Pets :: Canine body language in a nutshell

Want some Free Stuff
---==== Click Here ====---

Natural Vitamins & Supplements for Dogs & Cats
at Bonnies Natural Pet Care Store

Canine Body Language
In a Nutshell

Learn what your friend is trying to tell you

Canine attitudes:
Agressive:
* Ears Forward or back, close to head.
* Eyes Narrow or staring challengingly.
* Mouth/Teeth Lips open, drawn back to expose teeth bared in a snarl.
* Possible jaw snapping.
* Body Tense. Upright.
* Hackles on neck up.
* Completely Dominant position.
* Tail Straight out from body.
* Fluffed up.
* Vocalization Snarl. Growl.
* Loud bark.

Alert:
* Ears Perked-up. Turning to catch sounds.
* Eyes Open normally or wide.
* Mouth/Teeth Mouth closed or slightly open with teeth covered.
* Body Normal.
* Possibly standing on tiptoe.
* Slightly Dominant position.
* Tail Up. Possibly wagging.
* Vocalization None.
* Low whine or alarm bark.

Anxious:
* Ears Partially back.
* Eyes Slightly narrowed.
* Mouth/Teeth Mouth closed, or slightly open in a "grin."
* Body Tense. Slightly lowered in a Submissive position.
* Tail Partially lowered.
* Vocalization Low whine or moaning-type bark.
STAGE Chase, Beginning stage:
* Ears Perked-up, forward-pointing.
* Eyes Wide open.
* Very alert.
* Mouth/Teeth Mouth slightly open.
* Excited panting.
* Body Tense.
* Crouched low in a predatory position.
* Legs bent, poised to run.
* Tail Extended straight out from body.
* Vocalization None.

Curious/ Excited:
* Ears Perked-up, forward-pointing.
* Eyes Wide open.
* Mouth/Teeth Mouth open, teeth covered.
* Possible panting.
* Body Normal stance.
* Possible wiggling, standing on tiptoe, or pacing.
* Tail Up. Wagging.
* Vocalization Excited short barking, whining.
Dominant:
* Ears Up straight or forward.
* Eyes Wide open, staring.
* Mouth/Teeth Mouth closed or slightly open.
* Body Very tall posture.
* Hackles may be up.
* Tail Stiffened and fluffed.
* Up or straight out from body.
* Vocalization Low, assertive growl or grunt.

Fearful:
* Ears Laid back flat and low on head.
* Eyes Narrowed, averted.
* Possibly rolled back in head, whites showing.
* Mouth/Teeth Lips drawn back to expose teeth.
* Body Tense.
* Crouched low in submissive position.
* Shivering, trembling.
* Possible secretion from anal scent glands.
* Tail Down between legs.
* Vocalization Low, worried yelp, whine, or growl.
Flight/ Beginning Stage:
* Ears Back. Eyes Wide open.
* Possibly rolled back with whites showing.
* Mouth/Teeth Slightly opened mouth.
* Possible drooling.
* Body Tense.
* Shivering.
* Low, poised to run.
* Tail Low or between legs.
* Vocalzation None.
* Possible yelp or whine.

Friendly:
* Ears Perked-up.
* Eyes Wide open.
* Alert look.
* Mouth/Teeth Relaxed, possibly slightly open, "smiling" mouth.
* Body Normal posture.
* Still, or possible wiggling of whole rear end.
* Tail Up or out from body.
* Wagging.
* Vocalization Whimpering, yapping, or short, high bark.
Guarding:
* Ears Perked-up. Forward.
* Eyes Wide open, alert.
* Mouth/Teeth Mouth slightly open, teeth bared.
* Snapping or gnashing of teeth.
* Body Tense. Rigid. Hackles up.
* Standing very tall in an aggressive or dominant stance.
* Tail Rigid. Held straight out from body. Sometimes fluffed.
* Vocalization Loud alert bark. Growl. Snarl.

Happy/ Playful:
* Ears Perked-up and forward, or relaxed.
* Eyes Wide open.
* Sparkly/merry-looking.
* Mouth/Teeth Mouth relaxed and slightly open, teeth covered.
* Excited panting.
* Body Relaxed, or front end lowered, rear end up in the air, wiggling in a play-bow.
* Excited bouncing and jumping up and down.
* Circling around and running forward and back in an invitation to play.
* Tail Wagging vigorously.
* Vocalization Excited barking. Soft play-growling.
Preditory:
* Ears Alert. Held forward or backward to catch sounds.
* Eyes Wide open. Staring, focusing.
* Mouth/Teeth Mouth closed.
* Body Rigid. Low to ground, ready to spring forward.
* Quietly sniffing the air.
* Tail Straight and low.
* Vocalization None (so the prey won't be alerted).

