Ears
A dog’s ears are relaxed and slightly to the side while greeting a person
Relaxed, comfortable, friendly
A dog’s tail is wagging loosely at mid-height with a wiggly body
Friendly, happy, relaxed
A dog is panting lightly, with a loose, open mouth
Normal cooling, relaxed
A dog approaches with loose muscles and a curved body
Friendly, social
A dog maintains soft eye contact with relaxed eyelids
Calm engagement
A cat’s ears rotate backward slightly while watching a new person enter the room
Alert, unsure, cautious
A cat slowly swishes the tip of its tail while lying down
Mild irritation, focused attention
A cat has a slightly open mouth after sniffing something
Flehmen response (scent analysis)
A cat crouches low with weight shifted back
Fearful, might flee
A dog shows the whites of its eyes while head stays still
Stress, discomfort, warning
A dog’s ears are pinned flat against the head
Fear, stress
A dog holds its tail high and stiff with minimal wag
Arousal, confidence, possible challenge
A dog repeatedly licks its lips during handling
Stress signal, appeasement
A dog freezes briefly when another dog approaches
Uncertainly, warning, potential escalation
A cat slowly blinks at its owner
Trust, affection
A cat’s ears flatten sideways like airplane wings
stress, defensive aggression
A cat’s tail is puffed up and curved downward
Fear response, trying to look larger
A cat hisses with mouth open and teeth exposed
Defensive aggression, fear
A cat arches its back sideways while standing still
Defensive posture, fear-based aggression
A cat’s pupils suddenly dilate
High arousal (fear or excitement)
A dog repeatedly flicks ears back briefly during a vet exam
Low-level stress, appeasement behavior
A dog’s tail is low, wagging slowly only at the tip
Anxiety, uncertainty, conflicted emotions
A dog yawns repeatedly during a training session
Stress, pressure, emotional overload
A dog leans away while allowing petting without moving its feet
Tolerating interaction but uncomfortable
A dog avoids eye contact
Appeasement, anxiety, social pressure