Does your dog’s behavior sometimes seem unpredictable or confusing?
Many dog owners struggle with behaviors they can't explain, despite training efforts. But what if those behaviors are driven not by disobedience, but by deeper emotional signals? Dogs, like humans, have rich emotional lives, and their body language is how they communicate those emotions.
When your dog "forgets" their training or suddenly behaves differently, it’s likely because their emotional system is at play. By learning to read their body language, you can tap into their emotional world, understand what they're truly feeling, and meet their needs. This approach not only strengthens your bond but naturally improves their behavior, leading to a calmer, more balanced dog.
How Emotions Drive Behavior: The Science Behind Canine Body Language
Dogs, like humans, have core emotional systems that shape how they respond to the world around them. Jaak Panksepp, a neuroscientist, identified seven core emotional systems in mammals, including dogs. These systems—SEEKING, FEAR, CARE, PANIC/GRIEF, RAGE, LUST, and PLAY—influence how dogs behave, how they feel, and how they communicate through their bodies (Panksepp & Biven, 2012).
Understanding your dog’s emotional systems helps explain why certain behaviors arise, and by recognizing the body language associated with each system, you can meet their needs in a compassionate, informed way.
SEEKING: The Drive for Exploration and Learning
The SEEKING system is all about curiosity and the desire to explore. It’s driven by the release of dopamine and keeps your dog motivated to engage with their environment. When your dog is engaged in SEEKING, you might notice their tail wagging at mid-height, their eyes alert, and their body forward-facing as they sniff or explore (Panksepp, 2012).
In this state, their behavior is driven by a need for mental stimulation and engagement. If your dog is bored or restless, they may dig in the yard or chew on furniture—not out of misbehavior, but because their SEEKING system isn’t being satisfied.
How to Respond:
Provide opportunities for safe exploration, whether through scent games, puzzle toys, or allowing them to take the lead on walks. When their SEEKING needs are met, their behavior naturally becomes more balanced and focused.
FEAR: Navigating Threats and Anxiety
When your dog encounters something they perceive as a threat, their FEAR system is activated. This system helps them stay safe by either preparing to flee or, if escape isn’t possible, freezing in place. Common body language associated with fear includes ears pinned back, tail tucked between the legs, and avoiding direct eye contact (Yin, 2009; Horowitz, 2009).
You might also see signs like lip licking, yawning, or turning away—these are calming signals, ways your dog is trying to diffuse the tension and show that they mean no harm (Rugaas, 2006).
How to Respond:
Instead of pushing your dog through the fear, offer reassurance. By acknowledging their fear and providing space, you help them feel emotionally secure. This reduces anxiety and leads to more confident behavior over time.
RAGE: Frustration and Emotional Release
Despite the name, the RAGE system isn’t about uncontrollable anger or aggression. It’s more about frustration—when a dog feels trapped or unable to achieve something they want. This system is activated when your dog’s goals are blocked, such as when they can’t reach another dog or object of interest. The body language associated with frustration can include stiff posture, direct staring, barking, or growling (Panksepp, 2012).
For example, if your dog pulls hard on the leash or barks when they can’t reach another dog, they’re not trying to be dominant. They’re communicating frustration and unmet emotional needs. Their RAGE system is telling them something is in their way, and they want to change that.
How to Respond:
Help your dog manage their frustration by providing an outlet that meets their emotional needs. This could involve growing impulse control skills through training exercises like "wait" or "leave it." In the moment, redirect their focus to a task they can succeed in—such as sniffing or playing a game they enjoy. By giving them an achievable goal, you help release pent-up frustration in a positive and healthy way.
PLAY: The Joy of Social Engagement
One of the most joyful emotional systems in dogs is PLAY. When your dog’s tail is wagging loosely, their body is bouncy, and they offer a play bow, it’s their way of inviting you (or another dog) to join in the fun (Bekoff, 1974). This system releases endorphins, promoting feelings of happiness and excitement. Play isn’t just about having fun—it’s a key part of a dog’s emotional well-being and social development.