Subordinate/Submissive:
* Ears Down, flattened against head.
* Eyes Narrowed to slits or wide open, whites showing.
* Mouth/Teeth Lips pulled way back from teeth in a "grin".
* Nuzzling or licking other animal or person on face.
* Body Lowered to ground, front paw raised.
* Lying on back, belly up.
* Possible urine leaking/dribbling.
* Possible emptying of anal scent glands.
* Tail Down, and inbetween legs.
* Vocalization None, or low, worried whining.
* Possible yelping/whimpering in fear.

---------------===============*===============---------------

Bonnies Gadgets & Cookware
Things You Never Knew Existed
---==== Click Here ====---

Bonnies Natural Pet Care Store
Human Grade Pet Foods, Vitamins & Supplements for Dogs & Cats

Stuff in a Nutshell Navigator
Where do you want to go next
Something for Everyone

You are vistor number:

Free Search Engine Submission
Submit your page to popular sites for free, using one form!

Webmaster ---=== Click Here ===---

Canine attitudes: Agressive: * Ears Forward or back, close to head. * Eyes Narrow or staring challengingly. * Mouth/Teeth Lips open, drawn back to expose teeth bared in a snarl. * Possible jaw snapping. * Body Tense. Upright. * Hackles on neck up. * Completely Dominant position. * Tail Straight out from body. * Fluffed up. * Vocalization Snarl. Growl. * Loud bark.		Alert: * Ears Perked-up. Turning to catch sounds. * Eyes Open normally or wide. * Mouth/Teeth Mouth closed or slightly open with teeth covered. * Body Normal. * Possibly standing on tiptoe. * Slightly Dominant position. * Tail Up. Possibly wagging. * Vocalization None. * Low whine or alarm bark.
Anxious: * Ears Partially back. * Eyes Slightly narrowed. * Mouth/Teeth Mouth closed, or slightly open in a "grin." * Body Tense. Slightly lowered in a Submissive position. * Tail Partially lowered. * Vocalization Low whine or moaning-type bark. STAGE		Chase, Beginning stage: * Ears Perked-up, forward-pointing. * Eyes Wide open. * Very alert. * Mouth/Teeth Mouth slightly open. * Excited panting. * Body Tense. * Crouched low in a predatory position. * Legs bent, poised to run. * Tail Extended straight out from body. * Vocalization None.
Curious/ Excited: * Ears Perked-up, forward-pointing. * Eyes Wide open. * Mouth/Teeth Mouth open, teeth covered. * Possible panting. * Body Normal stance. * Possible wiggling, standing on tiptoe, or pacing. * Tail Up. Wagging. * Vocalization Excited short barking, whining.		Dominant: * Ears Up straight or forward. * Eyes Wide open, staring. * Mouth/Teeth Mouth closed or slightly open. * Body Very tall posture. * Hackles may be up. * Tail Stiffened and fluffed. * Up or straight out from body. * Vocalization Low, assertive growl or grunt.
Fearful: * Ears Laid back flat and low on head. * Eyes Narrowed, averted. * Possibly rolled back in head, whites showing. * Mouth/Teeth Lips drawn back to expose teeth. * Body Tense. * Crouched low in submissive position. * Shivering, trembling. * Possible secretion from anal scent glands. * Tail Down between legs. * Vocalization Low, worried yelp, whine, or growl.		Flight/ Beginning Stage: * Ears Back. Eyes Wide open. * Possibly rolled back with whites showing. * Mouth/Teeth Slightly opened mouth. * Possible drooling. * Body Tense. * Shivering. * Low, poised to run. * Tail Low or between legs. * Vocalzation None. * Possible yelp or whine.
Friendly: * Ears Perked-up. * Eyes Wide open. * Alert look. * Mouth/Teeth Relaxed, possibly slightly open, "smiling" mouth. * Body Normal posture. * Still, or possible wiggling of whole rear end. * Tail Up or out from body. * Wagging. * Vocalization Whimpering, yapping, or short, high bark.		Guarding: * Ears Perked-up. Forward. * Eyes Wide open, alert. * Mouth/Teeth Mouth slightly open, teeth bared. * Snapping or gnashing of teeth. * Body Tense. Rigid. Hackles up. * Standing very tall in an aggressive or dominant stance. * Tail Rigid. Held straight out from body. Sometimes fluffed. * Vocalization Loud alert bark. Growl. Snarl.
Happy/ Playful: * Ears Perked-up and forward, or relaxed. * Eyes Wide open. * Sparkly/merry-looking. * Mouth/Teeth Mouth relaxed and slightly open, teeth covered. * Excited panting. * Body Relaxed, or front end lowered, rear end up in the air, wiggling in a play-bow. * Excited bouncing and jumping up and down. * Circling around and running forward and back in an invitation to play. * Tail Wagging vigorously. * Vocalization Excited barking. Soft play-growling.		Preditory: * Ears Alert. Held forward or backward to catch sounds. * Eyes Wide open. Staring, focusing. * Mouth/Teeth Mouth closed. * Body Rigid. Low to ground, ready to spring forward. * Quietly sniffing the air. * Tail Straight and low. * Vocalization None (so the prey won't be alerted).