How do I know if my dog is happy?
It looks to me like my dog is smiling at me all the time, but does that really mean my dog is happy? Is it even a smile? How can you tell?
5 Answers
Relaxed body posture and tail wagging mean s/he is happy.
A pup's tail is the best way to see if their happy. Of course dogs can smile as well! If their tale is wagging then the pup is happy or excited! If their tale is down however they might be sad.
Tail wags and relaxed posture when sleeping or lounging around the house.
Unlike humans, it's pretty easy to see if your pup is happy - haha! If they wag their tail, give you kisses, and run around in excitement when you come home - it's pretty easy to tell that they're happy! That's why dogs are the best :). On the other side, if your pup avoids eye contact, lowers their tail, or shows aggression they could be scared or frightened.
You know your dog best! They all show it in different ways - tail wagging, running around, jumping up and down. My pup rubs his back on the ground and sneezes when he's happy, and will bring me his toys. You just have to watch for those signs!
It sounds like your doggie loves you! Dogs experience the same "love molecule" (oxytocin) that humans do when we see someone we love. If your dog has relaxed body language and a wagging tail, he/she is definitely happy. You can tell if a dog is stressed or unhappy by rigid body language.