Dogs communicate with their whole bodies unlike the common misconception that it's just their tails or barks. Many owners do not realize that even the most subtle behaviors like licking their lips can tell us a lot about how the dog is feeling. In socialization, many owners misread the dogs body language.

Common Signs of stress/nervousness:

• Excessive panting
• Sweating (through paws)
• Avoidance/Moving Away/Cowering
• Holding breath
• Licking lips
• Yawning
• Staring intensely
• Freezing in place
• Eyes open wide enough to see the whites (aka whale eyes)
• Ears Pinned Back
• Shaking
• Displacement behavior (randomly scratching/licking themselves, playing with leash)

Behaviors can also be misread, which can potentially lead to dog fights or bites. Remember if you see your dog showing these behaviors, you need to correct them. If your dog is more submissive, make sure you advocate for your dog.

A few common behaviors that lead to potential dog fights:

• Sniffing other dogs excessively or for too long
• Not listening to other dogs' corrections (other dog barks, shows teeth, tries to avoid your dog)
• Showing dominance
  • Stiff body and keeping their head above the other dog
  • Pushing around/bulldozing other dogs
  • Putting paws on another dog's back
  • Pinning dogs down and not allowing them to get back up
• Humping
• Grabbing the ears, tail, or foot
• Excessive barking in other dogs' faces
• Staring Intensely