Relaxed or Wiggly Body and Tail
When a dog is happy, their whole body and tail will look relaxed, and they quite often wiggle! A happy dog’s whole body can wag along with their tail. A wriggling dog showing you their belly is likely to be a very happy and comfortable dog.
Each dog breed has a different relaxed tail position, but a happy dog will generally raise it slightly. If the tail seems to be raised pretty high, this could indicate agitation or over-stimulation.
On the other hand, if a dog seems tense or their body is stiff, these are signs of discomfort. A tail pinned under the body is a strong sign of fear. If your dog is standing stiffly with a tightly waving tail, they may be alert or nervous.
Happy dogs often appear to smile. The mouth is soft and open, the corners of the mouth are turned up, and while some teeth may be visible, it’s not in an aggressive manner. A lolling tongue can also mean your dog is relaxed.
Be sure not to confuse open-mouth panting with smiling, as this could mean your pet is stressed or overheated.
Like people, a furrowed brow can express worry in dogs (except for Shar-Peis with their permanently furrowing brows!). If a dog is baring their teeth or curling their lips back, this can indicate aggression.
When dogs bounce from side to side or hop and dance, they may be happy to see their canine friends or their favorite people. The quick movements usually indicate the dog is happy and ready to play. They are excited when you come home and want to show it!
A dog is telling you they are up for fun or want to play when they do a play bow. In a play bow, a dog lowers their chest to the ground but keeps their rear in the air. They are inviting play and want to interact.
Happy dogs generally have higher pitched barks and bark for a shorter period of time than dogs that are agitated. But don’t judge your dog by their bark alone. It’s important to consider the other signs your dog is giving you, especially their overall body language, before assuming all is well.
Happy dogs enjoy playtime and walks, and most even love rides in cars. While all dogs slow down with age, if your dog seems abnormally quiet, uninterested in favorite activities, or is less social, this may be a sign they’re not feeling well.
Dogs that are content and feeling well have good appetites. A change in your dog’s appetite is one of the first signs of potential illness or unhappiness.
Healthy, happy adult dogs usually sleep for up to 16 hours a day. If your dog isn’t sleeping that much, it could be a sign of stress or illness.
Happy dogs are unlikely to destroy your home or act “naughty.” Chewing is a natural behavior for dogs, as they use their mouths to explore their environments. But excessive chewing or destructive behavior, particularly in an adult dog, could also be a sign of stress or boredom. Separation anxiety is another common cause of destructive behavior in dogs.
Like people, every dogs preference for company is different. But if your pup is social at the dog park, friendly with other family pets, and not overly aggressive to new animals, these are all signs they’re in a good mood.
Happy dogs make a lot of body contact. If your dog reacts, stays close, or even leans in toward your hand during petting, they’re enjoying the contact. Staying just out of reach or walking away could be a sign they need more space.
Don’t miss your regular check-ups at the vet office and make sure that Fide is up to date on his shots. Animals tend to hide their suffering well because it’s part of their survival instinct, so you have to be extra observant even for the smallest change in your pooch’s behavior.
A dog which doesn’t show interest in food is worrisome. Animals don’t go on diets, so this is usually the first warning that something is wrong. It might be depression if something tragic or unexpected has happened recently or it might be an illness. In either case, a trip to the vet is in order.
Happy dogs are active dogs. They enjoy playing and look forward to their favorite pastime – a walk in the park, a game of Frisbee, or a car ride. They are up and about to greet you when you come home and love to be around you and take part in what you’re doing.
You’re not the only one. Many pet owners have the same though once in a while. But is there a way for us to understand how our pet feels? Well, until someone invents a dog to human translator, we can only speculate. Nevertheless, some signs can help us decipher our dog’s language. So, to ease your worries, we’re doing to talk about 10 signs that your dog is happy with his life.
Observe your dog’s body language. Soft gaze and relaxed eyebrows in combination with relaxed, floppy ears indicate a happy, content dog. His body is soft, loose, wiggly and his tail is carried in a relaxed manner. Your pooch might also appear to be smiling by holding his mouth open without baring his teeth.
End-of-Life Care: How to Make Your Dog’s Last Days Comfortable
It can be so difficult to say goodbye to your dog, but there are things you can do as a loving pet parent to make sure your dog is as comfortable as possible and show them continuous acts of care and compassion near the end of their life.
6 SIGNS THAT YOUR DOG IS LIVING A HAPPY LIFE
Dogs do so much to enrich our lives. They make us laugh, they provide us company, they entertain us, and they dont judge our life choices (thankfully). Yes, doggos are truly our best friends, and we want to do our very best to return the favor.
From the day we bring home our canine buddy, we look for ways to entertain them and make sure theyre healthy. But, theres a lot more we can do to ensure they are truly happy, living their best dog life right alongside us. One key to their happiness starts with their ability to decide for themselves.