Happiness in dogs is often an oversimplified concept. Many think that all there is to the signs of their dog’s joy is a wagging tail or playful behavior.
However, canine happiness is more nuanced, and the signs can even be counterintuitive. While it’s true that it doesn’t take much to make your canine companion happy, you should still look out for these signs to make sure that they are living their best life and happy to be by your side.
Whether you’re a dog owner, trainer, or just someone who loves dogs, these insights will help you find the signs of joy in your furry friend.
Happy Shake
A full-body shake that does is most commonly seen after you’ve taken your dog for a swim or given them a bath.
They’ll usually shake to dry off their coat and get the excess water off of them, but this isn’t the only time they’ll do this signature shake. Studies have shown that dogs will also do a shake as a kind of “reset” after being excited or engaging in play.
This helps them change from a state of energy to a calmer state. It’s similar to how people stretch after a nap or stressful moment.
Half-Lidded Stares
While in the animal kingdom direct eye-contact is often associated with aggression, dogs have evolved along humans for centuries, meaning that they have adapted some unique ways of communicating with us that include staring at is.
If your canine companion stares at you softly with a half-lidded gaze and sometimes slowly blinks, they are expressing trust and affection.
This is very similar to the same stare that cats often give their owners. These stares are not a sign of dominance or a challenge; they just feel safe and loved around you.
Sighs
While dogs can sigh out of boredom or frustration, much like humans do, they can also sigh as a sign of being content.
If you can hear your dog sighing or groaning softly when they settle down, they are showing that they are relaxed and happy. It’s similar to how people will sigh with relief when getting into a warm and relaxing bath.
Dogs who feel safe and content will make these sounds as they curl up and get ready for a nap at the end of a long day. These are signs that they are completely satisfied.
Helicopter Tail
Most dog owners know about the infamous “helicopter tail” and have experienced it first hand. While this can be breed specific, seeing any breed wagging their tail vigorously in circular motions, sometimes rocking their whole body, showcases that they are overwhelmed with pure unbridled joy.
This tail wagging is often triggered by excitement or relief. When you get home from work, and your dog greets you like this, they are very happy to see you.
Dogs that are deprived of socialization or live a stressful life may not showcase the “helicopter tail,” meaning that when you do see it, you know how special you are to them.
Loving To Work
Although many believe that a happy dog is one that sits idle all day and is pampered, many breeds have lineages as work dogs, meaning they want to engage in some kind of work to make their owners happy.
Depending on the breed, they may want to herd, follow scents, or fetch things for you.
This engagement stimulates them physically and mentally, allowing them to thrive and follow their built-in instincts. Dogs that are eager to be trained or look for tasks are some of the happiest pets, doing whatever it takes to make their owner happy.
Curiosity
The happiest dogs are the ones who love to explore their environment with curiosity. They may follow scents in your backyard or home, investigate new objects, or just wander to every corner of your property.
As long as these dogs aren’t engaging in any destructive behaviors, their inquisitive side comes out when they feel comfortable. Their curiosity boosts both their mental stimulation and highlights their emotional security in their environment.
Bored or anxious dogs may engage in curiosity through destructive behaviors, like digging in the garden or chewing the furniture.
Relaxed Body Language
Anxious dogs usually exhibit symptoms like stiff posture or tense muscles, showing that they aren’t relaxed. Happy dogs will have a much looser movement, including “dancing” on their paws or moving their whole body.
These gestures show the ultimate relaxation and doubts of fear or danger in their environment. Norwegian dog trainer Turid Rugass explains these signs as “calming signs” and your dog’s way of showing their friendliness and peace in their heart.
If your dog greets you with a lot of movement and soft ears, they are happy, and they may even flop down at your feet to show you just how relaxed they are.
Showcasing Affection When They Are Comfortable
While many believe that dogs thrive on constant attention, if they are completely happy, they may only show you affection when they want it.
This shows that they don’t feel pressured to always perform for their owners. Intimate gestures of affection can tell you a lot about your dog, such as them resting their head on your lap, leaning on you, or gently nudging you with their nose.
Letting your dog choose when they want affection creates a more trusting and less pressured environment, which will allow them to bond more deeply with you.
Play Bows
You’ll often see your dog make strange gestures when they are up for some fun and games. They’ll often bow to whoever they want to play with, be it another dog or their owner, and this is a universal sign that they want to have some fun and include you in it.
This gesture stems from their puppyhood, and fun-loving dogs never get rid of it. “Zoomies” are another sign that they are extremely happy.
This spontaneous behavior is often triggered by unbridled joy and shows that a dog feels safe, stimulated, and bonded with their owner.
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