We’ve all wished at some point of our life that our dogs could talk to us – things would have been much more easier. But even though it’s not the case and dogs do not talk, we can still tell a lot about how they feel based on how do they act and behave. If you are asking yourself whether your dog is enjoying the life they are having, you could use these 12 signs that may help you find out if your pet is happy.
1 – Relaxed Eyes
As quoted from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), “ When your dog is relaxed and happy, his eyes will be their normal shape.” So by paying some attention to the look of pup’s eyes in different times of the day or when practicing various activities, You will be able to notice the differences and start reading your pet’s mood much better.
2 – A Relaxed Mouth
“When your dog is relaxed and happy, he’s likely to have his mouth closed or slightly opened”. The ASPCA notes as pointing to how your dog’s mouth look could also indicate their mood. So again, the body language of your dog does say a lot about his feeling, and a dog who is out of breath could be either hot or stressed. That cannot be a happy dog.
3 – His Ears Are Comfortable
Pay also attention do your dog’s ears. The ASPCA points out that a relaxed comfortable dog would “hold his ears naturally”. Of course, this would also depend on the kind of dog breed we’re talking about and how his ears sit usually.
4 – How The Tail is Carried
The tail is another element of the body language at dogs. It’s possible to say if a dog is having good time by the tail. As ASPCA explains, “when your dog is relaxed, he’ll hold his tail in its natural position. If he’s feeling happy, he may wag it gently from side to side.”
5 – His Body is Relaxed
The last indication of the body language is the overall look of your dog’s body – is his body relaxed? Even a dog running and jumping around excessively could have a relaxed body with weight equally distributed if they’re enjoying the day, explains the ASPCA.
6 – His Not Being Destructive
Dogs are usually being destructive when they are not happy and when they’re bored. A happy dog is unlikely to bite your couch and your pillows. But instead he bites his dog toys.
7 – He Eats Well
While certain kind of dogs may be picky eaters, a happy dog would generally always want to eat. So if your dog rejects food, then something wrong may be going on with him medically, or your pet is experiencing some excess of solitariness. Did you lose some other house pet lately or is his favorite person absent for quite some time?
8 – He is Active
Dogs are unlike cats. They should not be sleeping 20 hours a day. While good health and age may step in as factor, a happy dog would be active and dynamic for most of the time – discovering things, pulling and biting staff etc. So if your dog seems lazy out of usual, then something might be happening with his mood.
9 – Your Dog Solicits Attention
A happy dog would look for his owner’s attention and will want to have good times with him. Although different dogs have different temperaments and that should also be accounted for, but generally speaking, a happy dog will want to have the attention of his family.
10 – Is in Good Health
A dog’s good health is a perfect sign about his happiness. A dog in good health is a happy dog! If your pet has something that makes him sick, consult a vet to get it checked so that he regains his “happy” mood soon enough.
11 – Your Dog Gets Excited!
Does your dog get excited when you come back from work or after a long absence? A happy dog do gets enthusiast about many things like lunch, playing around, going for a walk in the park, new toy…and whatever is it that he likes. If your pup never gets enthusiast about anything, there could something unusual with him and you would need to step in.
12 – Your Dog Sleeps Well
When it is time to rest, does your dog sleep well? Does he pick a comfortable place and take a one deep nap? A relaxed, happy dog would do a nice continuous sleep and enjoy his dreams of chasing small preys, Whereas stressed dogs will pick a spot, sleep, wake up, pick another spot and so on. A dog that is stressed cannot fall in a deep nap, and that may cause health issues. If your dog does not sleep well, you would want to consult a dog trainer or a vet in order to get to know how to deal with the situation.
