. For example, a dog who is resisting the urge to bite someone might instead bite at its own foot. If you notice that your dog is using a displacement behavior, you should try to determine what made the dog anxious or confused so that you can avoid similar situations in the future.

As you spend time with your dog, you will be able to recognize the subtle changes in body language and behavior that your dog uses to express the way it feels. Once you recognize patterns of situations that make a dog overwhelmed with emotion, you can work to create an environment that will keep the dog happy and relaxed.