How well can you decipher your dog’s body language and his attempts to communicate with you? Does a wagging tail always indicate happiness? Does panting always mean a dog is hot? If you have a concern about your dog’s behavior, be sure to ask us at your next appointment.

In the meantime, here are a few common ways dogs communicate how they’re feeling:

• Calm and neutral
  Relaxed body posture; no tension
  Relaxed tail, possibly wagging
  Possibly panting happily
  A calm, neutral dog is typically ready for you to greet and pet him.
• Alert
  Leaning forward
  Ears are forward
  Mouth might be closed
  An alert dog could be curious or interested in what’s going on around him.
• Aggressive
  Stiff posture
  Tail moves back and forth, like a flag
  Might show teeth and/or growl
  Don’t run away from an aggressive dog. Stand tall and still and look away.
• Anxious or Nervous
  Ears are back
  Tail is low, but the end might be wagging slightly
  Posture is leaned back or turned to the side
  Might be panting
  A dog showing signs of anxiety is nervous about his surroundings and you should avoid petting him if you don’t know him.
• Scared
  Flattened ears
  Tucked tail
  Crouching lower to the ground
  A scared dog should not be approached, because he might bite if he feels the need to defend himself.
• Excited
  Forward ears
  Tail wagging quickly
  Alert and ready to pounce
  Likely panting
  Sometimes, overly excited dogs can inadvertently scratch, jump up, or knock someone down in their excitement.

We know that each animal communicates a little differently from the next, so we encourage you to pay attention to your dog this week and see if you can figure out what he might be trying to tell you!