How to read your dog's emotions

Do dogs have emotions?

Absolutely! I love this question because everybody that has a pet knows that animals have emotions. As a Clinical Animal Behaviourist, our work is grounded in science, and while the idea of animal emotions wasn’t widely accepted in the past, there’s now plenty of research to support it. There have been lots of studies about dogs’ emotions, how they feel, in what circumstances and how to read them.

What emotions do dogs have?

Dogs have emotions that are required for survival. Their emotions aren’t as complex as human emotions, but there is some crossover. They have seven emotions in total:

• Fear
• Frustration
• Rage
• Lust
• Play
• Panic
• Grief
• Lust

Why is it important to understand your dog’s emotions?

If we live with a dog, it’s very important. If we don’t read their emotions and understand how they feel, it limits how we can communicate. Dogs are social species like us, so it’s the same as us living with another human – we need to share how we feel and be able to read how others feel to help build our relationship. Imagine if we were housemates and I kept invading your personal space, you’d get annoyed and it may end in an argument, for example. Dogs are actually very good at communicating, but it’s our lack of understanding or knowledge that can lead to issues like excessive barking, frustration, or even biting in some cases.

How do dogs show their emotions?

There are several ways that dogs can show us how they’re feeling – it’s about zooming out, looking at the bigger picture, watching out for the signs and then listening to them:

• Body language: Dogs use their body language very well – their teeth, ears, tail and posture can tell us what's going on for them emotionally. They even use their fur! When it completely goes up, we call it a Mohican and it can be a sign of fear and that the dog is getting to defend itself if necessary.
• Physical contact: this could be putting their paws on top of another dog, pinning them down, biting.
• Movement: freezing, running away or lunging towards someone or another dog. These are all very clear ways of communicating to us.
• Vocal: This can include growling, barking and whining.

How do dogs show each emotion?

It’s important to look at the full story when reading a dog’s emotions. Just because I am smiling at you doesn't mean that I’m happy, and it’s the same for dogs. These are some of the signs to look out for for each of the dog’s seven emotions.

• 1. Fear: Their tail is stuck and they’re trying to make their body as small as possible. They often try to make themself into a little ball or flat to the ground like a pancake. Dogs, like us, have the fight, flight or freeze response so they will revert to this if they’re feeling very scared. This could involve lunging, biting, running away or completely freezing. If it’s the latter, that might involve them lying on their back and exposing all their belly – this is their way of saying: ‘look, this is me, I mean no harm, I have nothing to protect me – do whatever you want, but just stop what you’re doing right now.’

• 2. Frustration: Frustration in a dog is a feeling of annoyance when the dog has an unmet need or can’t get what they want, so it could be they want to say hi to another dog but can’t because it’s on the lead, or when they want our attention and don’t get it. This can manifest as excessive barking, pulling on the lead, jumping, pawing at you, or, to get your attention, maybe stealing something they know they shouldn’t have and running away from you.

• 3. Rage: This is when the dog is angry and sees red. It’s an intense and aggressive emotional state that can occur when they feel threatened or overwhelmed. Having a clenched jaw and showing their teeth with a stiff body are clear signs of anger. This is when we are likely to get bitten if we misread the signs. It’s the dog saying: ‘you didn't see my body language, now I'm going to talk and make it clearer for you.’ A very angry dog may also wag their tail very fast as a warning.  

• 4. Play: This is when a dog engages in activities that stimulate their physical and mental well-being, allowing them to express joy and socialise with others. This can happen when they play tug with us, or interact with other dogs at the park. These playful moments lead to the release of endorphins, dopamine, and oxytocin, making them feel happy and strengthening their bond. This can manifest as a wagging tail, playful barks, offering their toys, or jumping around in excitement, showcasing their eagerness to join in the fun.

• 5. Panic: Panic can sometimes be described as ‘separation anxiety’. With puppies, for example, that would be howling, barking excessively, pacing and panting when they have been left alone. Some dogs may destroy an area of the house in order to escape and find their guardian. In some cases, panic might result in peeing or pooing in the house.

• 6. Grief: Like us, dogs can grief when they lose a close companion such as another dog or a family member. This can be shown through whining or barking more than usual, being restless because they’re anxious or obvious signs of depression such as not eating as much, not wanting to play and sulking.

• 7. Lust: For female dogs, this is when they’re in heat and for male dogs, they’ll be looking to mate with other dogs. This can manifest for female dogs becoming more protective of her personal space, growling at dogs that excessively sniff their rears, and for male dogs pulling excessively and marking. It’s worth noting that excessive humping (for instance of a cushion or another dog or even person) is not always sexual behaviour, it can be a sign of anxiety.

Common mis-understood behaviours in dogs

• Tummy rubs: A dog that is belly up, has a curve to its body, is a little tense with a very waggy tail, even sometimes peeing a little bit – that dog is not asking for a belly rub, they are actually asking you to stop.

• Jumping: You might notice that whenever you have visitors to the house, the dog jumps because they’re happy and excited. Sometimes that’s the case but sometimes the dog is just trying to keep the stranger away and create some distance.

• Face licks: Lots of face licks means lots of love, right? Not necessarily. It can be what we call ‘appeasing behaviour’. Essentially, this means when the dog does something to bring the conflict down – think of it like when a human is in an argument and then tells a joke in order to calm things down or appease the other person.

• Chasing the tail: This might appear to be playful and funny but it can also be a behavioural problem of a dog that is very anxious.

• Waggy tail: While a wagging tail is often associated with happiness and excitement, recent studies suggest that it can represent a range of emotions depending on its movement. For example, a slow wag can indicate uncertainty or fear, while a fast wag generally signals excitement or friendliness; conversely, a wagging tail held high might show enthusiasm, whereas a low wag or stiff wagging can suggest that the dog is angry.

Visit Antonella and the rest of the Clinical Animal Behaviourist team at Goodwoof 2025 to find out more about reading your own faithful companions emotions.

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