Every pet needs to be taken care of. They need the same amount of love as would a new-born baby need. But again, no-talking makes it challenging to understand what your dog is asking for. We try to decipher their barks or why they are wagging their tails. We frequently find ourselves asking if they are hungry or scared or just following me around.

No one shall understand your dog better than you. The first few days might be challenging to comprehend, but as the days pass by, you shall realize what he/she wants or needs. If you have adopted the pet, then do ask for pointers that you should know about them.

 Here are a few ways to understand if your dog is happy:

Relaxed body posture

Happy dogs have calm eyes; they blink frequently. Their ears and brows are also relaxed, hanging down loosely. They have a smile on their face and a composed body. A happy dog would again wiggle its tail along with the whole body.

Comfort

If you find your dog calm, loose, smiling, it means that they are happy. They are comfortable, and their tail is also relaxed. On the other hand, if you think they are not satisfied – it seems tight, stiff, tense, it means something is up. Yes, you need to be worried about that.

Tail dancing

If your dog is wagging just the tail and not the entire body, she/he is trying to tell you that they are alert or are analyzing some situation. If the tail is raised high, it could be an indication of energy or aggression. If the tail is pinned under the body, it is an indication that your dog is afraid.

Non-destructive behaviour

Chewing is normal for dogs. They shall continuously chew on to something else, or otherwise, excessive chewing is a sign that your dog is bored or stressed.

Playfulness

Walk your dog. The speed slows down with age, but if you see an abnormal change in pace or he/she is not happy walking, it is an indication that your dog is not feeling well. They might be sick or injured.

Healthy appetite

Eating aggressively is also an indication of happy health and body. But not every dog eats aggressively. If the eating is prolonged, the appetite is low, and check for sickness or injuries, or infections.

Dancing

Happy dogs are generally hopping or dancing when they see someone. Even if they are not jumping, they might be excitedly moving from one place to another. This is an indication of a healthy, happy body.

Healthy barking

Barking is also a way to notice if something is up with your dog. Happy dogs generally have a high-pitched bark and are more than an aggressive bark. If he/she is barking in an empty space, it is probably because of some smell he/she received and might be stressed or looking out for you. But do not alone judge on his/her barking. Notice all the other behaviors and then conclude.

Healthy sleeping hours

An adult dog sleeps for an average of 16 hours, and if it is not the case, you need to check for sickness. If he/she is not getting enough sleep, it could be an indication of stress.

Healthy coat

A dog with a clean and neat coat is happy. Hence, groom your dog twice a week at least. Stressed dogs shed a lot. This could also be a skin problem, so do check for one.

Widened eyes refer to fright. If they are worried, they will have a furrowed brow just like us humans. If the eyes are narrowed, it generally means they are angry. The ears are pinned back. Open mouth panting generally means that the dog is tired or stressed.

If you observe your dog for a couple of weeks, you shall be able to notice behavior patterns, and by trial-and-error methods, you shall know what he/she is trying to tell. A happy dog is happy all over, but the slightest changes may change their behavior.

Happy dogs are dancing, wriggling, playing, sleeping, and goofing around a lot. A happy dog will be excited to see you when you come back home and play with you! They shall play with other pets too. When he/she invites you to play, they are in the happiest of moods! Do not stress out. You shall eventually figure it out.