Got a question

[Jdarr2113]

I had always thought that like cats, when dogs put their ears back it meant they didn't like something. Every once in a while when I play with her or when my friend is petting her she likes it but still pushes her ears back. Anyone have any thoughts?

[BingBlaze n Skyla]

mine do it when they are happy to see us, playing, done something naughty - everything - it really depends on their WHOLE body language aswell as the ears

like the hackles - they arent only up when the dog is aggressive, mine do it when they are playing too

[Staceybob]

Some dogs do it as an espect of feeling calm. It's more about a combination of physical expressions rather than just the ear movement.

You should be able to tell from their eyes, tail and the way they stand when they turn down their ears.

Stacey xxx

[Jdarr2113]

Thank you both very much! =) Most of the time she is in a playful mood sometimes she is submissive laying on her back and stuff but she just likes her belly rubbed haha

[meeshsalts]

Talon's ears are mostly more down the side of his head, Malks seem to do this more than Huskies. Shaer always has hers up looking alert.

[husky princess]

mine particularly put their ears back when they are being submissive

[Elyse]

To judge if a dog is being submissive, you have to look at more than her ears and tail. Look at her whole body and the position of her head?

Is she trying to be 'taller' than you? Puffing her chest out? Is her tail raised? Body tense, ears forward and alert, head stretching as high at it'll go. <---Those are all body languages of dominance.

Trying to be smaller than you, head lower than their body, tail slightly in between their legs, body relaxed, ears back, eyes averting, might be some whimpering involved <---- all body languages of submissiveness.

There are two kind of body languages for submission; active and passive.

Passive: Ears back when dominant approaches, moves out of way of dominant, body language in submissive state.

Active: Tail slighly between legs, ears back while licking underneath dominant's muzzle. May roll over on their back, exposing their neck and stomach to the dominant, while letting a stream of urine come out.

Fear and aggression are different than those two.

Fear: Tail is tucked deeply between legs and is underneath the abdomen area. Ears back, eyes wide looking at what is scaring them, whimpering, body tense ready to run.

Fear- Aggression: Lips raised in a snarl; ears back. Defensive; ready to bite if necessary. Tail underneath abdomen.

Aggression: Trying to appear taller than you, lips raised and snarling, hackles raised, body tensed ready to fight, ears forward.

(I THINK I got it all...)

[Storm Angel n Auroras Mum]

excellent post +1 Elyse. Storm does it when he is excited to see us. I love the whole expression and language he uses. mostly I just love every fiber in his body. :inlove: soppy mummy I know. xx :redface2:

[Jdarr2113]

Wow thank you so much Solitary! By what you are saying she is never like that to me cause I'm her dad. She listens to me even at 11 weeks does what I say. She is always rolling around playing with me =D

[Elyse]

Wow thank you so much Solitary! By what you are saying she is never like that to me cause I'm her dad. She listens to me even at 11 weeks does what I say. She is always rolling around playing with me =D

You're welcome!

Puppies instinctively are submissive to their 'parents' until they get older...then they start challenging their place in the 'pack'.

[mrs_aggie]

Nikita mainly seems to do it when she's after something (normally treats or a fuss lol)

[SibheeSiberianHusky]

I only know the wagging tail expression. Dogs wag their tail to say that they're happy and very glad of what they're doing. Any other more expressions that you know?