Body Language

Practical guides for body language questions, written around real scenarios, body language, and next steps.

Dog Body Language: Stress Signals Owners Miss

The subtle stress signals that come before barking, growling, hiding, snapping, or shutting down.

Licking can be affection, appeasement, attention seeking, stress, taste, habit, or discomfort. Learn what context reveals.

Whale eye can be an early stress signal, especially during hugging, guarding, handling, or social pressure.

A wagging tail does not always mean happy. Tail height, stiffness, context, and other body signals matter.

Lip licking can mean food anticipation, stress, appeasement, nausea, or conflict. Context separates the meanings.

A shake-off can be normal reset behavior or a sign the greeting was socially stressful.