How to tell if your dog is happy stress

Below are some simple indicators that can help to signal your dog’s mood for today:

A) Dog is happy

•         Bright or brighten eyes

•         Ears raised, signifying he is relaxed, listening & showing acceptance

•         Head held high – in attempt to capture your attention

•         Tail moves freely or wagging tail

•         Jaw is relaxed

•         Appears alert

•         Wet & cold nose (normal condition of a healthy, happy dog)

•         Raises a front leg to touch you

•         Leans to your side with its head

•         Content dogs sleep for about 8 to 10 hours per day, mostly at night

B) Dog is stressed out

•         Keeps yawning

•         Genital licking

•         Makes nose noises such as a hard sneeze or sniffing sneeze

•         Tucked tail

•         Soft whining

•         Heavy breathing

•         Pupils dilate, showing the whites of his eyes

•         Ears backwards – showing either submission or fearfulness

•         Taut tail held down rigidly behind him (ready to spring on you if threatened

•         Pupils dilate, showing the whites of his eyes

•         Defensive Growl

•         Baring of teeth as a signal for you to back off

•         Avoiding eye contact

•         Warm and dry nose – he may be dehydrated and needs a drink

•         Refuses to walk or move when called

C) Dog is sad or unhappy

•         Usually sleeps more in a 24-hour period, entering a state bordering on depression or learned helplessness

•         Appears lethargic and lose all its bounce

•         Eyes don’t shine with excitement but rather appear dull and vacuous

•         Behavioral problems that arise as diversions. Example: excessive barking

•         Destructive actions such as digging of the garden

•         Annoying attention-seeking behaviors like biting of the remote controllers, furniture leggings

•         Either overeating or lose its appetite for food

•         Ears backwards – showing either submission or fearfulness

•         Adopts hunkered, cowed postures and shows a lack of alertness and curiosity

•         Becomes anti social and act out their negative feelings

D) What makes a dog sad?

•         Inconsistent/ insufficient interactions with their owners – owners barely take a look at dog, talk to or pat them after they
          waited so many hours at the door for their return from work

•         Lack of exercise

•         An unstable routine – the dog doesn’t know when its next meal, drink or toilet break will be

•         Lack of engaging activity with owners