My sister loves dogs. She has only owned two in her lifetime, so I feel it is safe to say she is a reasonably typical pet owner. Recently, she and I watched a large boat move from its trailer into a harbor. The boat owner had his dog on the trailer as the boat was slowly transported. My sister said, “Oh! That poor dog is so scared!” I said, “Look at his body language. He is relaxed. His ears are forward. His tail is hanging in a natural position. He is not panting. He is gazing calmly at his surroundings. That is not a scared dog.” She looked at me as if I had just revealed that I could speak a hidden language.
Reading canine body language is essential for anyone who handles pets professionally. Here are a few things to assess to gather information about if the pet is anxious.
- Shivering is not always a sign of cold. Sometimes, it indicates pain or fear.
- Are their ears pinned back or held in a normal position?
- Look at their mouth. Are the lips loose or held tightly? Loose means relaxed.
- Is the dog panting when it has not been exercising or is in a warm environment? It can be a sign that the dog is unhappy.
- Are they yawning and/or drooling?
- On smooth-coated dogs, are they wrinkling up their brow? That’s not a good sign.
- Where is their head in relation to what might be making them anxious? Are they turned towards or away? Away means they are trying to avoid the stressor.
- Check their eyes. If their pupils are dilated (enlarged), they may feel anxious.
- Are they showing the whites of their eyes (side or whale eye)? This is a sign of stress.
- What is their tail doing? The dog is not calm if it is tucked or held high (especially if the hair along their spine is lifted). Wagging is not always a sign of happiness. Stiff wags equal a tense dog.
- What is the dog doing with its body posture? Is it leaning away from what might be stressing it? If so, it wants to escape.
- Notice the position of its feet. Lifting a front paw may also indicate the pet is anxious, especially if combined with some other signs.
- If the dog has flopped on its side and shows its underside, that can be a sign of stress, especially if it leaks a bit of urine.
- Are they making sounds? Growling, whimpering, yipping nervously?
Knowing how to “speak” canine body language allows experienced groomers to understand when a dog feels uncomfortable so it can be reassured and soothed while preventing potential bite situations.
