While experienced dog owners might be able to easily tell how their dog is feeling, there are many people new to owning a dog or new to a specific breed that could use some more information on the subject. In this blog, we’ll show how to tell if your dog is happy with 8 easy-to-recognize signs. Learning this information will make you a happier owner, in turn making your dog an extra happy dog.
1 – Relaxed Eyes & Ears
An easy sign your dog is happy is the behavior and appearance of their eyes. Often, you will be able to distinguish an anxious dog from a calm dog by the alertness of his eyes and the arch of his eyebrows. Eyes and eyebrows also provide an easy way to tell if your dog is in a good mood. If your dog is blinking frequently, has a calm brow and his gaze appears soft and relaxed, chances are you have a happy dog on your hands. You’ll also be able to see if your dog is pleased by the position of his ears. A dog in a good mood will have his ears relaxed or floppy, not pointed or on alert. His countenance might also seem to be bearing a smile. These are a few good signs your dog is happy.
2 – No Destructive Behaviors
Want to know how to tell if your dog is happy? Ask yourself the simple question: Has my dog done anything especially bad or destructive lately? Dogs who are relaxed and happy tend to express those feelings by being generally reserved or adhering (to some extent) to the rules you’ve set for him around the house. An anxious or frustrated dog might rip apart furniture, bark frequently, or be especially skittish around the house. A happy dogwon’t do these things.’
3 – Wants to Play
One of the most prominent signs your dog is happy is how much he wants to play. A playful dog who wants to spend time with their owner without behaving in a destructive manner is in a good mood. Playfulness is an expression of delight and curiosity. There are few better signs your dog is happy than this one.
4 – Belly & Tongue Exposed
Another great indicator of happiness in dogs is what body parts they’re willing to expose. Showing their belly, a vulnerable part of the body expresses how comfortable a dog is in their surroundings, and generally, they will only do this if they are in a great mood. Often, showing their belly is an invitation to come and play, which we already know is one way how to tell if your dog is happy. Another indicator is if their tongue is out. An exposed tongue means in all likelihood your dog is in a good place.
