What your dog's behavior really means

Dogs communicate with us all day long. Only they don't do it with words, but with body language, behavior and small signals. Many dog owners recognize that their dog is "trying to say something," but don't always know exactly what that is. This often leads to misunderstandings. A dog that growls is seen as aggressive, for example, while sometimes it's actually a sign of insecurity. And a dog that jumps on people seems enthusiastic, but is often just trying to get attention. By better understanding a few common behaviors, you can not only read your dog better, but also respond better. Below are a number of behaviors that many dogs display, what they mean and what you as an owner can do about them. 

Many people think a dog yawns because he's tired. Sometimes that's true, but in many situations it means something else. Yawning is also a stress signal in dogs. When a dog experiences tension, he tries to calm himself down. Behavioral experts call this a calming signal. Yawning can be such a signal.  

You see this for example when: 

The dog tries to relax himself by yawning. If you notice that your dog often yawns in a certain situation, that could be a sign that he doesn't feel completely at ease.  

It helps to: 

So yawning is often not a sign of boredom, but of tension. 

Another behavior that many people misinterpret is turning the head away. When you're petting a dog and he suddenly looks away, it sometimes seems like he's ignoring you. In reality, he's often trying to avoid conflict. In the dog world, direct eye contact is quite intense. By looking away, a dog shows that he poses no threat. 

You see this behavior for example when: 

It's a way to make the situation calmer. If your dog regularly looks away when you pet him or approach him, try to: 

For dogs, that often feels much nicer. 

Many dogs jump on people when they come home or see visitors. This behavior is often seen as enthusiasm and that's partly true. But there's also another reason behind it. Dogs greet each other at face level. By jumping up, a dog tries to get closer to your face. Additionally, a dog quickly learns that jumping gets attention. Even when someone says "no," the dog still gets interaction.  

The most effective approach to unlearn this is: 

This way the dog learns that calm behavior does get attention. 

Growling is often seen as something bad. Many people try to correct the behavior immediately. But growling is actually a warning. A dog uses it to let you know that he feels uncomfortable. That could be because he's scared, in pain or wants to protect his space. The problem arises when growling is punished. Then the dog learns that he's not allowed to warn. Some dogs then skip that step and go straight to snapping. You can better see growling as what it actually is: information. 

Ask yourself: 

By understanding the cause, you can better solve the problem. 

Some dogs follow their owner everywhere in the house. Even to the bathroom. This behavior can have different causes. Often it has to do with social bonding. Dogs are pack animals and like being near their owner. 

A dog that never learns to be alone can more easily develop separation anxiety. It helps to teach a dog that distance is also normal. 

You can do this for example by: 

This way the bond stays strong, but the dog also learns independence. 

Many dogs first turn a few circles before lying down. That might seem like a funny habit, but the behavior comes from their past. Wild dogs and wolves did this to create a safe sleeping spot. 

By turning circles they could: 

Although our dogs nowadays sleep on cushions and beds, this instinct is still in their behavior, but it's completely normal behavior. As long as a dog doesn't keep turning extremely long or is restless, it's simply a natural instinct. 

Many dogs lick their owner on the face or hands. That can have different meanings. In puppies, licking is submissive behavior. In a pack, young dogs often lick around the mouths of adult dogs. 

In adult dogs, licking can mean: 

Sometimes dogs also lick because they've learned that people find it funny. If you don't mind the behavior, you don't need to do anything. 

If you want to limit it, it helps to: 

This way he learns that calm behavior yields more. 

Much dog behavior seems small or unimportant, but often contains clear signals. 

By paying attention to body posture, eye contact and small movements, you can much better understand how a dog feels. And that not only makes your dog's life more pleasant, but also yours as an owner. Because the better you understand each other, the easier living together becomes.