Your dog may move his ears back or flatten them against his head when he is feeling submissive, anxious or afraid. The more fearful the dog is, the farther back his ears may move. Ears that are held tightly pressed back signal a canine in a defensive position.
As a general rule, a dog's level of attention can be determined by watching their ears: Erect ears facing forward indicate that they're engaged, and slightly pulled-back ears signal that they're feeling friendly; but dog ears laid tightly back against the head suggest a fearful or timid reaction.
Dogs have their ears cropped for one reason and one reason only; to achieve a certain 'look'.
If a dog's ears are gently pulled back, accompanied by a happy tail wag, it means they're feeling friendly and up for some cuddles!
The Ears: When your dog's ears are forward, it means the dog is paying close attention to something or is curious. When your dog's ears are flat against its head, it represents fear or aggression. Ears way back but not close to its head may mean that your dog is feeling sad.
When you are petting your dog, and he puts his paw on your arm or leg, it is kind of like petting you back. While most dogs can't do an actual stroking action, laying their paw on you is a sign of affection, closeness and trust This is his way of creating a special bond with you.
Licking is a natural and instinctive behaviour to dogs. For them it's a way of grooming, bonding, and expressing themselves. Your dog may lick you to say they love you, to get your attention, to help soothe themselves if they're stressed, to show empathy or because you taste good to them!
A happy dog will have a relaxed body posture and often, a wagging tail. Their face will look soft and calm, and if they're playing or running, you'll often see a wide, panting smile. Most dogs aren't particularly subtle when they're happy, and they will reflect your happiness, as well.
If your dog licks your ears, they may be signalling a high level of comfort. Mutual grooming is common among pack members, and you may be perceived as just one of the pack. Licking your ears may also be a sign of love, care and respect. In other words, when your dog licks your ears, they're complimenting you!
Head shaking is normal dog behavior. Without fingers and thumbs, dogs instinctively shake their heads to relieve discomfort, itchiness or irritation; it's an effective way to clear the ear canal of water, dirt or insects.
Aside from cuddling, Aussies show affection by bringing you toys, nudging you with their noses, sitting on you, and showing their bellies to you. By putting himself in a vulnerable position, he's showing that he trusts you.
What are Aussie ears supposed to look like? The breed standards describe a moderate sized, triangular ear with a slightly rounded tip that sits high on the head. The ears may break forward or to the side (“rose” ear) when at attention.
“The main reason dogs follow us to the bathroom is because they like to be where we are,” Dr. Coppola explains. “Dogs are obligate social animals, which means socialization is a genuinely natural behavior for them. This is part of what makes them such fantastically loyal companions.”
If your dog follows you everywhere then it's a sign that they trust and love you and that you make them feel safe. Following you very closely can be a sign that they're bored, they want something, they're feeling scared or are just being nosy.
A dog who licks you is showing you that they love you, so it's no surprise many people call them "dog kisses". It's a natural action for dogs — a way for them to express how they feel about you. Charlotte adds: "It's important that you don't force a dog to give you 'kisses or cuddles'.
Bed-scratching is a natural behavior in dogs as a way to create comfortable bedding. This is an inherited behavior that dogs might do unconsciously. This is why dogs like to build a fort in their blanket and dig in with their nose to prep for bedtime. Bed-scratching can also be territorial.
This is what they call the greeting stretch, and it's a posture dogs use towards someone they feel comfortable with. Also known as the greeting bow or the playful bow, this position signals your dog's invitation to play and communicate with other dogs.
Dogs that like to sleep at your feet probably have many of the same reasons as dogs that like to sleep on you. Sleeping on you is comfortable and warm, your dog feels safer when they're close to you, and they're helping keep you safe, too. It's also a sign of love and affection.
Separation anxiety is triggered when dogs become upset because of separation from their guardians, the people they're attached to. Escape attempts by dogs with separation anxiety are often extreme and can result in self-injury and household destruction, especially around exit points like windows and doors.
It's not unusual for dogs to grieve the loss of a person they've bonded with who is no longer present. While they might not understand the full extent of human absence, dogs do understand the emotional feeling of missing someone who's no longer a part of their daily lives.