Understanding dog body language is a great way for new foster parents to set their foster dogs up for success. Dogs display lots of behaviors that could indicate stress or suggest that they might bite. Pay close attention to your dog’s body language, and if they show signs of stress, remove them from the situation if possible to prevent aggressive behaviors.
Many shelters use the acronym FAS (Fear, Anxiety, and Stress) when measuring a dog’s stress levels. View the FAS chart PDF to see how shelters typically distinguish low, moderate, and high FAS levels. Referencing that dog body language chart can help keep your foster dog and everyone around them safe.
Dog Body Language That Could Indicate Stress
Below are a few common examples of canine body language and what it could mean. To fully understand what your foster dog is telling you, look at their whole body and consider the context. Once you figure out what’s motivating your foster dog’s behavior, you can manage and modify it by changing their routine and/or using positive reinforcement training.
Tail Wagging
Tail wagging is typically a sign that a dog is happy, but there are actually different types of tail wags. If your foster dog wags their tail in a relaxed, fluid motion, that’s a sign that they’re happy or excited. However, if their tail is stiff or only wagging slightly, it could be a sign that they’re stressed or about to act aggressively.
If the dog’s tail is tucked between their legs instead of wagging, that’s a sign that the dog is nervous. A stiff tail is also a sign of stress.
Licking
Lip licking is a subtle sign of stress in dogs. In some cases, your foster dog could just be doing it because of a weird taste in their mouth, but pay attention to the context. If they’re doing it while a dog or person is in their face, you should remove them from the situation, especially if they’re showing other signs of stress too.
If your foster dog is licking your face, it probably seems like a sign of love and affection. However, in most cases, it’s an instinctual behavior. They’re likely licking your face to get a taste of what you recently ate because it’s a behavior young wolves display with their mothers.
Yawning
If it’s time for bed or your foster dog had a long day, they’re probably just yawning because they’re tired. Yet, sometimes dogs yawn out of nervousness. If your foster dog is in an unfamiliar setting or someone is approaching them, yawning could be a sign that they want to get out of that situation.
Whale Eye
“Whale eye” refers to when you can easily see the whites of a dog’s eyes. This is usually because they’re averting their gaze. Whale eye is a subtle sign that a dog is anxious, and they will do it before escalating to more serious behaviors like growling or snapping. If you notice your foster dog displaying this behavior, remove them from the situation and give them space.
Normally, your dog’s eyes should have a relaxed, soft gaze. If their eyes are squinted or glancing around frantically, they could be stressed or curious.
Panting
Dogs pant for a number of reasons. If they just exercised or if it’s a hot day, they’re probably panting to cool down. However, if the temperature around them is cool and they’ve just been relaxing all day, then panting could signify that something else is wrong. They could be panting because they’re nervous or something is causing them pain.
If your foster dog’s mouth is slightly open but relaxed, they’re likely calm and content. However, if their mouth appears tense, they’re probably nervous.
Flattened Ears
Nervous dogs will usually flatten their ears or position them back slightly. If a dog’s ears are forward, they’re alert and trying to focus on something. Normally, a dog’s ears should be relaxed without sitting too far forward or backward.
Fur Standing Up
If some of your foster dog’s fur is standing on end, they could be excited, alert, nervous, or aggressive. Pay attention to the context to decide. For example, if their hair stands on end while they’re barking at another dog, they’re likely showing dominance. A dog’s hair usually stands on end near their shoulders or lower back. When your dog is relaxed, their fur should lie flat on their body.
Lifting a Paw
Dogs usually lift one of their front paws when they’re curious or stressed. If they’re sniffing around, they may lift a paw when they’re taking in an unusual scent. Yet, if they’re lifting their paw around a dog or person, they may be doing so to avoid conflict. They may suspect that the person or dog is a threat, so they will act like their paw is hurt so the perceived threat will leave them alone.
Barking/Whining
Barking and whining are normal dog behaviors, however, different sounds can mean different things. If your foster dog occasionally barks out the window, it’s probably not a cause for concern. High-pitched barks are usually related to playfulness and excitement, but low-pitched barks could be used to threaten other dogs. Whining and growling are signs of stress, so remove your dog from the situation if they’re making those sounds.
Keep an Eye Out for Stressed Body Language with Dogs
All of the above can be subtle signs of dog stress or discomfort, depending on the context of the situation. If these cues are ignored, the dog may resort to bigger gestures, such as pacing, whining, growling, snarling, snapping, and biting. Removing a foster dog from the situation before the behaviors escalate is the key to setting them up for success.
Working on positive reinforcement training with your foster dog can help manage their unwanted behaviors. To make training as effective as possible, keep training sessions short. Practice for only a few minutes at a time, and then give the dog a break before you keep trying.
For more details on dog body language, check out this YouTube video.
If you’re interested in fostering, please consider caring for one of the critical dogs in Memphis. These dogs will get euthanized if they stay at the shelter’s kennels for too long, so fostering one of them would save their life.