Human and Canine Body Language

Some of the Similarities Between Us

For many thousands of years, dogs have walked beside us—across continents, cultures, and civilisations. In that time, an interspecies communication has coevolved, built largely on movement, gaze, posture, and proximity. This blog post explores the extraordinary overlap between human and canine body language and why this mutual understanding may be deeply rooted in our biology, and shared emotions.

First Impressions

Just like humans, dogs make snap judgments. Our first impressions of people (or dogs) are shaped by what we see and hear. A relaxed, forward-leaning body feels friendly. A rigid stance and angled away tight face, not so much. Dogs, too, need to instantly assess strangers and observe how they move, where they stand, how directly they stare.

Dogs and humans both rely on clusters of cues rather than isolated signals, and we quickly calculate the inference of this evidence we rapidly collect. It’s vital that we do this as one cue alone can be misleading – just as a wagging tail is not a particularly reliable indicator of happiness, nor is a human smile. Such mythical absolutes, like “tail wag equals joy”, can lead to dangerous misunderstandings.

Reading Dogs

Most dog owners can recall a moment when they just knew what their dog was thinking. Perhaps your spaniel sighed and slumped on the floor, knowing you were leaving for work, or your Labrador bounded toward you with a full-body wag, knowing you were both heading out on a walk. According to research, even children as young as five can correctly interpret dog emotions through body posture and facial expression (Lakestani et al., 2014).

This intuitive ability isn’t just learned—it’s the product of coevolution. We’ve developed overlapping emotional expressions to support our unique interspecies bond.

The Sclera:

Humans and dogs communicate a lot through their eyes, and interpreting their gaze can provide insights into their attention and mood. Few animals have white sclera (the 'whites' of the eyes) but this enables us to more easily see where another is looking.

When dogs and their owners gaze into each other’s eyes, both experience an increase in oxytocin, reinforcing social bonding. This mutual gaze is seen as a way for dogs to connect with and show affection towards their humans.

The Tail: A Wagging Arm of Emotion

In both dogs and humans, the extremities act as emotional exclamation points. For dogs, the tail is a semaphore of mood. The following tail movements are suggestive actions:

• High and stiff: Alert or dominant.

• Neutral or low: Calm or passive.

• Tucked: Submissive or fearful.

• Broad, right-biased wag: Friendly and relaxed.

• Left-biased wag: Uncertainty or stress (Quaranta et al., 2007).

  
  

Our Shared Emotional Channels

Dogs’ ears and eyes offer powerful insight into mood. Suggestions can be:

• Forward ears: Curiosity or arousal.

• Flattened ears: Submission, fear, or stress.

• “Whale eye” (visible sclera): Apprehension or discomfort.

• Hard stare: Threat.

• Soft gaze: Trust and affection.

  
  

Humans mirror these cues: a furrowed brow, wide eyes, or averted gaze communicate emotional states across cultures. The levator anguli oculi medialis, a muscle found in dogs but not wolves, allows dogs to mimic “puppy dog eyes”—a trait selected during domestication to elicit empathy (Kaminski et al., 2019). Ah cute, have another biscuit!

Humans share facial features, as do dogs. All atypical breeds of dog (and human) has two eyes, two ears, and a nose with nostrils above a mouth. Yet how they configure these features naturally and deliberately varies, as it does with humans. Nevertheless, how tight or relaxed a mouth is (human or dog) is one telling sign.

Posture and Proxemics

Humans and dogs both use posture to communicate intent and emotion:

• Relaxed and open: Calm and safe.

• Stiff or frozen: Stress or threat.

• Cowering or turning side-on: Submission or de-escalation.

• Leaning forward or standing tall: Assertiveness—or aggression.

  
  

In humans, proxemics—our use of space—conveys intent and social hierarchy. We step back to create distance when anxious or threatened; we lean in when we trust or feel affectionate. Dogs do the same. They may approach in an arc to avoid confrontation, invade space when asserting dominance, or withdraw when overwhelmed.

Both species rely on ventral exposure to show trust. When a dog rolls over to expose their belly, it’s not always an invitation for petting—it’s often a submissive gesture. Similarly, a human uncrossing arms or turning their body to fully face someone may signal openness.

Signs of Comfort and Discomfort (in dogs and humans)

Shared signs of stress or unease include:

1. Avoiding eye contact

2. Tense, closed posture

3. Backing away or freezing

4. Hiding - Hiding under furniture or bedding can be a telltale sign of anxiety. This is a self-preservation method where the dog is hiding from a perceived threat. Hiding can also be a sign of illness or injury.

   

Signs of comfort (in dogs and humans) include:

1. Loose, relaxed movement

2. Soft gaze and slow blinks

3. Open mouth in dogs (panting without stress cues)

4. Leaning into touch or close proximity

These signals often appear in clusters. A tail wag plus soft eyes and wiggly posture? Likely playfulness. A tail wag plus stiff body and narrowed eyes? Proceed with caution.

Haptics and “Pawtics”

Dogs, like humans, communicate through touch—or what we might call haptics, or pawtics. A dog placing a paw on your leg, nudging you with their nose, or licking your hand can be signs of affection, appeasement, or a request for reassurance.

Humans use similar behaviours. A hand on a shoulder, a gentle nudge—these haptic signals often transcend verbal language. Importantly, both species understand consent and boundary-setting through body language: pulling away, stiffening, or turning the head are clear messages to stop.

Reading Intention

Dogs and humans rarely read emotions—we read intent. A dog may adjust their behaviour based on whether a human is angry at them or simply frustrated at something else. This suggests a rudimentary theory of mind—the ability to infer what others might know, want, or feel (Range et al., 2009). Similarly, we interpret whether a growl is playful or threatening based on the broader body language that surrounds it.

Intention signals are what prevent play from becoming a fight or affection from becoming intrusion. The play bow, for example, communicates that following behaviours—like mock-biting or chasing—are not threats but play.

Mirroring and Synchrony

Humans and dogs mirror each other in posture, gaze, movement, and even emotion. Studies show that dogs can catch human yawns*, match pace during walks, and modulate behaviour based on our tone and energy (Katayama et al., 2016). This biobehavioural synchrony—a shared physiological rhythm—strengthens the bond and enhances empathy.

*why dogs and humans yawn is not typically tiredness.

Why It Matters

Understanding the body language we share with dogs isn’t just interesting—it’s vital. It can:

• Improve safety around unfamiliar dogs or reactive pets.

• Strengthen bonds through clearer emotional communication.

• Enhance empathy.

  
  

Dogs invite us to tune into a language of intent, emotion, and respect. In return, they ask us to be clearer, calmer, and more congruent in how we show up in the world.

Conclusion

The next time your dog offers a side glance, licks their lips, or rolls over beside you, take a moment. They’re not just reacting—they’re communicating.

And if we learn to observe with empathy, decode without assumption, and listen with our whole bodies, we might just realise that they’re asking the same of us.

References

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