Discover how to read and understand your dog's behaviour (Part 1)
Updated 15 October 2026
In short: dogs communicate mostly with their bodies. To understand yours, look at the whole picture (ears, eyes, mouth, posture, tail) rather than one detail, and take the context and its personality into account. Soft eyes and a loose body mean a relaxed dog; a hard stare, a tight jaw and a stiff body, a tense one. Clearly visible whites of the eyes ("whale eye") often mean it feels cornered: give it space.
3 rules for reading your dog
The whole body
A wagging tail isn't enough: look at the ears, eyes, mouth and posture too.
The context
What's happening around it? A noise, another dog, a hand reaching out?
The individual
Age, breed, history, health: every dog has its own way of expressing itself.
Dogs feel emotions (fear, joy, frustration…), and UK law recognises them as sentient beings (Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022). But they don't express them as we do: growling or biting usually comes when subtler signals haven't been understood.
How does my dog greet me?
Greeting stretch. It stretches lazily when you come home, soft eyes, relaxed ears: it's happy to see you.
Wiggly body. Bouncy gait, wiggling hindquarters, wide tail sweeps, loose body: joy and interest.
Attention. Head tilted, ears forward, attentive gaze: it's listening and trying to understand.
Sniffing. Sniffing each other's rear end is the normal way to get acquainted. A relaxed greeting stays short, with loose bodies; a dog that stiffens or turns away wants it to end.
What do my dog's eyes say?
| Gaze | What it looks like | What it often means |
|---|---|---|
| Soft | Almond-shaped eyes, relaxed lids, brief eye contact | Calm, trust |
| Hard stare | Fixed gaze, still or stiff body, tight jaw | Tension, a warning: don't push it |
| Whale eye | Head turned away but eyes following, whites showing | Unease, feels cornered |
| Averted gaze | Looks away, blinks, side glance | Calming, mild discomfort |
| "Puppy dog eyes" | Inner eyebrows raised, looking at you | Engagement, asking for something |
Did you know? Dogs have a small muscle above the eye, almost absent in wolves, that lets them raise the inner eyebrow. According to Kaminski et al. (2019), these "puppy dog eyes" developed through living alongside humans.
Test yourself
Next: posture, mouth and tail (part 2).
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if my dog is relaxed?
Soft eyes, ears in their natural position, mouth loose and slightly open, body and tail relaxed.
What does whale eye mean in dogs?
When the whites of the eyes clearly show while the head is turned away, the dog is often uneasy or feels cornered. Give it space.
Should I look my dog in the eye?
A soft, brief look with a dog that knows you, yes. Staring at an unfamiliar dog, on the other hand, can worry it.
Why do dogs sniff each other's rear ends?
It's how they introduce themselves: scents give them a lot of information about the other dog.