Dogs
Understanding your dog, one question at a time
Short, honest answers written with Mimo’s reading grid: first what the body shows, then what it means, and when a vet is needed.
Dogs
Why does my dog lick his lips?
Outside of meals, a dog licking his nose or lips is usually sending a calming signal: he is a little uncomfortable. How to read it, and when to worry.
Dogs
Why does my dog yawn so much?
A dog who yawns without being tired is often letting tension out. What it means, which signals to read alongside it, and when it is no longer language.
Dogs
My dog shows the whites of his eyes. What does it mean?
“Whale eye”, when the white of the eye shows as a crescent, is a clear discomfort signal in dogs. Why it appears and how to respond.
Dogs
Why does my dog suddenly freeze?
A dog who freezes, still and stiff, is not calm: he is deciding. What freezing means, alone and with another dog.
Dogs
Is a dog wagging his tail always happy?
No. The tail shows arousal, not joy. Height, stiffness, width and even the side of the wag change everything. How to read a dog’s tail.
Dogs
Why does my dog pant when he is not hot?
Panting at rest, with no heat or exercise: stress, pain, excitement or a medical issue? The differences to spot, and when to see a vet.
Dogs
My dog growls. Is he becoming aggressive?
Growling is a warning, not aggression. Why you should never punish a growl, how to read what surrounds it, and what to do in practice.
Dogs
Why does my dog look away when I look at him?
Turning the head or the eyes away is a calming signal in dogs: he is defusing. Why he does it with you, children or the camera, and how to respond.
Dogs
Why does my dog shake off as if he were wet?
Shaking off while dry is a reset after tension. What this gesture says about the moment before, and when it hides physical discomfort.
Dogs
Why does my dog sniff everything on walks?
Sniffing is not wasted time: it is the walk itself. What the nose gives a dog, why he also sniffs under stress, and how to adapt the walk.
On the blog
Dogs
Dog body language: the guide to finally reading your dog
Ears, eyes, mouth, tail, posture: how to read your dog’s body zone by zone, spot calming signals and catch the escalation before a bite.
October 6, 20265 min read
Dogs
Dog calming signals: the full list and how to respond
Nose licking, yawning, turning away, curved approach, sniffing, brief freeze: the list of dog calming signals, what they mean and the right response to each.
October 6, 20265 min read
Dogs
Barking dog: the 6 types of bark and how to respond
Alert, demand, fear, excitement, boredom, separation: one bark is not another. How to tell them apart by pitch, body and context, and the right response to each.
October 6, 20265 min read