Dogs are simply incredible, aren’t they? While it’s tough to put into words just how much joy they bring into our lives, research suggests that having a canine companion can reduce feelings of loneliness, alleviate stress and anxiety, and even extend our lifespan.
With everything our furry companions do for us, how can we make sure they’re truly happy? And since they can’t directly communicate their feelings, how can we tell if we’re on the right track? Does a wagging tail or affectionate licking really indicate contentment?
That’s exactly what we — Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, co-hosts of HuffPost’s “Am I Doing It Wrong?” podcast — explored in a recent conversation with Dr. Emily Levine, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist and the owner of the Animal Behavior Clinic of New Jersey. According to Levine, a wagging tail isn’t always a sign of happiness. “You have to look at the whole dog, not just their tail. Some dogs can wag while displaying aggressive behavior,” she explained.
Different tail movements convey different emotions, Levine added. “The speed, looseness, or stiffness of the wag, as well as the direction it’s moving, all reveal varied emotional states,” she said.
A wagging tail simply signals that the dog is excited, but whether that excitement is good or bad depends on their full body language and the surrounding situation. “If their whole rear end is swaying from side to side, that’s a great sign they’re feeling happy,” Levine noted.
She also mentioned “the happy face,” describing it as a dog’s mouth being slightly open with a relaxed tongue and overall loose posture.
What about those affectionate licks? “Dogs can lick your face for a number of reasons,” Levine explained. “Sometimes it’s just pure excitement, like a greeting. There’s also a theory called ‘kiss to dismiss,’ which suggests that dogs may be asking for space, but that’s not confirmed yet. Licking could be positive or not — we still have a lot to learn.”
In the end, the key is understanding your dog’s body language. “Dogs are always expressing how they feel; we just need to learn how to read them. No one is born knowing this, so owners shouldn’t feel bad. There are plenty of resources available, including videos on body language, to help understand canine communication.”
We also discussed key insights on petting, the different types of walks every dog should experience, and so much more.