When a human bows, it is usually to show a sign of respect to the recipient of the bow. But when a dog bows, it can be for several reasons. The way that they bow is by lowering their heads and keeping their body erect. Most of the time, it is a sign that they want to play.
They might add in a pair of swinging hips or start wagging their tails in a wild and excited manner. This is the most common sign your dog will give you when they want to play. Dog trainers call this the “play bow.”
Why Your Dog Pants
No, panting doesn’t mean that your dog is out of breath or about to have a heart attack. Actually, this is the way that dogs cool off when they’re overheating. Because they aren’t able to sweat like humans, this is their own way of lowering their body temperature.
If you see your dog panting, it’s a good time to give them water. Another reason for panting may be that your dog is trying to alleviate pain or stress. Most dogs pant on the reg, but it is important to monitor this and make sure they have all their needs met.
Eye Movements
In some aspects, dogs are very similar to humans in how they relay their emotions. Much like humans, they show a lot of their emotions in their eyes. When they are sad or tired, they look down at the ground. When they are excited, they open their eyes wide open and look around excitedly.
When they want something, they will look at you and perhaps raise their eyebrows as if they are asking you a question. For a lot of dogs, you can tell how they are feeling by looking at their eyes rather than at their tail. For real.
Walking in Circles Before Lying Down
Sometimes your dog may walk in circles before they lie down. If you are wondering why they do this, it actually is a habit that perhaps their wolf ancestors passed down to them. Wolves do this before they lay down in order to flatten leaves or debris that have made their resting spot uncomfortable.
While your dog probably doesn’t have any debris lying around their dog bed or kitchen floor, they seem to have retained this habit and it is quite funny to watch them do it. You know what? Cats also do this, but probably just to get comfortable before committing to that eventual rest.
The Meaning of Howling
Some people may try to quiet their dogs when they howl but there is a reason that your dog will make this primitive sound. In short, this is a dog’s way of yelling. Just like yelling is a way for humans to release any angry feelings they have inside, dogs do the same thing by howling.
It is a form of catharsis for the dog, who may be holding in some kind of frustration, annoyance, or pain. Owners assume that dogs howl in order to assert their dominance, but in reality, they are doing so because it feels good for them to do it.