Play allows dogs to practice essential social skills like cooperation and communication. Through these playful interactions, they learn how to engage with others in a balanced way. During a game of chase, for instance, dogs will often alternate between roles—sometimes chasing, sometimes being chased—creating an experience that’s equal and enjoyable for both (McConnell, 2002). It’s a way for them to release energy and build trust, both with other dogs and with humans.
How to Respond:
Encourage play as a way to build trust and provide mental and physical stimulation. Tug, fetch, or even a good old wrestling session can meet your dog’s emotional need for PLAY, leaving them calmer and more content afterward.
PANIC/GRIEF: The Fear of Separation
The PANIC/GRIEF system is responsible for your dog’s feelings of distress when they are separated from those they love. When a dog is left alone and becomes anxious or destructive, they may be experiencing separation anxiety, which is rooted in the PANIC/GRIEF system (Panksepp, 2012).
Signs include pacing, whining, barking, or chewing furniture. This isn’t about disobedience—it’s about emotional distress. Your dog feels lost without you.
How to Respond:
Help your dog feel more secure by offering gradual, positive experiences of being alone. Start with short separations and reward calm behavior. This builds their confidence that you will return and reduces their distress.
LUST: Natural Instincts and Social Drives
The LUST system is related to reproductive and social behavior, driven by hormones like oxytocin and vasopressin. Even if your dog is spayed or neutered, this system still influences how they interact with other dogs and their environment. You might notice your dog displaying more flirtatious or attentive behavior toward other dogs, driven by this system.
While it might seem awkward at times, these behaviors are rooted in your dog’s natural instincts. Body language like circling, sniffing, and close engagement during encounters with other dogs can be part of their LUST system at work, even if reproduction is not the goal.
How to Respond:
Instead of feeling frustrated by these behaviors, it’s important to remember that they are natural and instinctual. Providing outlets for socialization and mental stimulation can help redirect their focus and keep them engaged in positive activities.
CARE: Nurturing and Affection
The CARE system is the emotional foundation of nurturing and affection in dogs. This system, fueled by oxytocin and prolactin, drives behaviors like snuggling, seeking comfort, and showing affection. When your dog comes to you for petting or rests their head on your lap, they’re engaging their CARE system, expressing their desire for emotional connection (Panksepp & Biven, 2012).
This system also comes into play when dogs care for their young or when they bond with other animals, and especially with humans. Body language such as gentle leaning, seeking physical contact, and even "guarding" behaviors (like lying near you) are ways dogs express love and trust through the CARE system.
How to Respond:
When your dog seeks affection or offers you comfort, respond in kind. By nurturing these moments, you reinforce their emotional security and strengthen the bond you share. Offering reassurance and care through touch or gentle words engages their emotional need for connection.
How Body Language Reflects Emotions
Your dog’s body language is the key to understanding their emotions. Each of the seven emotional systems is expressed through specific behaviors and body postures. By recognizing these cues, you can address the emotional needs driving your dog’s actions and create a more balanced, harmonious life for both of you.
References:
Bradshaw, J. W. S., & Nott, H. M. R. (1995). Social and Communication Behaviour of Companion Dogs. In The Domestic Dog: Its Evolution, Behaviour and Interactions with People (pp. 115-130). Cambridge University Press.
Yin, S. (2009). How to Behave So Your Dog Behaves. T.F.H. Publications.
Horowitz, A. (2009). Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know. Scribner.
Overall, K. L. (1997). Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Small Animals. Mosby-Year Book.
Bekoff, M. (1974). Social Play and Play-Soliciting by Infant Canids. American Zoologist, 14(2), 323-340.
Serpell, J. A. (1995). The Domestic Dog: Its Evolution, Behaviour and Interactions with People. Cambridge University Press.
McConnell, P. (2002). The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs. Ballantine Books.
Rugaas, T. (2006). On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals. Dogwise Publishing.
Miklósi, Á. (2007). Dog Behaviour, Evolution, and Cognition. Oxford University Press.
Feddersen-Petersen, D. (2007). Dog Behaviour: Evolution and Cognition. University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover.
Mech, L. D., & Boitani, L. (Eds.). (2003). Wolves: Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation. University of Chicago Press.
Johnston, R. E., & Peng, A. (2000). Scent Marking in Canines. Chemical Senses, 25(4), 429-436.