If there's one skill that will completely transform your relationship with your dog, it's this: learning to read their signals.
Dogs are constantly communicating with us, with their ears, their eyes, their posture, their tails, their breath, even the way they blink. They’re talking. The question is: are we listening?
As humans, we often expect dogs to understand our words, routines and expectations. But rarely do we stop and ask: how can we learn to understand them?
What are dog signals?
Dog signals are subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) cues your dog uses to express emotions, needs or discomfort. These are often referred to as calming signals or canine body language and they’re a foundational part of your dog’s communication toolkit.
Some common examples include:
- Turning the head away
- Yawning (not from tiredness!)
- Lip licking
- Slow blinking
- Freezing
- Shaking off (like after a bath)
- Whale eye (seeing the white of the eye)
- Sniffing the ground
These signals aren’t random. They’re deliberate efforts to say: "I need space" or "I'm a little unsure" or even "I’m trying to calm myself and you down”.
Why are these signals so important?
Because if we miss them, dogs often have no choice but to escalate.
Let’s say your puppy is licking their lips, turning their head and backing away when being picked up. If these signals are ignored and the picking up continues, growing up the puppy might start growling. If the growl is punished, with the time, they may eventually skip straight to a bite, not because they’re “aggressive”, but because they’ve learned no one listens to their early warnings.
Learning your dog’s language is the kindest and most effective way to build trust.
How can you start reading dog signals?
- Slow down. Watch your dog without an agenda. Observe what happens when new people or dogs approach.
- Look at context. A yawn at bedtime is different from a yawn during a training session. Context is everything.
- Notice clusters. Dogs rarely use just one signal. They often combine several. A head turn and lip lick and backing away? That’s your answer.
- Reflect, don’t react. Instead of correcting the behavior, ask: what is my dog trying to communicate?
It’s also important to remember that a little bit of frustration is normal, it happens to us and to them. But when our dogs keep sending subtle signals, like turning their head away, yawning or licking their lips and we ignore them, that frustration can build up.
Let’s say you’re petting your puppy on the head and they keep yawning or shifting away, that’s them trying to say “I’m not loving this”. It might seem small, but respecting that moment and petting them on their chest instead for example, shows your dog that they don’t have to shout to be heard. You’re listening even when they whisper. And that’s the kind of relationship we’re aiming for.
Mutual understanding is the foundation
When your dog feels heard, everything changes. You don’t need to be perfect, but becoming fluent in your dog’s body language is one of the greatest gifts you can give them and yourself.