Tail Talk
When a dog’s tail is wagging in big, loose sweeps, they’re usually feeling this.
What is happy
A dog rolling onto its back with a relaxed body is showing this.
What is trust
A dog whining, pacing, or panting indoors might be feeling this.
What is anxious
Dogs sniff each other when they meet because this is their strongest sense.
What is smell
Dogs repeat behaviors that earn treats because of this training method.
What is positive reinforcement
A tail tucked between the legs is a classic sign of this emotion.
What is being scared
A “play bow” — front legs down, back end up — means this.
What is let's play
Dogs can “catch” human emotions by watching our faces. This is called emotional what.
What is emotional contagion
Puppies learn how hard to bite during this activity.
What is play
Dogs learn best when training sessions are short because they have this.
What is a short attention span
A tail held straight up like a flag often means the dog is doing this.
What is being alert
When a dog’s fur stands up along its back, it means the dog is feeling this.
What is excited or unsure
When a dog guards a toy or bone, it’s showing this emotion.
What is possessiveness
Dogs avoid staring directly at each other to prevent this.
What is a fight or conflict
When a dog learns that a click or word means a treat is coming, that’s this kind of conditioning.
What is classical conditioning
Dogs sometimes wag their tails to the right when they see someone they like. This shows this kind of feeling.
What is friendliness or excitement
Soft eyes and slow blinking usually mean the dog feels this way.
What is calm or comfortable
Dogs often jump, wiggle, and spin when their favorite person comes home because of this emotion.
What is joy
When a dog sniffs the ground during a tense moment, it’s doing this behavior to calm things down.
What is a displacement behavior
A dog ignoring a cue might not be stubborn — it might just need more of this.
What is practice or motivation
A slow, stiff tail wag can mean the dog is unsure or feeling this.
What is nervous or cautious
A dog turning its head away or licking its lips is using these special signals to stay peaceful.
What are calming signals
Dogs can feel this when their routine changes suddenly, like moving houses or losing a friend.
What is stress or sadness
Dogs bond with humans so strongly that they sometimes follow us from room to room. This is because they are this kind of species.
What is social
When a dog can follow a cue anywhere — at home, outside, or at the park — it has mastered this.
What is generalization