Dog Body Language — Eyes, Mouth, and Stress Signals
Recognising subtle facial cues and displacement behaviours in dogs.
Eyes and Mouth
Eyes
- Soft, relaxed eyes with a slightly squinting look — calm, content, trusting
- Hard stare with wide-open eyes — a direct threat or intense focus. Do not stare back
- Whale eye (showing the whites of the eyes in a crescent shape) — anxiety, discomfort, or feeling trapped
- Averting gaze, looking away — a calming signal. The dog is trying to de-escalate or show they are not a threat
Mouth
- Relaxed, slightly open mouth — content, the ‘doggy smile’
- Closed, tight mouth — tension, concentration, or stress
- Lip licking (quick flick of the tongue over the nose) — anxiety, appeasement, or calming signal
- Yawning (when not tired) — stress or discomfort
- Showing teeth with a curled lip — a clear warning. Respect it
- Panting (when not hot or exercised) — stress, pain, or anxiety
Calming Signals and Displacement Behaviours
Norwegian dog trainer Turid Rugaas identified a set of behaviours she called ‘calming signals’ — actions dogs use to defuse tension, both in themselves and in others. Learning to recognise these can help you intervene before stress escalates.
Common Calming Signals
- Lip licking or tongue flicking
- Yawning
- Turning the head away
- Turning the whole body sideways
- Sniffing the ground (when there is nothing obvious to sniff)
- Moving slowly or freezing briefly
- Sitting or lying down during a tense encounter
- Play bowing to redirect energy
Displacement behaviours are normal actions performed out of context — such as suddenly scratching, shaking off (when not wet), or sniffing the ground intently during an interaction. These indicate the dog is conflicted or stressed and is self-soothing.
When you see clusters of these signals, your dog is telling you they need help. Remove them from the situation calmly and give them space.
Stress Signal Quiz
Your dog yawns repeatedly at the vet clinic waiting room, licks their lips, and turns their head away from an approaching stranger. What is happening?
Growling, lip curling, and whale eye are your dog's way of saying 'I am uncomfortable' before they feel they have no choice but to snap or bite. If you punish these warnings, the dog learns to skip the warning and go straight to biting. Always respect and respond to warning signals — they are a gift.